GRRIN Play Dates June 25 & August 1

GRRIN playdates- Click here for flyer.

Omaha Royals- Community Organization of the Night- July 1, 2009

Three Dog Bakery - Rescue Days of Summer

Pictures from the Rescue Days of Summer at Three Dog Bakery - Village Pointe on June 6, 2009.

GRRIN member Peggy Burke’s dogs.

Daisy and Daisy

Daisy

Cody

Arthritis Walk - May 2, 2009

Picture from the Arthritis Walk on May 2, 2009
Omaha—Millers Landing

Zeke’s Final Lesson

Zeke with his special friend, Emily Frey, 3. (Courtesy Photo)

Click here to see letters from the children at Randolph Elementary

By COLLEEN KENNEY / Lincoln Journal Star

Monday, Mar 30, 2009 - 12:17:36 am CDT

Dear Mrs. Mahoney,

I am sorry about Zeke, he was my best friend, but now he is in paradise. (Dog heaven) …

Zeke had just three legs in his final months as therapy dog at Randolph Elementary, where he worked alongside Mrs. Susie Mahoney, his owner and best friend, too.

A tumor had taken the fourth leg away.

Mrs. Mahoney, the school counselor, had tried to prepare the kids for Zeke’s return last fall, after surgery. She put up a bulletin board with photos of Zeke before and after, to let it sink in.

On his first day back, she walked with him to every classroom. They took the elevator. He couldn’t bound up the stairs like before.

At first, the kids held back. They didn’t rush up to him as they usually did. But soon they saw that Zeke was still Zeke, still the same dog who loved belly rubs.

Still the same dog who loved to listen as kids read to him, even kids who struggled with words.

Still the same dog who loved his yellow toy chick. He’d stolen it from the kindergarten room one day last year, then had slunk back to Mrs. Mahoney with guilt in his eyes and the chick in his mouth. (The kindergarten teacher let him keep it.)

Still the same dog who loved them, who always seemed to know just how they felt.

I was sad cause I missed my mom, so he came and sat by me and I put my arm around him and he was happy, and breathing happy too!

Another day, a teacher asked Mrs. Mahoney and Zeke to help her with a fifth-grader. The boy was angry. He stood up, ready to tip over the table. Most dogs would run. But Zeke walked right over to the boy, sat down next to him, leaned on him.

Instead of knocking over the table, the boy just hugged Zeke and sobbed into his fur.

I remember in 1st grade when I felt very sad and Zeke came in. he helped me out a lot by sitting right by me.

In early February, Zeke started coughing. A chest X-ray showed the tumor had spread to his lungs.

Nothing can be done, Mrs. Mahoney heard the vet say.

She had a decision to make.

I hope for a marical for the outstanding-kind-amazing-and to me a heroic dog.

Her voice cracks.

“I wanted them to have a good final lesson.”

She wrote a script. A few days before she took Zeke on his final trip to the vet’s office, she had teachers read it to the kids to let them know what was about to happen to Zeke.

When Zeke got the tumor on his leg I almost spent $10 on bones and treats to make him feel better.

As a counselor, she says, you always wonder if you’re doing any good. But she’s sure the kids learned this lesson because she saw them hugging each other a lot that day.

Even kids who liked to fight with each other.

I feel like I am losing the whip cream on my ice cream.

But not only were they consoling themselves and each other and learning to deal with the death, she noticed something else.

They were consoling her, too.

You’ve always been there for us. But now it’s time for us to be there for you. …

Zeke died March 14.

This spring break, without the kids around, Mrs. Mahoney keeps getting out their cards and letters and crayon hearts and drawings of doggy heaven. They make all the difference.

read this to everyone in the house nothing beats love

And they make her smile.

P.S. I’m going to miss his dog farts to.

Reach Colleen Kenney at 473-2655 or ckenney@journalstar.com.

Pedigree Award Recognizes Golden Retriever Rescue - January 2009

This month we received some great news that will shine a bright and positive light on Golden Retriever rescue programs nationwide.

The Golden Retriever Club of America (GRCA) has done a great deal over the years to help local breed rescue teams like GRRIN. The GRCA created a National Rescue Committee to help us network with our peers and share best practices. They also created the Golden Retriever Foundation, which provides grants to help us pay for the care of particularly needy dogs.

The GRCA’s national rescue committee, led by chair Carol Allen, has been chosen by Pedigree to receive an “Everyday Heroes” award this year. The award recognizes the national breed rescue program that demonstrates the greatest effort and the greatest success in the country.

Credit for this award goes to everyone who works in Golden Retriever rescue, including all those who support or volunteer for GRRIN. The NRC reports that there are more than 100 local Golden rescue programs like ours, operated by 6,000 volunteers, rescuing 10,000 dogs each year. Thank you for being part of such a wonderful – and now award-winning – movement.

Taylor Made Rescue Rally - Feb. 14th

The Bookworm

On December 6th, The Bookworm allowed GRRIN to bring senior foster dogs for a meet-and-greet session. Chester, C.J., Queenie, Casper, Raleigh, and Rocky (not quite a senior - he’s six years old) were all able to receive lots of hugs and kisses from the shoppers, staff, and GRRIN volunteers.

Star City Parade

GRRIN members marched on Dec. 6th in the Star City Parade in Lincoln, partnering with the Greater Lincoln Obedience Club. GRRIN and GLOC were named the “best animal unit” in the parade!

Kibble and Bids

GRRIN held it’s primary fundraiser of the year on November 19th, 2008. We hosted a terrific turnout at Wine Styles in Omaha. Local supporters and merchants donated a wonderful array of merchandise and gift cards for our silent auction. Thanks to all who helped organize and support this event.