Holiday Reminders

The holidays are a great time to reunite with family and friends, especially for those wonderful canines we own. There is plenty of food and drink around for our lovely golden retrievers to smell and attract their attention around the clock. Here are a few simple precautions you can take to ensure a safe holiday for your pet.

• Refrain from offering any table scraps to your dogs. These holiday foods, such as poultry skin and gravy, may cause severe intestinal problems and diarrhea. Also, poultry bones may splinter and cause internal bleeding.

• Remember golden retrievers are opportunistic at times and counter surf. Place your foods away from any counter or table edge. This should include any gingerbread houses or candy dishes left on any surfaces.

• Beverages such as alcohol and coffee can cause major problems for your golden depending on the amount that is consumed.

• Heart issues can arise from the consumption of chocolate so remove all chocolate from the prying noses of your dog.

• Other foods that could potentially cause tremors, seizures, and abdominal issues: bread dough, grapes, raisins, and macadamia nuts.

• Xylitol - Xylitol is a non-sugar sweetener used in the creation of sugar free foods. It is highly toxic to dogs and can cause liver damage.

• Take the time to write down the contact information for you

r nearest pet emergency hospital. At a time of crisis, this handy reminder will save time and help you get your pet to the nearest emergency room veterinarian.

If your dogs is showing signs of any of the following conditions, you should seek immediate medical attention for your pet.

• lethargy, weakness, being excessively tired, depression or sluggishness
• urine color changes from yellow to orange or even red.
• vomiting
• muscle tremors, seizures, irregular heart rhythm, restlessness
• higher than normal body temperature
• excessive thirst

If the pet vomits, take a picture with your smartphone in order to show your vet. It may reveal details of what was ingested by your golden.

So during this holiday season, take a few extra precautions to ensure your golden retriever remains safe from any unexpected emergencies.

Happy Holidays from GRCGLAR.

Sources - ASPCA

Owner Turn Ins

One of the most heartbreaking moments is when a family has to make a difficult decision to turn in their dog to a rescue.  There could be many reasons for the turn-in: financial difficulties, relocation, or perhaps they can physically no longer care for the animal they love so much.  In every case, GRCGLAR is ready to commit resources to finding a new home for an innocent golden retriever. We have dedicated scouts who visit the shelters in their communities and look for golden retrievers, many of whom are owner turn-ins. We also have an established program for owners coming directly to GRCGLAR.

How does the dog behave an event like an owner turn-in? In most cases, the dog is confused and unsure of what is happening. Because they have lived with a family for a long period of time, all their common references have disappeared, such as a kennel, dog bed, or the backyard.  Often, these turn-ins occur at a shelter, which is a substantial shock in itself.  Many dogs withdraw because their familiar surroundings have drastically changed. Some don't even raise their heads or wag their tails and become anxious or restless. Small medical conditions can become large issues because of the stress a dog receives during a turn-in.

As an owner, consider finding an experienced rescue organization if you are facing the possibility of turning in your dog. Municipal animal shelters are overburdened and may not have the resources needed to re-home your pet. You can surrender your golden to GRCGLAR here.

GRCGLAR uses established protocols to rescue dogs, whether they are owner turn-ins or not. With the experience of placing over 4000 dogs in 10+ years and spanning over 39,500 square miles over 6 counties, you can depend on our organization to finding a new renewed life for your golden retriever, complete with another family full of love and care.

Dogtoberfest '14 - Gold Rush!

Dogtoberfest '14 was held Saturday October 11 and was a huge success! With over 130 people in attendance and over 95 golden retrievers, it was a sight to behold. After a brief setup, the day started off with well over 20 dogs barreling around the two pool, frolicking with tennis balls galore. Often owners had to double take to make sure their dog was their dog.

After hours of playing, it was clear many a dog was tired and there were scenes of dog naps everywhere.

