JackieMaya

Wow! That's great that so many people are signing the petition. Let's hope it actually does some good!

I'm sure [i][b]Buddy[/b][/i] will be just fine and be heartworm-free and live a long, happy life with you! Give him a hug for me! [i][b]Brutus[/b][/i], one of the big Golden boys I'm interested in adopting, was heartworm positive and had the treatment in August. They say that he needs to get a follow-up blood test four months after that (so I guess that would be December). They said they were glad when they could take the tennis balls back out of storage so he could play! My Golden ([i][b]Cracker[/b][/i]) that I had when I was a teenager had heartworm when he was 2 years old. He had the treatment and was a big happy, healthy Golden boy until he passed away from cancer when he was 9 years old. Here's a picture of [i][b]Cracker[/b][/i] (with my dad) when he was a Golden oldie. [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0VgByAEcbFcAkLLe8Rqhj7YhKqUvCmW8VFlzhwBfUHTehh5OS7wzNuwpdPeIiyCemqiok5Oq3oDNAA9Fmrm8kjzBwZ4rmqhnowMeVnJ80zm2g4MB1J16*o*uuhoYWvuR4/dad-cracker.jpg?dc=4675495865884088728[/img]

The only carpeting I have in my whole house is on the steps going downstairs, and the only rugs I have are inside the front and the back doors. When my girls come inside after getting all wet, I drape a towel (I call it their "bathrobes") over each of them as they come in the door, and they stand there until I dry off their bodies and wipe their feet. My kitchen floor is linoleum, so it's very easy to clean up. Here are some of our inside games: "Hide under the blanket" is where I throw a blanket over Maya, and Jackie tries to find her. Sometimes I'll hide under the blanket too. This is their favorite inside game. And sometimes we'll play hide and seek where I'll go around the circle through the kitchen and living room, and as soon as one of them sees me, I hurry up and go the other way. And my dogs' favorite inside "toy" is a Diet Coke carton. They love to rip them up. They don't eat them, just rip them up. And they never rip up anything else.

Kat, to answer your question about why they don't bring the dog you want to adopt, I guess they just want to make sure that your dogs and home will be suitable before they move the foster dog around? I don't really know. Sometimes you don't get the dog you were really interested in because the personalities aren't right, or someone else gets them first, or whatever. I don't think that all rescues in the U.S. do it this way, but the one I'm going through is very thorough and really want to make sure that the dog who is being adopted will stay there for the rest of its life. When I adopted [i][b]Jackie[/b][/i] and [i][b]Maya[/b][/i] (from a different rescue), I just called them up and told them who I was interested in, I went to see the dog the next day and brought them home. Breed rescues tend to be much more thorough then non-breed rescues (like the one I got [i][b]Jackie[/b][/i] and [i][b]Maya[/b][/i] from).

[i][b]Maya[/b][/i] passed the home visit! The dog she brought was real laid back, and when [i][b]Maya[/b][/i] would start barking (not aggressive barking, just "Hi there, I want to play" barking) he just basically ignored her. He had the look on his face like "won't she ever shut up?" But it went great! She said that it would definitely have to be just the right dog to fit in there, but that they're not worried about [i][b]Maya[/b][/i] being aggressive. She's just enthusiastic, not aggressive. So now I'll get calls from the foster parents and go from there. Once I find a dog (hopefully [i][b]Hogan[/b][/i] or [i][b]Brutus[/b][/i]) that we think will put up with [i][b]Maya[/b][/i], I'll have several visits with the girls and the boy both at the foster home and at my home. They just got 7 new dogs into foster homes too that haven't been put up yet on their website. So things are progressing!

I signed as No. 5691! Let's hope People Magazine takes this petition seriously and publishes an article advocating dog adoption and denouncing puppymills!

I'm going to have a follow-up home visit tomorrow (Wednesday). They're a little concerned about whether [i][b]Maya[/b][/i] will accept another dog. So a different person is going to bring her male dog who she said is real laid back and if a dog growls or barks at him, he just kind of ignores them. And she talked with the dog behaviorist to see how best to introduce the three dogs. We're going to have her bring her dog in the back yard while my girls are in the house. Then I'll let [i][b]Jackie[/b][/i] out first and let her play with the other dog. Then I'll let [i][b]Maya[/b][/i] out and see how they all do (starting on a leash first). Then on Friday I take the girls to "doggie camp" and from Saturday to Wednesday I'll be in Florida visiting my elderly uncle with my brother and sister-in-law. I get back around 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, and depending on when I get home, I might pick up the girls on Wednesday. But if they would only be home with me for like an hour, then I'll wait until Thursday. Wish me luck!

