Providing Bright New Beginnings To Displaced Golden Retrievers
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Wisconsin
Adopt A Golden Retriever, Inc. |
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Providing Bright New Beginnings To Displaced Golden Retrievers |
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WAAGR - In Memory 2009
Sometimes, goldens come to WAAGR with ailments that can’t be fixed. While we do everything we can to help them, they cross the rainbow bridge. On this page, we would like to remember those dogs that have touched WAAGR with the courageous spirit, love and loyalty that goldens are known for.
Buddy - #9139 - end of October
He was restless his first night with WAAGR, but the next day he helped us at a Petsmart Adoption Event and had a good time. He headed out to meet his foster family and one volunteer said he really loved the outdoors.
Unfortunately, not long after he came to WAAGR, Buddy crossed the bridge. We miss him and are glad we could help him for the short time we did.
***** I first met Kayla on a sunny, very cold Saturday in January 2006. We were part of a group that drove up to Manitowoc County to pic  k
up the last four of the seven Goldens from a puppy mill that was going
out of business. It was the first group of puppy mill dogs that WAAGR
rescued. One of the gals had to go into the cage to carry Kayla out
because she was hovering in the back, afraid to move. When we got her
out into the fresh air and on the grass she just kept walking in
circles. We coaxed her forward a bit, then ended up carrying her to my
car. We put her in the back seat, where she laid still and didn’t
move. After putting Amber, another of the dogs, in the front seat, I
sat in the back seat with Kayla while my boyfriend drove back to
Milwaukee. During the drive, I reached over to pet Kayla. After awhile
she started to inch her way closer to me, ever so slowly. Eventually
she rested her head in my lap. After getting the boyfriend home, I took
the dogs to Racine where another WAAGR volunteer and I gave them baths
and settled them into a luxurious barn stall for the night. The next
day Kayla and Amber went to their first foster home together.
The two dogs were split up a few months later, with Amber going first to Appleton, then back to Racine, where she was eventually adopted by the volunteer who had bathed her that first night. Kayla moved in with me at the end of May.
Kayla was 9, overweight from her time in the puppy mill, and had numerous medical issues. That first night she walked in circles around and around the kitchen island. You see, for the first nine years of her life, the only way she could move was in circles around her cage. Finally she laid down and let out a big, stress-relieving sigh. Gradually, our other dogs started to teach her about being a regular dog. She learned to enjoy car rides and trips to the dog park. She learned to bark when people came to the door. She loved to go for our daily walks, and after awhile was able to walk three miles without difficulty. Kayla decided that I was her human, and did not let me out of her sight. Snuggling with me was one of her favorite activities. If Kayla wanted something from me, whether it was a scratch or to go outside in the middle of the night, she would nudge me. When new situations came up she did fine as long as I was nearby. Sometimes that meant Kayla was plastered to my side, sometimes she was trying to hide behind me on the couch when we had company. Over the years she also learned to not be afraid of other humans. Whenever she got excited, she would go back to her habit of running in circles.
On Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009, it appeared that Kayla was urinating a lot more than normal. I happened to take another dog to the vet that morning and mentioned it to Dr. Sue. She sent some antibiotics home with me. By Monday morning it was clear that the antibiotics weren’t helping and Kayla was getting worse. Monday afternoon I took her to see Dr. Sue, who determined that Kayla wasn’t able to empty her bladder. We went off to the WVRC to have a catheter put in and determine the cause of the problem. By Wednesday we found out that Kayla had transitional cell cancer, which is basically a tumor blocking her bladder. On Thursday I had them take the catheter out and brought her home. We spent the day together doing her favorite things. Thursday night Dr. Sue came to the house to help Kayla to the Rainbow Bridge. She was surrounded by friends, including her old buddy Amber. It was exactly a week before her 13th birthday.
Kayla was a very special dog, with her ability to love and trust despite the suffering she endured at the hands of humans for the first 9 years of her life. We miss her sweet nature terribly. ***** Annie (nee Nannie) - April 2009 From Annie's foster family: Annie came to WAAGR in March of 2009. Her owner had passed away and .JPG)
Annie found herself in the difficult predicament of being 13 and
homeless through no fault of her own. The shelter that Annie ended
up at called WAAGR to help Annie. She came into our home as a
foster and quickly won over all of our hearts. She loved people and
wanted to be close to everyone at all times. If you started
petting her and stopped she would heavily lay her head on you until you
“got the hint” to start again. We are all so blessed to have been
loved by Annie as she was, by far, the sweetest foster we’ve ever had.
Despite all the love that Annie gave to all of us, it wasn’t enough to save her from developing debilitating seizures. After trips to the vets and several seizures, the difficult decision was made to end Annie’s suffering. She went to the rainbow bridge wrapped in the arms of WAAGR volunteers. She was such a wonderful girl and will be greatly missed for a long time to come. We love you Annie! |
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WAAGR •
12605 West North Avenue, #285 • Brookfield, WI 53005
phone: 414-517-7725 |
