(An update from Daisy's wonderful new family immediately follows her Golden Angel story.)
Hi, I’m an 8-year-old Golden Retriever named Daisy. I just added a beautiful new “charm” to my collar. It’s a little gold heart that says “Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies” on it, and it means that wherever I go or whatever happens, I will always be a part of the GRRR family. If it weren’t for all of you, I don’t know what would have happened to me.
Not long ago I was a healthy, happy girl. I had everything in the world a Golden could ever want -- I had a loving family and a beautiful home with my very own backyard to play in. Each day was an exciting new adventure for me. I loved everything about life – waking up each morning to friendly loving faces, seeing the beautiful sunshine streaming through the windows and watching the squirrels and birds who shared my backyard with me.
Then some changes started taking place. I think it all began with the awful itching and the sores that appeared all over my body. Then my hair started falling out and I was so embarrassed because I had always been such a pretty girl. My family took me to their vet who treated me for allergies with large amounts of prednisone. But the medication didn’t seem to work and I kept getting worse.
Suddenly my whole life was in upheaval. Something called the “economy” starting causing changes for my family. First they lost their construction business, and right after that we had to leave our house and my beautiful backyard. Trips to the vet could no longer be afforded. Then one day my family brought me to GRRR and asked for help. They were crying and I was very confused. I had always been able to comfort them before, but nothing I did was working this time. I haven’t seen them since, but I know in my heart that they loved me – and still do – very much.
The first time Mary met me I was so scared that I had myself pressed into the corner of the run. As I walked out of the kennel in front of her, she began crying when she saw my bright red inflamed skin and my hairless tail. She said it was one of the worst skin conditions she had ever seen and that I was pitiful looking – but beautiful, too. I got to go home and cuddle with her that night, and that’s when I knew I was going to be loved and cared for again.
I was immediately taken to see Dr. Carpenter at Arvada West. He discovered I had been misdiagnosed and didn’t really have allergies at all. No wonder those awful steroids weren’t working. I actually have a condition called mange (caused by nasty little parasitic mites that burrow into the skin). Dr. Carpenter has a “gift” for treating Goldens with special conditions, and that is what really gave me the relief I needed. I wish I could have met him sooner. The itching from the mites was unbearable, and Mary says for me to have even gone through this is something amazing.
Sadly, Dr. Carpenter also noticed something wrong with my eyes. My next visit was to Dr. Graham, an eye specialist. I’ve been diagnosed with PAR (progressive retinal atrophy) and I’m slowly going blind. It’s a hereditary condition and there is nothing that can be done to stop it. I’ve been busy studying the faces of all the wonderful GRRR people who have been helping me. That way, when I can no longer see them, I’ll still remember their kind and loving expressions. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if I get adopted before my sight is completely gone? Then I’ll get to see my new family and get situated in my new surroundings.
I was Mike Hennessey’s first foster for GRRR. He was very kind and loved me so much. He gave me all the medicines and special baths Dr. Carpenter prescribed for the mange. I couldn’t believe how wonderful Mike was to me, and I became his constant shadow. I’m really starting to look and feel better, and my fluffy blonde locks are all coming back. I got a great Kong just for seniors (donated by the very nice people at Kong Company), and it quickly became my favorite toy. Now I’m staying with Debbie Kneale and Bob Jorgensen. It’s wonderful at their house, too, and I get to help in the kitchen. I’m always there ready to lend a paw in making dinner or whatever they need help with in preparing food.
Everyone I’ve met at GRRR has fallen pretty hard for me. They say it’s because I’m so sweet and loving and have such a kind and gentle way about me. I’m just being me – a typical Golden. We all specialize in loving people and making their lives brighter. And now look what you’ve done for me. I lost almost everything, but now I have this little gold heart on my collar that says I’m loved. I will always be a part of the GRRR family. There isn’t a Golden in this world luckier than I am. Thank you so much for your donations to help me and all the other Goldens who are fortunate enough to have found you. As tragic as my story might be, it will definitely have a happy ending. I now have hope – and I have YOU.
Daisy Update
Beth, Tom, and Chris Heiney
Daisy, Daisy, Daddy's "pretty girl". We were fortunate enough to add this sweet girl to our pack after GRRR and the many volunteers got her healthy and well on her way to healing. Daisy joined Maggie, our 8-year-old Great Pyrenees, Rudy, our 8-year-old blind Flabrador (great new term I learned at the picnic), and Haley, our 8-year-old GRRR girl. Daisy immediately fit in and started playing ball and rolling in the grass of her new big backyard as soon as we got home from Sage Valley. She's been very good at teaching Haley some of the finer points of being a Golden, such as "you better hurry up and get on Mommy's lap or I will”, and "I can still fit up there too". Haley didn't have a very good first life so she needs some tutoring on how much she can get away with.
Daisy is much better at playing fetch in the house than Haley, kind of embarrassing since Daisy is blind. Daisy obviously had a good, loving home and of course much great care with GRRR, so her social skills are great and she's very adaptable to new situations.
I have missed so many great photo ops to share: Daisy and Haley swimming shoulder to shoulder each with her own toy in Horsetooth Reservoir; trotting towards me through the yellow fallen leaves with a ball in the mouth and her curly tail bending her body from side to side it's wagging so hard; one of the many times she's backed out of the treats closet with a Milk Bone box stuck on her head; and any one of our morning pack snuggles on the bed. When the weather is nice we take everyone swimming, hiking, and/or the dog park at least once a week. We can afford all of her new medicines and make sure that she always gets them. I would hope that Daisy's previous owners could read about her new life and be assured that she's still a very happy, chatty girl and will have company and much love for the rest of her life. Thanks again GRRR, and thanks to everyone who donated to this wonderful girl. She found her happy ending.