Here's a picture of the finished dog house! [img]http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/monsterhouse/houses/dog/gallery/mh32_house_after.jpg[/img]

... but here is the latest update on the website for [i][b]Hogan[/b][/i]: [quote]10/31/04: Hogan has become a good friend these last few months, and has made a lot of improvements. He is just the sweetest dog. I hope someone adopts Hogan soon, because the longer he is here, the more I like him! He likes to follow me around the house, but sits and waits quietly when I am on the computer. He is a loyal dog that would love to be the center of attention (what Golden wouldn't?). Hogan has plenty of puppy left in him and just needs someone to give him a chance. Meet him and you won't be disappointed![/quote] I told the person at my home visit that I'm going to Florida this weekend, and she said that I would hear back "way before then." I'll be gone from Saturday until Wednesday, so hopefully I'll hear something before I leave. I'll let you know when I hear anything.

Jackie and Maya and I are all going to be couch potatoes. But we're the only ones who will see our "costumes."

I'm glad little Tigger came through her eye surgery okay. Poor little girl.

Believe me, I know the feeling! It was over a month after I submitted my application before I got my home visit last Sunday. She said that I should hear within 2-3 days (haven't heard anything yet). On their website they said it can take up to 2 weeks before you hear anything! All of the older dogs on the Golden Retriever rescue site have been there for so long. The two 8 year-old boys I'm interested in have been there since July! And here they have someone wanting to adopt an older dog. At least they're all in foster homes and not in a kennel. It's frustrating. Good luck!

I love this!

I'm so glad you got Tequila back safe and sound! You're very lucky that such a nice man found her and took care of her until you found her. You're a good mom. Like everyone else said, this kind of stuff happens when you have dogs. I don't know how many times I had to go around the neighborhood trying to find Maya until I started putting her on a cable in the back yard. Congratulations on getting your baby home!

I'm so glad that Abby is okay! I watch Emergency Vets on Animal Planet a lot, and they do exactly what you said: induce vomiting and give them charcoal. Usually they'll be okay as long as you get them to the vet right after they've ingested the bad stuff. Goofy dogs! They just like to make us crazy!

I also agree with most of the posters here. I don't like to see dogs chained out all day. But my dog, Maya, has to be on a cable when she's in the back yard because she's a fence jumper. I would rather have her tied out than have her jump the fence and get hit by a car. But her cable is 35 feet long, and she can use most of the yard and run and play and wrestle with my other dog, Jackie. They definitely need to rework the wording on the proposed legislation. It definitely wouldn't be feasible the way it's worded now.

I had my home visit on Sunday, and it went great. Maya wasn't too sure about having the volunteer's 3 year-old male dog in HER yard, so she was barking at him a lot. When they all finally settled down, they all sniffed each other and it was fine, and then HE would let out a little growl and Maya would start barking again. I think she scared him! Anyway, the volunteer said that her other dog is a lot like Maya. She said that they would be able to find a dog that would fit in with my girls, but it would have to be a submissive, mellow dog at least 8 years old, and probably male. She said that I should hear within 2-3 days if I'm accepted (which I'm sure I will be), and then I'll start hearing from the foster parents. I told her I was interested in Hogan and Brutus. So I would probably go visit each of the dogs by myself first, and then Jackie and Maya and I would have several visits at the foster home so that they can get to know each other away from home. Then once the new dog would come home with me, I have a two-week trial period (that period is flexible) to see if it will work out. They also have a dog behaviorist that can help smooth the transition. I'm going to Florida over the weekend of November 6th, so my hope is that I can get several visits in with the new dog before and/or after my trip, and then maybe the new boy could come home with us over the Thanksgiving weekend since I have two days off. That way I would have four full days with my newly expanded family. I'll let you know as soon as I hear any news! Cross your fingers!

me either!

I would have laughed my butt off if I had seen that! LOL

I did the double gates when I had to have my ceiling fixed after it caved it after rain damage. It worked out just great. Here's a picture of my double dog gate: [img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0UwB9A2MaI3QZ9MyuwnIkpGA*o2wFVH81rkET7W*QO9LqEHfKZI7SZfbx0CBIJydCSsh8Oov81h*m5InaeOhhi*Qb9MhQ97zI0sfyLVAXhRLfB*GBzwOr25kPOPHOKHkk/doggates.jpg?dc=4675493824241292761[/img] P.S. I have gotten new wallpaper and a new kitchen floor since this picture was taken. I finally got my house out of the 70s!

