Grace (f/k/a Katie) Update and "Where have we been??"

We're happy to tell you that Grace (f/k/a Katie) has blossomed into a happy confident girl in her new home! Her new family sent us pictures of her at their weekend home (complete with a pond!). Although it looks like she's not the swimming type like her new brother Hayden, she definitely is enjoying the country and her safe new home!

While brother Hayden swims, Grace watches and takes a few notes in case she changes her mind about the whole swimming thing (she does reserve the right to change her mind!).

Hayden may be tired from swimming, but Grace is not and she wants to play!

Time to run around the pond and the girl ALWAYS gets to lead!

In case you're wondering where we've been ... the crew has been very busy getting ready to launch our new website. The last meeting before we go live is Saturday. It looks so good, we can't wait to show it off. Stay tuned!!!

A REALLY good day for Katie

Katie hit the jackpot today. She had an appointment to meet a family who was interested in adopting her. They were touched by her story and thought they could give her the loving, secure home that she needed and deserved.

She was shy at first, but always her sweet self. The decision to adopt her was easy, especially after she and Haden exchanged kisses! She's going to a home with another Golden, named Haden, two King Charles Spaniels, a couple of cats, a couple of grandchildren, a mom who works from home ... and the best: a weekend house in the country with a pond!

It's been a blessing to see her transformation and we all look forward to hearing from her family as she becomes the Golden she was always meant to be: HAPPY, SAFE, and LOVED!


Katie (left), Vanna (center) and Haden

Why we do it: Katie, A Rough Start

Friday, June 26th started with a call from GBGRR volunteer, Joel R. who had a medium sized crate that he and his wife Kelly wanted to donate. Always in need of crates for our foster families, he dropped the crate off at a fellow volunteer's house. We knew it wouldn't be empty for long...

Katie is a sweet young girl with gold eyes. She's warming up to her foster siblings and less than 24 hours with them, she felt safe enough to walk out of her crate and sit in the middle of them, waiting patiently for a treat. She'll walk on a leash (preferably if foster brother Pecos is near) and understands that she needs to take care of business when she is outside. Katie has been through a lot, her introduction to rescue started when she was thrown from a car onto a freeway. Banged up and bruised, Katie is afraid but when she looks at you there is no doubt that she is willing trust again.

Katie's intake picture:

Here's an uplifting update from Katie's foster mom, Joanie P.: "Thanks to the good samaritans who rescued this frightened and scraped up young female golden on the highway and for saving her life..and for reminding us that there are so many caring and wonderful people in this world. Katie is young, between one and two years old, but seems to have spent her short life having puppies. She weighed 54 pounds when she came to us-her ideal weight will be around 60 lbs. She had us worried at first, as she was so frightened that she wouldn't even stand up.

Every new experience would start her trembling, but after just a few weeks with her 3 foster brothers and sister she has become an enthusiastic, happy girl. Her tail, once hidden away, tucked between legs, now wags all the time. She is like a delicate little fawn compared to my dogs, but loves to be with them, and learns daily how to be a golden: stuffed toys terrified her at first, now she proudly carries one around, and even prances! Our vets recommended this period of building her up mentally and physically before she is spayed, but she will soon be ready for her forever home. This gentle girl has learned some basic obedience already, and would love the comfort and support of a family with another dog."

Katie isn't afraid to be out of that recently donated crate, but you will find her in it when it's time to catch some zzzz's. Get ready Katie, life is going to be really great for you!

Thanks to Joel and Kelly for the donated crate that made Katie feel so safe and thanks to Joanie, Travis, Pecos and Shiloh for starting Katie back on the road to recovery. She might not know how many guardian angels she has watching over her, but we sure do and although we call them "volunteers" they're just as special as guardian angels.