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Golden Beginnings
SIMON
 Like
many GRINinc dogs, Simon was a puppy with special needs. When we
met him in 2006, he had spent most of his young life chained in
a back yard without love or companionship and often without food
or water. We had hoped to adopt a mature female dog, but agreed
to meet Simon anyway, and we couldn’t deny this depressed, thin
young dog the love and companionship he had missed for his first
year of life. We took Simon home with us, and we realized right
away that we had quite a challenge ahead! He had no house
manners. He thought our furniture was indoor plumbing. He chased
anything that moved and chewed through three leashes and two
shoes his first week with us. He had a strong fear of cars and
we had to push and shove him into the back seat just to get him
home.
Like most
Goldens, Simon was eager to please and he soon house-trained
himself and learned which toys were his. He began to make eye
contact and to seek our company. He gained 15 pounds and a
charming doggie smile. He passed Basic Obedience class at Dog
School and eventually learned what the sound of the doorbell
meant. Since this rejected, dejected, shy dog has joined our
family, his Golden spirit has surfaced and shines through. He
shows the neediness of his breed, following family members
around, insisting on being a part of everything, resting his
head in our laps, and greeting us at the door with a sleepy
smile, a retrieved toy, and a tail wag! He shows touching
gratitude to us for giving him a Forever Family, and his heart
seems to know that this new security and happiness make life the
way it was meant to be for him. He responds with golden
unconditional love and loyalty.
After learning
about Delta Society’s Pet Partner Therapy Dog program at the
February Reunion, we began studying to become Pet Partners.
Delta’s program has very tough requirements, but we worked hard
as a team, and in June we passed the screening testing and are
now a registered Pet Partner Team. We plan to visit nursing
homes and Assisted Living Facilities. Simon has shown a talent
for bonding with people with special needs, as he himself had
special needs. He is a true success story of the success of
GRINinc’s Mission!
MAGGIE
 Meet
our Maggie…our sweet redhead that goes out of her way to please.
Maggie came to us in a round about way. We were asked to
foster this 120 pound over weight girl, but unfortunately we
were going on vacation for a couple of weeks and were unable to
take her. Several months went by and her foster family was
going to move out of state so we were once again asked to foster
Maggie. This time it worked out and Maggie joined our
family. Soon after she came into our home as a foster dog
we became very attached to her loving, sweet nature so we
decided to adopt her. With proper diet, exercise and
thyroid medication she started loosing those unwanted pounds.
Maggie has completed
her training classes to become a pet therapy dog. She’s
currently waiting to have her evaluation before she can
officially do therapy work. Several months ago she passed her
Canine Good Citizen test, so you can see she’s been working very
hard since she became a part of our family. She gets along
great with her sister Goldie. Now that she has lost almost half
her body weight she enjoys running and chasing balls…what all
goldens love to do. I know she only wishes her sister would
play a little more, but she realizes she’s a senior.
Maggie is always by
our side. She always greets us at the door with a smile and a
wagging tail. She’s so happy to see you even if you’ve only
been gone for a little while. There’s so much love and devotion
in those big beautiful brown eyes. She kind of reminds us of
some lyrics from an old James Taylor song titled You’ve Got A
Friend…”You just call out my name, and you know wherever I am
I’ll come running to see you again….You’ve got a friend”.
That’s our Maggie!
Greg & Virginia L.
CHARLIE
Charlie is a special dog,
Who likes to walk, eat, and SWIM!
Charlie is so special,
No other dog is just like him.
Charlie does what Nana and Grandpa say,
In Charlie’s unique kind of way.
But sometimes he will give you this cute little face,
To make him swim in the Naples swim race!
I
Love you Charlie Brown!!!
- Hannah
NOAH
Here is a picture of my "alarm clocks" who
get me up whether I want to or not!
Angel and Noah are great buddies. She has
taught him how to chase (and sometimes
catch) lizards. I think they just like to
feel the wiggles in their mouths because the
dead bodies are usually intact, and somehow
some even manage to get away!! She's also
taught him how to open the sliding glass
doors with his nose. He's managed to perk
her up and get her running more. He's still
not the slightest bit interested in the
pool, which is a good thing.
The trainer has been coming to the house
training Noah to walk on a leash and improve
his other "tricks". He's doing MUCH better.
