On that cold January day things started into motion that would bring me to my now "forever" home.  It just happened that two wonderful ladies, Mary & Margaret, were visiting a couple on the very same day in Adell, Wis, for a home visit.  They had became new members a week before and were looking for a dog just like me.  After my two week visit with Frank the dog behavioralist in Big Bend, my family finally came to my rescue and took me into their home.

 

Upon my arrival a very big surprise awaited:  I have a TWIN sister.  Okay, she is three years old, but it like looking into a mirror and seeing myself.  Even my new family had a difficult time telling us apart, so I received a bright red necklace to help them out.  I am learning how to play ball with Dan and Casey.  This may take some time since I am not sure how to play, but I am eager to learn.  I have found a much better sport that I enjoy far more:  Stalking the fish in my big new pond.  I guess later this spring I will also try to swim like my big sister does when she chases the balls.  Every night when I come home from my day job at the office with Laura, we take a stroll through the woods.  So many new smells!  I just watch Casey and follow her lead.  That is what a big sister is for though, right?  At night time I love watching TV:   It is so cool, especially America's Home Videos.  The best time at home is bedtime.  I can sleep any where I want.  What a change!  I can lay on Dan, and get love and attention.

 

At this time I would like to say thanks to everyone at WAAGR that played a role in helping me come to my new forever home.  You guys & girls do a great job at what you do.  Keep up the good work.  I know there are plenty more of us out there that will be as happy as me to get a new home.  As my adventure here continues, so will my stories.  Your best friend, Emma

DARLA
We were visited by a consultant from WAAGR in March 2010 for the first step in the adoption process.  She was on her way back from picking up a 5-month-old Golden mix from Indiana.  She brought the puppy in and although we were looking for an actual Golden, I fell for this black pup immediately.  Our family has had Goldens for more than 15 years and have never wanted anything else, but she was so well behaved and beautiful.  Her name was originally Duchess, but we changed her name to Darla.  She had been adopted by a soldier, but he was transferred overseas and couldn’t keep her.  Darla liked to chew, especially our coffee table!  But what a lover!  She is full of energy, but loves to cozy up in bed with me after my husband feeds her at 4:30 a.m. and heads off to open our bait shop.  She LOVES to swim!  She’ll retrieve a toy from Lake Michigan and jump over the waves all the way back like a porpoise.  Darla has also learned how to “talk” she says “I love you” in a howl.  Darla is a unique addition to our once very calm family.  She is the apple of our eyes and we are very lucky to have her in our lives. I have never owned a dog with such a funny and super-smart personality.  It seems as if she knows every word that we say and has no interest in running away.  Darla also herds us while we walk; it’s very funny how she touches her nose to our legs as we walk and directs us.  Sometimes I have to say “Darla, quit herding me.”  There will never be another dog like her.  I am very proud to have added her photo to my wall of previous Golden Retrievers; she really stands out as she is the only black-coated dog on the wall. Thank you WAAGR!

HARLEY and SCOUT
Hi, our names are Harley (5 years) and Scout (8 months), and we are so grateful to have found our forever home with a nice couple in Madison, Wis.  We were both in separate families who could no longer care for us, and surrendered us in June 2010.  We were placed in foster care together and quickly became good friends.  We were so excited to find out that a couple was willing to adopt both of us and we would have the same forever home.

JIGGY
Hello my friends at WAAGR.  Since my mom's a teacher, she said I had to do this dumb ole' book report to update you on this thing she calls my forever home - I call it 24-hour recess!  I was rescued by WAAGR in April from a puppy mill in Oklahoma.  When I got here, I really needed some attention and I got it from my foster parents.  Then, one day, these people came over and started paying a lot of attention to me.  The next thing you know, I'm in this house that has a great, big yard and a lake!  Oh yeah, did I mention my sassy new sister too?  Her name is Shandy.  We do a lot of stuff together, OK, we do EVERYTHING together!  We have this big basket called the toy box, and it has SO much fun stuff in it, and it's magic too!  When we wake up in the morning, all the toys are in there to start the day again.  Woo hoo! 

For some reason, my mom keeps squirting us with the hose, so I just attack the part where the water comes out.  Sometimes I get water up my nose!  Then she fills up this bathtub and calls it a "swimming pool."  I just play along and lay in it with my tennis ball.  I also just got my very first report from my school.  It said I graduated or something like that.  My dad likes to play this game called "Get the Birds."  It's a riot!  There are these big geese that come up on the lawn, and when they get close, dad sends us out and says "Get the Birds!"  We run up and scare them so they fly away!  It's fun!  The best part is when he brings us swimming in the lake afterwards, but then mom gives us a bath.  I'm still not sure why mom gives us a bath after swimming in the lake, maybe she doesn't know we are already wet.  Oh well, it's worth it, but we sure are tired afterwards. 

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I think I'm taking pretty good care of the people called mom and dad, and my sassy sister Shandy too.  The funny part is they spoil me for taking such good care of them.  If they only knew I would do this for free!  Shhhh......

MAC
From this foster family:  I can't begin to tell you how much we love having Mac as part of our family.  It's funny how fast you become attached.  He has really settled in now and is so relaxed.  He plays in the field next door with our neighbor's dog.  They watch for each other, and bark to let each other know they are out to come on out and play!  The kids just adore him and the only argument we have is whose room will he sleep in.  He loves his tennis ball, but his true love is whittling sticks, and playing football with the kids with a squeaky football.  He absolutely loves to ride in the car!  He even comes to drop the kids off at school and pick them up.  He rides in the back seat of the car up north and we can order take out food.  Everyone can be eating around him and he just sits quietly, and doesn't beg or drool or anything!  He loves our cottage and the lake.  This summer he even taught himself how to climb up on the raft and jump off with the boys.   Please let the folks at WAAGR know how thankful we are to have him in our lives and to keep up the good work!