4/15: It is with a very sad heart that we announce that we lost Timber yesterday. He had completed his treatment and was doing great on his new titanium knees. He had completed his post op physical therapy as well. So what happened? Post-op Timber was given a common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. Thousands of dogs safely take this drug daily for arthritis and post-op pain and derive great benefit. However, it is known that these types of drugs can cause serious side effects involving the digestive tract, liver and kidneys that very rarely can cause death. Timber was in that very rare group. Timber declined very rapidly (in a matter of hours). He was rushed to GVS where extremely aggressive treatment simply failed. We know we did the best for Timber but we all of our hearts ache for his owner who gave us Timber to fix because he couldn’t afford the operations. He loved that dog and we are hoping he will take us up on our offer to come and find a new pal from AGA. For all of you who gave to the Timber Fund, we thank you so much. All the money had been spent on the operations and rehab. 3/28 – UPDATE: Timber is doing super… so great that his second knee will be operated on April 1st. He is healing well and has been doing great on his diet so his repaired knees can support his new slimmed down bod in the future. His “former” Dad checks on him daily and continues to raise money for the Timber Fund. We have passed the halfway point and now need to raise enough money for his second surgery. In the meantime, we have made a very important decision concerning Timber. We believe the best thing to do for Timber is to return him to the only Dad he has ever known. And, the best thing for Dad, who is lost without his best friend is to reunite him with Timber. We know his home and heart are empty without him and we can not imagine anyone else loving Timber more. AGA is committed to always putting the needs of our dogs before anything else and this is by far, what Timber needs. It is also what Timber’s Dad needs and we are proud to make two souls very happy. We promise to share photos of the reunion … hopefully within 3 weeks. Please make a donation now so we can get this guy back to where he belongs. We can’t think of a better example of what AGA is all about — helping dogs and people!! 3/25 – UPDATE: Timber had his left knee operated on this week and he is doing super! He is so happy to be out of severe pain. You can see it on his face. If he keeps improving at the pace he is now, we will operate on his second knee next week. We have colled over half of what we need so thank you so very much. Please make a donation to the Timber Fund if you can. BACKGROUND: Timber is an 8 year old purebred male golden retreiver. As you can see, he is a handsome fellow. His story is bittersweet. He was originally turned into a golden rescue in North Carolina (Cape Fear) when he was a mere pup of 5 months old. They found a wonderful home for Timber and he was adopted. He has lived a great life at the beach and in the mountains of North Carolina. Timber lives to run like the wind and for 8 years he has been spoiled rotten, just like he should have been. Then last December, Timber tore his ACL in his left knee. His dad, who loves him very much, didn’t have the money for the expensive surgery so he and Timber’s vet were hoping with pain meds and restricted activity, Timber could heal. He didn’t and in fact, put so much weight on his good knee, that he blew the right knee out a week ago. Timber is a big dog weighing over 100 pounds so this soon became an emergency. Timber’s dad started looking for a vet who would give him a payment plan to do the surgery. No luck. They suggested he pay the $90 to euthanize Timber. There was no way his Dad would hear of that. So he went back to the Cape Fear Golden Rescue ready to give him up so he could get Timber well. Sadly, Cape Fear had just announced that they were closing their doors. Panicked, Timber’s Dad called 8 other rescues and no one would take a 108 pound golden with two torn ACL tendons. Surgery and rehab would easily cost over $5,000 and be 3-4 months of extensive physical therapy. His Dad refused to give up. There was no way Timber would not get a second chance. He was in pain and that was killing his Dad. Cape Fear suggested AGA – thinking it was a long shot because we were so far away but hoped that we had greater resources than smaller rescues in smaller cities. Timber, himself, contacted us by writing us a letter asking if we would help him. His Dad was willing to surrender him to us if we would fix him. Well, we have never said NO to a golden retriever in need so two volunteers drove halfway to get Timber and brought him to Atlanta to begin his journey to get new knees and a new lease on life. Dad was an emotional wreck when he said “Goodbye” to his boy but he knew we would relieve his pain and make him better so he could, someday, run like the wind on a golden beach. We need your help raising the money for Timber’s surgeries and rehab. We need to raise $5,000. He is in pain and will have his first knee surgery in a few days before we raise the money. His Dad handed us a check to start his fund… all he could give – but if love were money, this guy would have been paid in full! Please give to the Timber Fund today. Let’s show everyone in this country that it doesn’t matter where a golden lives or what is wrong with that golden … AGA will come to its rescue and do everything in our power to give a golden a second chance.