I do remember that Noah will only be as good
as I make him by constant reinforcement and
while I'm not exactly the most consistent
person when it comes to practicing
regularly, he is still making good
progress. Angel is also learning (or
relearning) as well.
We look forward to seeing you at some of the
upcoming events. Best wishes to your
excellent organization that does so much for
these terrific dogs.
Barbara K.
TRACKER
 My
name is Tracker and I am one of the four “special needs” dogs
you have read about on the GRIN website. I am about 3 years
old, and until several months ago, my life was full of abuse and
neglect. I really am a very good boy. I just can’t understand
why someone would adopt me from a shelter, promise to treat me
for my heartworm, and then return me to the same shelter two
months later along with my new brother and two sisters. I was a
wreck. The heartworm was really, really bad (the treatment was
bad, too…but I just finished up today and I feel like a new
“person”). We were all emaciated and dehydrated. I had lost
over 10 pounds in 2 months. I could have spent my last days in
that shelter, but Mary Ellen and Alesia rescued all of us.
I moved into my
foster home with Sheila and Chris and their big dog. I was
pretty sick with the heartworm treatment, but they kept me quiet
and took such good care of me that I gained weight and started
to have energy again. Meanwhile, people were reading about me
and making donations to help with my veterinary expenses. One
of those people was Laura. At that point, neither one of us
knew that I would be adopting her, Bill and Goldie.
Finally, I was
well enough to go to my forever home. Laura and Bill had wanted
an older dog because their Golden, Goldie, is 9 years old. They
were afraid that I might have too much energy for her. I
pretended to be really calm and Mary Ellen and Alesia thought I
would be perfect for them. And, you know what? I am.
I am a
gentleman. I sit, lie down, shake, and walk nicely on the
leash. Goldie and I have the run of the house and we always
behave. What can I say? In spite of my abuse, someone took the
time to train me. I think I might have gone hunting because I
love to swim….and you should see me retrieve the noodles out of
the pool….unfortunately, I take them when Laura and Bill are
floating on them.
Goldie and I
are great friends already….in only a week. We go for walks
together, we get treats (I always wait my turn), we share all of
Goldie’s toys (we both love to eat the stuffed ones), we sleep
side by side or on top of Laura and Bill (that is if I let Bill
have his side of the bed), and we get all the attention and love
we both need. It does get a little crowded in the bathroom at
times.
Life is good.
I never knew I deserved to have a life like this until I heard
Laura telling someone what a wonderful dog I am and how amazing
it is that I never lost my golden spirit. She said I touch her
heart when she looks into my beautiful brown eyes. She sees all
the love I have to give and the appreciation for the love she,
Bill, and Goldie give to me. I’ve certainly won them over!
They don’t even mind that I’m not quite as calm as I pretended
to be.
It’s time for
me to go for a ride in the car. I love car rides, and I am
perfect in the car if I do say so myself. I owe so much to
Golden Rescue in Naples, Mary Ellen, Alesia, and Sheila and
Chris for saving my life. I’m planning to spend the rest of it
making sure that my new family is as happy as I am. If my story
made you cry, that’s okay…just make a donation to GRIN, foster
one of us, or fill out adoption papers.…you’ll feel lots better.
With love,
Tracker
BANDIT
 My
husband, Fred, and I were so happy to become foster parents to a
wonderful senior, white-faced, red Golden named Bandit. He came
to us after we lost our red Golden, Holly, and he fit in right
from the beginning. Bandit was close to 14 when he arrived and
his only handicap was a large and growing tumor which was
inoperable. It was really love at first sight and it soon
became evident he was not going to be adopted so we became
permanent foster parents. Bandit always gave us such love and
devotion and he really loved everyone. His tail was always
wagging and that smile would show up throughout the day. We
lost Bandit in early September when the tumor finally got him
shortly before his 16th birthday. We still miss him greatly
but he will always be in our hearts. If it were not for a
wonderful GRIN volunteer who helped us so much at the end,
everything would have been much more difficult for us as we are
also seniors. The GRIN organization is to be commended for all
of the wonderful work they do for these remarkable Golden
Retrievers.
Virginia and Fred Best
BUDDY
 My
son and I feel very fortunate that Buddy came into our
lives and forever home a couple months ago. We think
he's about 3 years old.