An excellent taco bar was available for lunch and the aroma brought over many a golden to check out the food.  We were also very lucky to have Rita Kao, one of our executive partners in our Project Taiwan program. Rita took time out of her US trip to visit with many of our volunteers and the adopters of the dogs we have rescued from Taiwan. To date, we have saved over 110 golden retrievers from Taiwan. We thank Rita for her continued support from across the Pacific.

A special thanks goes out to Gerri Monohan, Barbara Davis, Joanne Delle, and Nancy Wright, our pack leaders who championed the event from start to finish. Additional thanks goes out to the entire Board of Directors and volunteers whose support and dedication ensured a smooth event for all in attendance. Hopefully, we'll see you next year at Dogtoberfest!

More pictures from the various volunteers can be found at the following links:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/euanc/sets/72157648650945572

https://www.flickr.com/photos/timbers_c/sets/72157648291170009/

Marvin says "See you next year!"

Oct 8 - National Pet Obesity Awareness Day

Oct 8 is National Pet Obesity Awareness Day, a time to determine if your canine or feline is obese (overweight). We all love our pets like children and it's important to know what factors can contribute to their overeating or overweight state.

Based on last years' survey, over 52.6% of dogs and 57.6% of cats are deemed overweight by the national standards. This amounts to over 43.8 millions dogs and 55 million cats nationwide.  Overweight pets can lead to other more serious medical conditions such as osteoarthritis, kidney disease, and diabetes.  There are plenty of nutritional approaches to combatting pet obesity so you should consult your veterinarian for professional advice and educate yourself online about pet obesity.

Read more about pet nutritional needs and calorie requirements here.  Also, you can participate in an independent national survey being conducted to determine how many of our pets are actually overweight, which may help in future treatments for our pets. You can participate free of charge here. In addition, previous years survey results are available to review.

There are plenty of tools and non-medical solutions available to help your pet live longer so please take the time to help your pet live longer.  You can also visit http://www.petobesityprevention.org for more information.

Simple changes can add years to your pets' life.

Scenes from a Jewelry Party

Our gracious partners at Beach Blvd Pet Hospital (BBPH) hosted a wonderful fundraiser last Saturday called the Gold and Silver Bash '14. The entire GRCGLAR family as well as the public was invited to exchange their unwanted jewelry during an evening of food, fun, and friendship.  In addition, Origami Owl presented some unique fashion jewelry available for purchase to all attendees.

 GRCGLAR also had a table setup for fundraising as well as passing out our famous calendars of lovely golden ambassadors.

As a result of your participation, GRCGLAR ended up raising over $1100.00 for our Rescue. A special thank you goes out to Dr Eric Lizardo and Dr Paige Lizardo for hosting the event. Beach Blvd Pet Hospital has been a partner of GRCGLAR for well over 5 years, helping rehabilitate our rescued golden retrievers in the South Coast/Orange County area.   Should you have any vet needs in the area, Beach Blvd Pet Hospital is a trusted partner in your pet's health.

If you are interested in hosting an Origami Owl jewelry party, you can contact Dr Paige directly at the following website:

http://paigelizardo.origamiowl.com/PWPmystory.ashx

Scenes from OC SPCA Western Waggin Day

GRCGLAR Event Booth

The Orange County SPCA held their annual Walk for the Animals in Huntington Beach this past Sunday to help raise money for their regional activities. The "Western Waggin Day" was a wonderful event, combining their walk with a festival complete with food trucks, music, and plenty of fun.  As a regional supporter of their efforts, GRCGLAR had a booth at the event as well as participating in the Walk.  With over 42 booths at the festival, there was plenty to see and do. GRCGLAR had about 10 volunteers at the event throughout the day and recruited over 30 people for the Walk around Central Park.

The weather was sunny but VERY HOT as a subtropical hurricane from Mexico was bringing unusually high temps to Southern California. The high temperature was 88 in Huntington Beach but our Goldens fared very well.
Despite the scorching heat, there was a fairly large turnout for the event. A special thank you goes out to Bruce and Cindy, our wonderful pack leaders of the GRCGLAR booth, as well as all the volunteers and goldens who braved the stifling heat to help the Orange County SPCA. 

