At two years old Roscoe’s prospects were not looking good. Classified a “bite dog,” shelter workers had given Roscoe a death sentence. Reagan was labeled “food aggressive” and also scheduled for death. No one had the time to see that Reagan and Roscoe were terrified by the noise and confusion that surrounded them.
The product of a puppy mill, one-year-old Nigel had such severe hip dysplasia he spent his time sitting or lying down. Nigel had little to no chance at adoption. Bonus was a Golden Retriever whose sole purpose in life was to have more Golden Retrievers. Kept in a pen in her owner’s backyard, Bonus didn’t know what it meant to play and run. For five years, Molly loved and protected her human family until they had to move and leave her behind. Overweight and with a thyroid problem, Molly desperately needed a new family to love and protect.
Golden Retrievers are often called the “family dog” because of their sunny dispositions, their desire to please and their love of all things human. They are the cutest of puppies and the most beautiful of dogs, and they are all too often neglected and abandoned.
That’s why rescue organizations like Arizona Golden Retriever Connection (AZGRC) are so important to the community. AZGRC is comprised of volunteers who perform the hundreds of tasks involved in rescuing Goldens, foster families who open their homes to dogs awaiting adoption, veterinarians who provide medical treatment and services and individuals and families who adopt rescued Goldens and give them a second chance at happiness.
One of the major fundraisers for Arizona Golden Retriever Connection is their annual calendar. The theme for the 2009 calendar is “The Best of Friends,” and it pays tribute to the unique bond that develops between Golden Retrievers who have been cast aside and the humans who rescue them. Like, Roscoe, Regan, Nigel, Bonus, and Molly, all the Goldens featured in the calendar at one time faced an uncertain future and were all rescued by AZGRC. The calendar costs $10 and 98 percent of the sales go directly to rescuing these wonderful dogs. There are a number of locations throughout the area where calendars are sold. To find a location near you, to learn more about Arizona Golden Retriever Connection and their rescued Goldens or to order a calendar online, go to www.azgrc.org.
Submitted photo