He had a few issues at first; because he came from a shelter in
Lakeland, Fl, and then the organization's vet in Ft Myers. He
had kennel cough and he had been altered. There was no history
or background information. He was found by an animal control
officer wandering around Lakeland and he had no collar or
microchip. He was afraid of people, noises, cars, everything.
It was felt that he could have been abused. I like to think he
had a nice family and somehow got loose, wandered far from home,
couldn't find his way back to them and suffered traumatic fear
of no where to go and no one to love him.
 He's
now adjusted to his forever home very well, loves to be petted
and wants attention, is getting much better about being left
alone while I run errands. He loves his walks on his leash
around the neighborhood but is disappointed because he is told
not to try to chase lizards and rabbits. He dotes on attention
neighbors give him because he's such a handsome dog. I had a
trainer come to my home to give obedience lessons and she said
that he already knows how to walk on a leash - she worked on
giving me various commands to use instead of NO and said she
didn't think she needed to come back - just for me to reinforce
commands each time I walk him. She also said that she thought
he'd make a great dog to visit nursing homes and brighten up the
lives of people living there.
I thank Naples GRIN Org for giving me the opportunity to meet,
foster, and adopt Buddy.
Jane B., Sarasota FL
CHANCE
“GRINinc rescue dog takes a leap of faith on finding love with
new family and the Chance pays off”
EMMETT
This is an update on Emmett. He and his mom,
Laurie, have been very busy this summer. They
have been going to school and learning a real
lot. Laurie decided that Emmett needed to have
a job, so they went to class to become a therapy
dog. They have been invited to join the Therapy
Dog International Organization after he passed
their test, which was on July 28. They will be
doing community service work, like going to
hospitals and nursing homes to visit the
patients and residents. Emmett is real excited
about that because that means he will get to
meet more people. He loves people.
 Then
last Tuesday Emmett passed the Canine Good
Citizens course and became a canine good citizen
dog. We really didn’t need to take Emmett there
because we knew he was a good dog but now it’s
official. Some of you saw Emmett when we adopted
him and saw he just wanted a chance to become a
good dog but never was allowed to until Golden
Rescue In Naples saved him. We owe them so much
because Emmett is a special dog.
Bob, Laurie and Emmett
A TRIBUTE TO MY MORGAN
 We
recently lost our 14 year old rescued Golden
Retriever. All our goldens are special but I
would like to tell you why Morgan was so very
special. If you believe that just ONE golden
can dramatically change your life, please take a
few minutes to read Morgan's story. Morgan was
our first rescued golden. I never even knew
that rescues existed but a friend of mine told
me about a great organization in Ohio so I
applied. After one week I got a call about a
dog a little older than what I wanted (sound
familiar?!!), but we decided to go see him. I
wasn't sure I was ready for another dog after
loosing my beloved Flat Coat, Merlin. We saw
Morgan and immediately knew he should come home
with us. Morgan came from a family that
mistreated and severely neglected him. They
took his Golden Retriever spirit away and taught
him to mistrust....hence when we adopted him he
was extremely aloof, mistrusting and very
depressed. It took my husband and I over 6
months to win his trust...he began to show only
a small amount of that neediness that all of
us love about the breed but still no kisses, no
following to the bathroom, no head on the lap,
but at least some tail wags and carrying of
toys. That was a start and he continued to get
better everyday. Over the 91/2 years that we
had him, Morgan became a loyal, loving dog, but
even to his last day he would not go through a
door first and he did have some separation
anxiety. During the first 6 months of his life
with us I was consumed by my goal to make him a
"normal" Golden Retriever...my life became
Morgan and my life became filled with rescue. I
thought that if I could put this much time and
effort into helping one dog, there must be
others out there that need just as much, if not
more, help...so began my interest in the breed
and rescue. It was because of Morgan and my
love for him that I continue to have goldens and
rescue in my life. My life is empty now without
my Morgan...he was my foundation, but my goals
for rescue have not changed...we need to help
all the goldens that we can for as long as we
can....it is a necessity .
"We need to honor that emptiness as a marker to
the soul that resides within"
Sue H.
Morgan will always have a very special place in my heart.