More pictures will follow as our volunteers submit them this week.

Walk for the Animals

Ok, I think it's time to REST!

Shade was needed on such a hot day!

Scenes From Strut Your Mutt

On Saturday, GRCGLAR had its most successful Strut Your Mutt walkathon yesterday in the splendid afternoon sun of Pacific Palisades. Behind the backdrop of Will Rogers State Park, we enjoyed the company of our walkers, volunteers, and of course our Goldens.

Roofus

LA Kings Ice Crew

Our special dog Roofus, subject of a nationally televised PBS documentary, was in attendance cheering on the strutters and sporting a very snappy visor. You can read more of Roofus and follow her on Facebook here.

Also visiting our group were the Los Angeles Ice Crew, the official cheer squad for the Stanley Cup Los Angeles Kings.  A special thank you goes out to them for their tireless efforts in the community.

Finally, GRCGLAR reached a personal success with this event as we finished in second place($63,820) in terms funds raised for all volunteer organizations, finishing just behind Cage Free K-9 Rescue Foundation ($91,795). As a result, GRCGLAR has earned a $5,000 grant from the Best Friends Society! The evening was capped off with an evening 30th Anniversary showing of "Dirty Dancing."

Overall, it was wonderful afternoon to be had by all. Hopefully, you will be able to join us at next years' event.

Summer Poster Series #3

The Golden State

There's a reason why they call California the Golden State.....

Shamrock Updates - Vanna Adopted, Updates on Sonny Delight, Winston, and Betti.

We have several Shamrock updates from the summer so keep your seat belt fastened....

Sonny Delight

We have a few youngsters in Rescue named Sonny Delight and Bobby who entered Shamrock in mid-July with some medical issues which have been resolved. Luckily, Bobby has found his forever home a few weeks ago but Sonny Delight is fully recuperated and looking for a wonderful home. Sonny D is about 13 weeks old now but has a face to melt your heart. Read more about Sonny D here.

Winston came to us in early July and we're happy to report he is headed up north to Homeward Bound, our partner in Northern California. We wish him well and are looking forward to updates from Homeward Bound. Read more here.

Betti underwent successful eye surgery while in foster care and is recuperating well.

Vanna (left)

Finally, Vanna, our beloved 4-5 year old female from Devore, has made a complete recovery and we're happy to report she has been adopted by one of our dedicated volunteers from the Inland Empire, Patty. As a failed foster parent she joins an elite group of GRCGLAR volunteers who continue to answer the bell and make a difference in the goldens we save.

To find out more information on the Shamrock Circle Fund, click here.
To donate to the Shamrock fund through JustGive, click here.

If you would like more information on how to become a foster parent, please click here.

And if you would like to be a failed foster, it just takes a little time and love.  Just ask Patty...

Social Media Update

Social Media Anyone? 

Golden Retriever Club of Greater Los Angeles Rescue is on plenty of social media avenues now. With plenty of information to share with our communities, you can choose the "app" of your choice to get the latest information on GRCGLAR. 

Whether you fancy quarterly newsletters containing interesting articles about our Rescue, weblogs highlighting interesting news about goldens from around the world, periodic updates from our successful Shamrock and Project Taiwan programs, OR photos of our beloved Golden Ambassadors around the region, GRCGLAR has YOU COVERED.

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/GRCGLA_Rescue

Like us on Facebook: 

       Group Page: http://www.facebook.com/groups/grcglarescue/

       Community Page: http://www.facebook.com/grcglarescue

See us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/grcglar

Pin us on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/grcglar/

Read about us (RSS) at:

       Golden Times: http://rescueagolden.blogspot.com

       Shamrock Circle Fund: http://shamrockcirclefund.blogspot.com

       Project Taiwan: http://projecttaiwan.blogspot.com

Review us on Yelp:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/golden-retriever-club-of-greater-los-angeles-rescue-los-angeles

Email us at info@grcglarescue.org

Immortalized at Home in Tomich

The Golden Retriever has well established roots, going back to 1868 in the Scottish Highlands southwest of Inverness, near the village of Tomich. With the excellent documentation of Lord Tweedmouth, the lineage of our favorite breed can be completely documented back to these times at this location.

