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How Do I Love Thee?  Let Me Count the Ways….

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There is nothing in the world cuter than a Golden Retriever puppy. 

How can you resist this face????

 

 

But for many of us, it’s the senior Goldens that tug at our heartstrings.

Those beautiful white “powdered sugar” faces; the wisdom that radiates from their beautiful brown eyes; their gentleness and devotion.

While it’s true that we may not have as long a life together, every second of every day is a blessing that we willingly embrace.  Quite honestly, I can’t imagine my life without a senior Golden…or two!

-          Eileen McFadden, Editor

Several GRRI volunteers have agreed to share their feelings about the senior Goldens in their lives. 

“Bill and I started adopting senior dogs - not by choice  -  in 1998.  Bill’s father came to live with us and brought his 11-year-old Golden, Missy, with him. We had just adopted a 19-month-old Lab mix, Stanley,  from a shelter.  Missy was an old, pampered princess from Ohio who had spent 11 years living with the same loving family as an only dog.  Stanley was a wild boy, found eating out of garbage cans in Princeton, NJ.  It was love and friendship at first sight.  They played and snuggled for the next year and a half and when Missy died Stanley was very sad. We have been adopting senior dogs ever since.”

 

 

Carolyn Decina reports that Allie, adopted at age 7, went into her house and took her own self-guided tour and settled on the dog bed in the kitchen. Allie was happy and content from day one. “Insta-dog” was how Carolyn described it and she wouldn’t trade Allie for all the puppies in the world.

 

 

 

Pam Patton wrote that she will “always have at least one senior in my house”. She has had 3 seniors and says “they are the best dogs I have ever had. They give you unconditional love and they are happy to be in a home.  It is so much fun to see them romping on the beach or playing in the yard like puppies.”

 

 

 

 

Anne Mroz and 11-year-old Marcus are a team after he came to her as a foster. Marcus relaxes in the house until he hears activity in the kitchen; then he moves quickly.  Anne says “we hear the tags on his collar rattle and then we see this sweet face peer around the corner. We laugh every time even though we know what to expect. It always warms our hearts and makes us giggle.”

 

 

 

 

Robin and Brad Slamp say they have a special place in their hearts for seniors. They adopted Sammie when she was 9 years old.  She had been kept in the basement of her surrendering family’s home and was filthy and underweight.  Sammie was fearful in the beginning but 4 months later she had passed her CGC (Canine Good Citizenship) and Therapy dog tests. “Our Princess Sammie was a diamond in the rough and she shined when given the opportunity.”  Sammie died when she was 15 years old “but she will live on in our hearts forever.”  Robin and Brad adopted another senior, 10-year-old Rusty. Rusty is still an energetic and happy boy and is doing well.

 

 

 

 

 

Do you have room in your heart for a senior Golden?

 

“Old Gold surely does shine the brightest”

 

Special thanks to GRRI volunteer Olivia Bergner for submitting  this article. 

 

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