Summer Stories from AGA
|
Hope everybody is having a wonderful summer in the shade! There are lots of events and stories to share in this month's newsletter, so please read on. Spread the Golden word -- please feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and family who would be interested in either Adopt A Golden Atlanta or being a summer foster! |
|
My Foster Story - Nancy & Art Molitor |
Since we have lived with dogs all our married life, namely Golden Retrievers, for almost 24 years, our house suddenly felt very empty without a canine family member to greet us at the door, sleep on top of our feet, lap out of the toilet or remind us it was too nice a day to be inside. Since Art retired several years ago, we are free to be on the go a lot, especially in the spring and summer, so we knew we couldn't be good dog owners at this stage of our lives. When we heard about AGA, we knew it was the perfect solution for us. By becoming fosters, we can now offer good care and a loving home to rescue dogs in transit, but on our own schedule, without the long-term responsibilities of pet ownership. Sometimes we have a dog for a week, sometimes for six weeks. But in three years of fostering we have always been able to keep our commitments, right up to the point of moving our furry pals into their forever homes.
Art Molitor and Rufus |
The payback is great! Because we are pretty active people ourselves, we enjoy having a dog who is ready to jump in the car and head for a hike, a swim or a good romp in the woods. We have also had several opportunities to work with Angie Woods at U.S. Canine behavioral training, which has improved our understanding of dog behavior and discipline. Thanks to that combination, most of our foster dogs have been young, active males, and we have fallen in love with every one of them!
If you'd like to help by fostering a Golden, we are always looking for loving new fosters! Visit our website for more information and an application. | |
|
Miss Shadow, August Orphan of the Month |
 Meet Miss Shadow, our August Orphan of the Month! Miss Shadow is a 13 year old purebred golden retriever. She was once the neighborhood dog in a rural county of south Atlanta where she was always being passed around. A very small rescue group that happened to be there called AGA and let us know about this adorable girl in need.
Miss Shadow is in good health and housebroken. She can't handle steps because her hips are not what they used to be. She needs a comfortable home where she can get the love she needs. So if you're looking for a furry friend who just wants to stick by your side, Miss Shadow might be the girl for you! Check out her video online and get to know Miss Shadow! |
From the AGA Mailbox: Ricky's Story
| |
Ricky is a golden I adopted from AGA when he was 6 years old. He is now around 10 years old and works daily in my office, Barrack Spine and Joint Medicine. He also works with my associate in his physical therapy gym, East Cobb Physical Therapy.  He has been so wonderful for my patients and for those receiving physical therapy as well. Jimmy Biga, the physical therapist of East Cobb PT, specializes in the elderly and this patient population is especially happy with the work Ricky does. We have named him VP of Human Relations and Customer Morale. Often I will see people in pain with something like multiple sclerosis or severe spine arthritis and their sad face will turn into a smile when they see Ricky with his gray face bound into the room and lie at their feet. If they get an injection he will hold their hand with his nose and give comfort. I saw a patient with a severe hand contracture from a stroke and Ricky came over and licked her deformed hand as if it to say "let me make that feel better." Older goldens can bring joy to everyone they come in contact with. Seeing as how everyone wants to take Ricky home, it is hard to imagine at one time he was in a shelter. My children have it right when they explain in their innocence that Ricky is a rescue dog because he rescues people. I never bothered to correct them because it was the most truthful statement when explaining how Ricky came into our lives. |
Goldens In The Galleries
|
Four Bennett Street art galleries -- Thomas Deans Fine Art, Matre Gallery, Anne Irwin Fine Art and Pryor Fine Art - and Thirsty Dog Tavern are
teaming up with Adopt A Golden Atlanta for "Goldens in the Galleries," a
benefit for art lovers and dog lovers alike, scheduled Friday, August 27, from
5:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Hennessy Land Rover is the Golden Sponsor for this
event.
Attendees will donate a $20 per person admission fee to enjoy
wine, martinis, hors d'oeuvres and music. Tickets are sold at the door. Stop by for drinks and view the art before you go out on the town
that night. For information, contact juliann@adoptagoldenatlanta.com!
|
Let a HW+ Dog into your heart
| |
The following dogs are in need of fosters while undergoing
treatment for heartworms. It is not difficult to care for a dog
undergoing treatment, though it is important to ensure a dog does not
participate in activity that would raise his/her heart rate. If you
decide to foster one of these dogs, an AGA representative will contact you to
explain the care and treatment:
 Gilligan: A 5 yr old male golden. He is
an active boy who found himself at a shelter all forgotten about. He came with
Ginger and we aren't sure why they were dumped along a road. Were they breeder
dogs? Siblings? We will never know. However, they are not dependent upon one
another, and will be fostered and adopted separately. Gilligan likes to
eat inedible objects; other dogs and children over 10 are OK, unknown around
cats.
 Eclipse: A 2 year old female Flat Coated
Retriever, or as people call them a black golden retriever! Eclipse had been picked up as a stray on May 11th and
had been sitting in a shelter ever since; she came bouncing out, happy as can
be! She was friendly with a very small yorkie and a terrified
shepherd. She tried to comfort the shepherd by kissing his nose. She hopped in the car and happily curled up for the ride. She didn't make
a sound. She is a sweet, loving, well adjusted girl! Other dogs and
children over 10 are OK, unknown around cats.
 Katie: A very sweet 1 year old female high mix
golden retriever. She's very sweet, a little shy at first but a nice
girl. She was fine with dogs at the shelter. Other dogs and
children over 10 are OK, unknown around cats.
Please consider taking these pups into your heart and providing a loving foster home for them!
|
Wanted: Alpha People
| |
 In addition to our constant need for new fosters, we are also still
looking for Alpha People to become members of the AGA Special Forces
Team. This small team of people will work with Angie Woods from U.S. Canine Training to learn about
training techniques and then foster one of our AGA dogs she has been working
with to make sure that the dog is now able to transfer his training from U.S.
Canine and Angie and her pack into a new adopted home.
If you are interested in learning
more about this team and joining it, please contact Carol at agaatlanta@aol.com! You will get invaluable FREE training from Angie Woods and although these dogs will be a
challenge, you will find that getting them ready for their forever homes will
be the most rewarding thing you will ever do.
|
| BarkWorld Expo Coming in August | |
Calling all social media loving pet owners! The first social media event for our four-legged friends has arrived. The 2010 Barkworld Expo is for all you tweeters, facebookers and bloggers out there who are also avid pet lovers.
Starting August 20 through the 22 at Atlantic Station, the Barkworld Expo will provide a seminar for all you who are technology talented to learn about products and services that are available. For business owners, the Barkworld Expo will show you how to grab social media by the horns and use it to your advantage.
To stay up to date on the Expo, follow it on Facebook under "BarkWorld Expo" and on Twitter under "BarkWorldExpo." Both pages offer insight about the upcoming conference as well as interesting anecdotes. For more information, visit the website here. |
|
|
|
|
Adoption Day
| |
Don't forget to come by and see us!
Sunday, August 1st
Buckhead Petsmart
Noon - 2 PM
|
| New Adoptions | |
Congrats to all our pups who found Forever Homes during July!
- Mr. Goldie
- Baxter
- Fenway
- Dudley
- Ian
- Doolittle
- Sunshine
- Chevy
- Shadow
- Bear
- Laker
- Bella
- Willow
- Gilbert
- Avalanche GP
|
|
|