Fast forward to today and the Golden Retriever has become one of the most beloved recognized breeds in the world. Thanks to the Friends of Guisachan there is now an immortalized statue of the Golden Retriever in the canine's ancestral homeland.  The statue of a life-sized golden retriever was created out of  and was placed in the village of Tomich.

The exact location is here:  Lat/Lng: 57°18'14.2"N 4°48'49.6"W

Interestingly, most owners of Golden Retrievers have no knowledge of the word Guisachan and its relation to the Golden Retriever. Guisachan (pronounced GOOSH-a-kin) is the Scottish Highlands area of the 14th century, where Golden Retrievers originated from. Guisachan is also the name of the famous mansion (Guisachan House) from which the goldens were first raised by Lord Tweenmouth. The mansion is quite rundown at present but efforts are underway to raise enough money to restore it to its former glory and stature.

For more information about Guisachan House and the history of the origins of the Golden Retriever, go to the Friends of Guisachan website here.

WoofTrax

GRCGLAR has a new innovative fundraising vehicle and all it takes is a simple FREE app! We have partnered with Wooftrax to help raise money for GRCGLAR.  By simply walking your dog and enabling the Wooftrax app on your smartphone, you can help raise money for our Rescue.

Wooftrax

To get started, simply follow these simple directions:

1). Simply download the app Wooftrax to your iPhone or Android device. You can download the version of your smartphone here.

2) Once downloaded, you simply open up your Wooftrax app and enroll in the program. Your name and email address is required. 

3) Select "Golden Retriever Club of Greater Los Angeles" as the rescue you will be walking for.

4) Press the "Enroll"

5) You will be sent a validation email with a link to click to complete your enrollment. 

Once enrollment is completed, you can configure the Wooftrax app with the particulars of your lovable dog. You can then begin walking your dog on walks of any length. Wooftrax tracks the numbers of miles you have walked. 

Best of all, GRCGLAR receives funds several times a year based on the numbers of miles walked as well as the number of walkers. We'll provide ongoing updates as to how our Walkers and Golden Ambassadors are doing all year long.

So the call is out for the Friends of GRCGLAR to download Wooftrax and enjoy your favorite pastime with your dog: STAY FIT and WALK with Wooftrax!

Mid-Year Adoption Update

We've had a very successful year placing dogs and here is our mid-year report on all the dogs we've placed throughout Southern California.  We've had 66 dogs placed since the beginning of the year and while summer is generally the slow time of the year, we still take in a large amount of dogs. Geographically, half our goldens were placed in Los Angeles County with second place going to Orange County. 10% of our dogs went to the outlying counties (Ventura, San Diego, Riverside, and San Bernardino).

To all those NEW families who have welcomed a rescued golden into their family, we welcome you into the 3000+ adoptive families of GRCGLAR.  Our family grows each month thanks to your support and interest in saving golden retrievers.

On behalf of the entire volunteer corps at GRCGLAR, we thank you!