Mary Ellen Metro
DEWEY
 Dewey came to GRINinc almost a
year ago. His previous life was a sad
one...tied to a tree for most of his 6 years, he
was finally rescued by a lady and he thought it
was a beginning of a great life but he was
wrong. Enter a pit bull that pushed his way
into Dewey's life ... they didn't get along so
Dewey had to go. Turned into the shelter, he
was very depressed. He also was labeled as "dog
aggressive" so his days at the shelter were
numbered. One of our volunteers got a call from
a concerned employee at the shelter. This call
was a last ditch effort to save Dewey as he was
a great golden and he was soon to be PTS.
After evaluating Dewey, GRINinc did save Dewey
and he was soon put into a wonderful, loving
foster home. His new foster "parents" were Earl
and Debbie K. Over the many months, Earl and
Debbie vowed to turn Dewey's life around. He
was walked everyday, he had lots of toys
(especially at Christmas time!), he traveled to
car shows, and most importantly he had
acceptance, love and great care. Dewey stayed
month after month in his foster home...still
waiting for a forever home. Placing a 'dog
aggressive' dog is not easy and it takes time.
Enter Kelly and Richard T. Their application
stated they were interested in Dewey.
GREAT...WONDERFUL, but it wouldn't work as they
had a golden named Costa and, despite the fact
that Costa was 14+ and probably would never
bother Dewey, we couldn't take the chance. So
again, Dewey was passed over. In the meantime
Kelly and Richard decided not to get a second
dog until Costa had passed on. Two weeks ago
Kelly and Richard again contacted us and asked
about Dewey. This is the bittersweet part of
the story. Costa had passed on and now they
wanted to welcome Dewey into their home. He
would be the only dog that would receive all
their love and attention. This was Dewey's
lucky day and the beginning of a new life in a
loving forever home.
In rescue....we realize that
there are certain rescue angels that watch over
us and our dogs...and nothing is left to fate
but rather everything has a reason and a
plan....Dewey's story shows us just how real
those rescue angels are.
Thank you Earl and Debbie for
your dedication to Dewey ... and thank you Kelly
and Richard for not forgetting about our Dewey.
It was meant to be.
ROSE
(formerly Hope)
 I
met Rose when she was 4 and got adopted by Jim and Ken. Then Ken
passed away and Jim gave Rose to my Nana and Grandpa.
Rose had to have surgery on her eye. She
is a one eyed Rosebud. I love her so much!!! If I did not have
this wonderful golden in my life, my life would not be the same.
She is more precious than gold to me
because, she is always at my side when I need her and she always
gives me kisses and makes me feel happy. If I have ever had a
rough day, and I see or think about Rose, I feel a lot better
inside.
She is my Rosebud.
By, Hannah 
GOLDIE
We were totally devastated when we lost our 13 ½ year old Golden
Retriever named Jake, 9 months ago. He was everything to us. He
was our baby since our children were married and had lives of
their own. We grieved for many months and wondered if we could
ever love another dog. We decided that we didn’t want to go
through the puppy stage again and thought about a rescue golden.
That’s where Golden Retriever Rescue of Naples and Mary Ellen came
into our lives. We needed to have a dog that would be good with
children since we had five grandchildren.
We received the call we were waiting for. An older, sweet dog
that was great with children. We met Mary Ellen & Goldie and knew
right away that she was the one for us. Goldie was a little over
weight…in fact 20 pounds overweight…too many treats and not enough
exercise! She came home with us and immediately fell into our
active lifestyle. Her daily walks started out slowly at first and
gradually became longer. Healthy rice cakes and apple slices
became her treats. She now weighs 18 pounds less and is much more
energetic.
Six months later we can’t imagine our
life without Goldie. She is a total love. She’s always by our
side and is so polite and well mannered. She loves going on hikes
with us and gets all excited when we bring our packs out because
she knows she gets to go with us on a long walk. She made her
first trip on the Appalachian Trail in the fall and just loved
it. It was as though she had hiked all her life.
Goldie passed her basic obedience
class with flying colors. At 8 years old she was the grandma of
the group. She’s going on to advanced classes and hopefully will
be certified as a therapy dog. Goldie has become the “golden
thread” in our lives.
Golden Rescue In Naples, Inc. is a 501c3 Non-profit organization.
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