[i][b]Hogan[/b][/i] was the main one I was interested in. But [i][b]Brutus[/b][/i] is another 8 year-old Golden who is another possibility if they don't think [i][b]Hogan[/b][/i] would work out with my girls. Here's [i][b]Hogan[/b][/i]: [img]http://www.ragom.org/pictures/Pictures2004/Hogan04135b.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.ragom.org/pictures/Pictures2004/Hogan04135c.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.ragom.org/pictures/Pictures2004/Hogan04135d.jpg[/img] Here's [i][b]Brutus[/b][/i]: [img]http://www.ragom.org/pictures/Pictures2004/Brutus04261b.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.ragom.org/pictures/Pictures2004/Brutus04261d.jpg[/img]

I FINALLY got contacted by the Golden Retrieiver rescue site today, and I'll be having my home visit this weekend. The volunteer who will be doing the visit will be bringing her 3 year-old male Golden with her, and she'll see how I have my home and yard set up, and will see how Jackie and Maya get along with another dog in their house and yard. Then I'll see if she thinks that a third dog would fit in with my girls and my schedule. After the home visit, it usually takes about two weeks until you find out if you're approved. THEN you get to meet the actual dog you want to adopt. So... things are racing along at a snail's pace right now, but at least things are starting to happen! I'll keep you updated as to how things go.

We used to love the bald eagles flying overhead at our lake home. But if my brother had his Cocker Spaniel there when the eagles were out, we made sure we kept a real close eye on him. You could tell that a few of the eagles were checking him out as a possible meal.

[i][b]Brutus[/b][/i] is another dog that the local Golden Retriever rescue shelter is offering for adoption. He's 8-9 years old and over 100 pounds; another big boy! He looks like he would be a good match for my girls too. So if it doesn't work out with [i][b]Hogan[/b][/i], maybe it'll be [i][b]Brutus[/b][/i]. [img]http://www.ragom.org/pictures/Pictures2004/Brutus04261b.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.ragom.org/pictures/Pictures2004/Brutus04261d.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.ragom.org/pictures/Pictures2004/Brutus04261c.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.ragom.org/pictures/Pictures2004/Brutus04261a.jpg[/img] Here's what they say about [i][b]Brutus[/b][/i]: [quote]Brutus was found as a stray in southern MN and the local humane society was unable to locate his original family. RAGOM was contacted and we are the lucky ones to be his foster family. Brutus is one COOL dog and an easy-going guest. He is calm, relaxed and a joy to have around. Brutus is a big guy and tips the scales at a whopping 120 pounds and is now on a diet to bring his weight down. He is neutered and has a beautiful red coat. When he was found his coat was very matted. The volunteer who picked him up from the humane society removed most of his mats and worked on brushing out his coat. Brutus then went to our local groomer and received a bath and further clipping. The mats did create a somewhat ragged look but his coat is soooo beautiful that as it grows out it will be glorious. Brutus is heartworm positive and is scheduled to begin treatment this Monday followed by weeks of restricted activity. The vet found him to be in overall good health and estimates his age at 8-9 years. Brutus is affectionate and an absolute love. He enjoys taking walks, is well behaved on a leash and gets along well with the other dogs he has met. He is a giant sweetheart. Brutus is housebroken and well mannered. I would recommend that Brutus live in a home without cats. He does like to chase our cat and his enthusiasm to play may pose a problem. Brutus is a “chow hound” and will counter surf looking for food. Once I reorganized my kitchen this has not been a problem. I can relate. It’s hard to be on a diet. UPDATES: 9/14/04: Brutus had guests on the Labor Day Weekend, a three month old puppy name Kya and her human family. It was such fun to watch him enjoy playing with a puppy. He loved the extra company, social interaction and attention. Brutus is such an easy going guy and a real love. He loves to take walks down our country road and explore the grasses growing along the edge. The exercise and good diet are trimming his weight and he is looking good. His coat is growing back and he is quite a handsome Golden. Everyone who has met Brutus has fallen with love with him. He is a sweet, loving dog. Now he just needs his own family. Brutus is ready to find his new home. He is a wonderful boy and is a great foster dog. 10/4/04: Brutus brought me to the RAGOM picnic and both of us had a wonderful time. Brutus loved all the attention and enjoyed the company of all the other beautiful goldens. He loves other dogs, people and the water. Brutus is one great dog looking for a home. He is an adaptable dog and loves to cuddle up. Brutus is a joy.[/quote]

The rescue shelter I adopted Jackie from got her from the pound, so there was no history on her. The possibility of her going through her first heat before getting spayed would make a lot more sense to me that the possibility of her having given birth before I got her (when she was 1-1/2). Thanks for the info!