July

Chia was adopted by the "F" family in San Dimas

Monty was adopted by the "S" family in Garden Grove

TJ Buddy was adopted by the "B" family in Northridge

Carter was adopted by the "W" family in Long Beach

Rollie was adopted by the "W" family in Los Angeles

Maks was adopted by the "Z" family in Costa Mesa

Jerry was adopted by the "T" family in Studio City

June

Stewart was adopted by the "W" family in Tustin

Cruiser was adopted by the "B"family in Fullerton

MacDuff was adopted by the "V" family in Thousand Oaks

McKinley was adopted by the "E" family in Los Angeles

Honey Bear was adopted by the "M" family in San Clemente

Rita’s Hunter was adopted by the "D" family in Torrance

Roxee was adopted by the "H" family in Manhattan Beach

Spud was adopted by the "D" family in Alpine

Rango was adopted by the "P" family in Laguna Hills

May

Sonny was adopted by the "W" family in Hollywood


Dex was adopted by the "T" family in Buena Park


Rita’s Captain was adopted by the "P" family in San Clemente


Bittersweet was adopted by the "D" family in Santa Clarita


Ernie was adopted by the "S" family in Tustin

Jackie was adopted by the "L" family in Agua Dulce

Caleb was adopted by the "D" family in Burbank

James was adopted by the "M" family in Studio City

Andie was adopted by the "N" family in Pomona

Ciara was adopted by the "C" family in Long Beach

Oliver was adopted by the "H" family in Ontario

Nolan was adopted by the "R" family in Stevenson Ranch

Quiana was adopted by the "S" family in Ladera Ranch

Bebe was adopted by the "S" family in Diamond Bar

Trixie was adopted by the "E" family in Laguna Beach

Chewey was adopted by the "S" family in Rancho Palos Verdes

 Lacey and Lamont were adopted by the "L" family in Tustin (A bonded pair kept together...woohoo)

April

Feather was adopted by the "W" family in Burbank

Gingerella was adopted by the "S" family in San Gabriel

Margie was adopted by the "R" family in Yorba Linda

Tucker was adopted by the "L" family in Coto de Caza

Hailey was adopted by the "S" family in Westchester

Ethan was adopted by the "M" family in Calabasas

Printz was adopted by the "L" family in Del Mar

January-March

Rosaleen was adopted by the "C" family in Laguna Beach

Lisbeth was adopted by the "M" family in Claremont

Keno was adopted by the "T" family in Studio City

Crockett was adopted by the "T" family in Mission Viejo

Kringle was adopted by the "E" family in Yorba Linda

Duncan was adopted by the "C" family in La Jolla

Diesel was adopted by the "F" family in Moorpark

Maggie’s Hero was adopted by the "C" family in Claremont

Arlette was adopted by the "M" family in Tustin

Aaron was adopted by the "S" family in Los Angeles

Rita’s Ye-Zi was adopted by the "H" family in Aliso Viejo

Rita’s Lime was adopted by the "W" family in Playa del Rey

Frazier was adopted by the "H" family

Honey Boo Boo was adopted by the "B" family in Laguna Niguel

Cisco was adopted by the "M" family in Valencia

Spring was adopted by the "M family

Vicki was adopted by the "D" family in Santa Clarita

Luke 13 was adopted by the "L" family

Bradey was adopted by the "M" family in Tustin

Dexter and Didi were adopted by the "H" family in Glendale

Rita's Honey was adopted by the "T" family in Orange

Clare was adopted by the "J" family in La Canada

Molasses was adopted by the "C" family in Orange

Rufus 14 was adopted by the "S" family in Topanga

Eddie was adopted by the "S" family in Los Angeles

*For privacy purposes, the family name has been omitted.

#grcglar #rescueagolden

Update on Shamrock: Molly

Molly is a 12 year female golden from the Inland Empire who came to us in June and was in a difficult situation medically.  GRCGLAR did a tremendous job healing our Molly and we are happy to report that after a few procedures, she is ready to find her forever home....

You can read about her origins here.

And you can read about her amazing recovery here.

A special thank you goes out to all our Shamrock Donors who constantly provide the support for our special needs dogs. Your financial support is invaluable!

Summer Poster Series #2

Doggie Street Fest Report from San Diego!

We had an excellent turnout at the Doggie Street Fest in San Diego on July 12. Thank you to all who stopped by, donated to our rescue, and visited with our Golden Ambassadors. Your support is greatly appreciated!

