Update from Spencer (formerly Rita's Shadow)

Well, it has been approximately 9 months now that we have had our wonderful Spencer/formerly Rita's Shadow in our home and a big part of our family. He is now approaching 8 years old and loving life!

We have a wonderful vet and with his help we have completely cleared up all of his ear problems. Now the only problem is trying to keep his weight down, he just last week tipped the scales at 80 pounds. The vet seems to think that it is OK for him but we will continue to keep an eye on that weight, especially since he is not a very active dog. I think that i just part of his nature, although he has his morning and evening walks which he loves. Everyone in the neighborhood loves him and he has a little girlfriend, a small white terrier named Molly who he just loves to follow around while she ignores him. Oh too funny, he really acts like a lovesick boy.

To anyone who is hesitant about adopting an older dog please know that it is one of the best things we have ever done and he repays us with love in return every single day. We wouldn't have it any other way!

Thanks again to Rita, everyone in Taiwan and everyone here at GRCGLA Rescue who helped to bring him into our lives.

Attached are current pictures of Spencer. Some in the front yard after our walk....he loves rolling in the grass.

Update from Rita's Polly

We would love to share how well our sweet Polly is doing! She has made herself right at home and become a very important part of our family, we adore her. She is so smart entertaining, she absolutely LOVES to ride in the car and all I have to do is tell her we going for a ride and to go get her leash and she bounces off to the leash basket and comes back ready to roll. Sometimes she doesn't even wait for me to decide that a ride is in order, she will take it upon herself to bring me her leash (hint hint), and if that doesn't work she has been known to bring me by keys and sun glasses. I call her my co-pilot and try to take her with me whenever I can.

We took her swimming in Kriss' pool and she loved it! She would swim around in circles and then swim over and give my daughter a hug, she did that over and over until we finally had to tell her that it was time to go home. She is a very adventuresome girl!

While she still has one bad hip, we haven't had the heart to put her through another surgery because she seems so happy and carefree. Her bad hip doesn't keep her from bouncing and dancing when it is feeding time or time to go in the car, she seems to manage pretty well! She has never been found of dog beds and prefers to sleep on the couch or in an easy chair and somehow mangoes to hop up and make herself comfortable. She is fat and happy as the saying goes.

Below are a few pictures of our gorgeous big red girl, always photogenic!

Best wishes!

The Tomimatsu Family

Photos from Cali (formerly Maggie's Jean)

Update from Lincoln (formerly Rita's Jumper)

Lincoln (Rita's Jumper) on the left with his best friend our first rescue Shanie bonded immediately. We adopted Lincoln on January 3 and he is now very healthy and has gained 10lbs. He loves chasing tennis balls as well having a lot of affection which we gladly give. He is very good natured and loving and knows he is in his forever home. We are so grateful to the Taiwan group and Golden Retriever Rescue for giving us our big boy Lincoln.

The Wynnes

Update from Rita's Chi Chi

Chi is doing great. Arthritis was really slowing her down but our doctor has her on meds and she's so much happier. We're still in class to be a therapy dog, and just celebrated year one in June first with a doggy birthday cake. She seems so much happier since her hips don't bother her all the time. We had special arthritis dog beds both up and down stairs for her. Happy much loved girl. Our nickname for her is Speedbump because you have to slow down and go over her.

Rita's Beryl adopted!

Rita's Beryl was adopted on Memorial Day by the Flamer family. The Flamers drove out under the pretense of meeting this wonderful pupster and possibly adopt her. In reality, they had made the decision that she was their dog and that they were simply there to bring her home...no questions or concerns. Beryl seemed to agree as she went right up to all of them as if to say, "Finally, you found me!".

Beryl, who has been renamed "Traveler", came to us from Taiwan three years ago where she was found and cared for Rita and MJ. In Taiwan, a tumor was removed from one of her legs that was found to be cancerous that didn't have good margins upon removal. Her prognosis was "guarded". So the decision was made to place her in our permanent foster program and hope she has a very long life. Soon, a family came along that was willing to provide her with that foster home. Fast forward three years: The foster family had a change of circumstances and was no longer able to care for Beryl. So she came back to us a couple of weeks ago. Still very healthy and happy. After a thorough check at the vets, the decision was made that she was ready for a forever family of her own.

The Flamer family recently lost their golden to cancer and were on the prowl for a new Golden friend. When the placement team presented Beryl to them, they were concerned about her health, especially after having just lost their friend to cancer. So all the vet records were provided to them and they showed them to their own vet who prclaimed "all looks good". So the Flamers couldn't get out to meet Beryl fast enough. As an interesting tidbit, young Mr Flamer studies Chinese in school, so he was anxious to see if she still remembered or responded in that language.

Beryl has many people to thank for her long journey into this home. First, she thanks Rita and MJ for taking her under their wing and giving her the care and medical attention she so needed and then sending her to the U.S. where we could find her a wonderul new life. She of course thanks the Welcome Waggin for being there to greet her when she landed at the airport after the long flight, and Carol S. for offering temporary housing after her arrival. She also thanks Barbara D., and Jennifer for monitoring her care, and representing her, first for the foster home, and then most recently, for her forever home. She thanks Jo for receiving her back into Rescue from the foster family, and then transporting her to the kennel after she had completed her vet check-up and had her bath. And last, but not least, she thanks Eva and her helper, Marley, for doing the HV, and Lisamarie for helping to make the match on the Placement Team. I hope thats everyone (whew!)

Jennifer has checked in with the family and she was told "We love her and she helps make every day great at the Flamer house". I've attached a few pictures. The first one I took at the adoption meeting. The other two they took after they brought her home - one is with their son Lucas, the other with both sons. She is clearly a happy puppy!