From our event manager Mary:

Yesterday’s Doggie Street Fair was a huge success!  There was lots of sunshine, plenty of people, and a bunch of pooches in every size, shape and description.  The venue could not have been a better site.  Although all the booths were side by side with no space between, we had plenty of grass in front of us so we could comfortably show off our Golden Ambassadors.  With the help of all our amazing volunteers we were able to work the crowds.  Many of the attendees who stopped by our booth showed interest in adopting and fostering.  The basket raffle was also a success, we received $500 in donations!

I would like to thank the volunteers who help make the Doggie Street Fair a success:  Barbara R did all the leg work to get GRCGLAR on the Doggie Street Festival’s list of participants.  In spite of being jet lagged, Barbara and Woody helped with the set up and stayed for most of the day.   This was Johanna V’s first event, she was our photographer, helped set up and also worked the crowds.  Ed and Najia had their beautiful Annie and Laverne with them.  Bruce and Cindy brought the magnificent trio of Benny, Walle and Parker — who now has 2 events under his collar.  Nancy and Ellie May took the late afternoon shift and helped with the take down.  Carole C. and Sue C. also participated in this event.  A special thank you goes out to Bonnie W. who was the first one to arrive and the last one to leave.  She has a natural talent for getting people to participate in our basket raffle and talked to countless attendees about our Rescue.  Everyone gave their all today on behalf of our sweet Goldens.

Pet Safety

As Southern California residents, we are tuned to the various issues of our area: traffic, good weather, a championship hockey team, and more traffic. However, we sometimes forget to plan for one of the most important issues for residents: earthquakes. Consequently, we forget to make our earthquake kits until we actually experience an earthquake. So given the warmth of summer and your impending vacation, invest a bit of time and make an earthquake kit for yourself and each of your pets. Here is a suggested list for your pet emergency kit.

3-7 days' worth of food, either dry or canned

Disposable trash bags

Liquid dish soap and disinfectant

First aid kit

Pet feeding dishes

Extra collar or harness as well as an extra leash

Photocopies or scanned copies of medical records and a waterproof container with a two-week supply of any medicine your pet requires 

Bottled water, at least 7 days' worth for each person and pet. Recommended amount is 1-2 gallons a day.

A traveling bag, crate or sturdy carrier, ideally one for each pet

Flashlight and extra batteries

Blankets

Recent photos of your pets (in case you are separated and need to make "Lost" posters)

Especially for dogs: Extra leash, toys and chew toys, a week's worth of cage liner.

Important Considerations: 
A camping water filter may be useful in the event of a water shortage.

Food and medications need to be rotated out of your emergency kit once every 2-3 months, otherwise they lose their usefulness or potency. 

A plastic tub for storing items is useful and should be stored in a location easily accessible, such as a backyard shed. Zip tie the tub to prevent animals from opening it.

A microchipped pet has a higher chance of retrieval in the event your pet gets lost in the earthquake.

A smaller earthquake survival kit for your auto is useful. Use an old backpack for storage of your items. 

We all love our golden retrievers so please take the time to prepare ahead of time. For more information, please check out the following websites for useful pertinent information for disaster preparedness.

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/disaster-preparedness
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2011/03/preparing-for-earthquakes.html

Summer Poster Series

Help us help these wonderful goldens....

Vanna's Recovery is continuing...

Vanna is making a speedy recovery in the few weeks we have had her.   She is experiencing a moderate infection but is being treated with antibiotics and should be back to full health in a few more days. 

The tick problem has been eliminated and we've adjusted her diet so Vanna is eating enormous meals now. She has already put on 5lb, so we hope that she will reach her ideal weight soon. 

This little girl's golden personality is starting to show itself in her foster home - she loves to eat, play and learn ! We have also discovered that Vanna is a quick learner as she already uses the doggie door at her foster home and is now learning some other basics, like sit and come.

You can read about her rescue here. And if you would like to contribute to her recovery, please donate to our Shamrock Circle Fund in her name. 

More updates to follow in the coming weeks...