Casey is now where she was meant to be; in the house as a VIPM (very important pack member). When she came to GRRIN, she had been living in the former owner’s parent’s yard (while their 2 small dogs lived inside). Casey is an extremely sweet, smart supermodel (svelte, blonde and strangely indifferent to food much of the time). We keep looking for the zipper as our theory is that she is a Borzoi in a Golden suit! She understands the use of door knobs and alarm clocks very well. If she wants a door open, she touches the knob with her nose. While waiting for me to get up one morning, I saw her sitting and staring at the alarm clock! Casey likes to cuddle and would be very content if we just detached our hands each morning and glued them to her for the day. Casey likes her showers and afterwards will dry herself if we put down a towel. The vet (indeed, everyone who meets her) just keeps saying how sweet and good natured she is. I tell everyone the same thing; there are really great dogs in our rescue! Casey has had the run of the house since the first night we got her. She has had no accidents nor has she destroyed a thing. She can be a little compulsive about getting petted but responds well to redirection. She displaces any anxiety with her Bone, which we had waiting for her and with which she bonded intensely on her first day here. She knows the names of all four of her toys and can get whichever one we tell her to. She is very curious about everything and everyone that comes into the house and MUST be allowed to check these over completely. Dan calls her our Director of Security as she warns us when the neighbors, the cleaning person, the UPS guy or our friends are coming to kill us all. We are both stupid in love with her and often remark how lucky we are to have found her.

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Hi, everybody. I’m Rusty 09-50, and you probably remember my story from earlier this year. Well, things just keep getting better and better! I live in a forever-home that’s committed to my success. I receive daily exercise, structure, training, and love! One of the first things that happened after my adoption was enrollment in an obedience class. My main-man leader, Brian, guided me through the process, and we were both dedicated to doing our best. When it came time to test our skills in an obedience course, we came in first place. How cool is that! You would never know that I was once a boy without manners. I’m thankful that the good folks at GRRIN found my home with Mary Jo, Joe, Audrey, Panda, Shaggy, Skitzi, and especially Brian! I continue to be a LUCKY DOG!

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Hello! My name is Oscar (08-16) and I have been with my forever family for nearly two years now! All of us get along really well! My mom practices her training as a child psychologist on me and I’ve had to be patient with her because sometimes that psychology “stuff” works and sometimes, it just doesn’t! She takes me with her to work whenever she can (I love to visit with the other kids!) and lets me ride along to do errands almost always (she knows the drive thru restaurants with the best treats for dogs!) When the weather is good, we go and sit outside and read at the Market Basket and I get to visit with all kinds of people who love me and say I am the biggest and happiest Golden they have ever seen (sometimes people accidentally drop food and I help them clean it up right away!!) We also go and visit our friends at PetsMart and the Bookworm whenever we can! I so love to visit with people (and get treats, did I mention that?) I love to walk in Elmwood Park and go to the dog park. I love Golden Retriever Rescue activities! I love to take classes!! AND my mom says I must hold the record for the most dog toys ever purchased and thoroughly used by any dog ever! My whole family and I are SO thankful to all of my GRRIN Aunts (Andrea and Barb) and Uncles (Tim and Terry) for getting me to just the right home for me! Thank you, GRRIN!

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This is Jake 09-48, previously known as Buddy 5. Can you tell he loves snow? He must have been one happy dog this winter!

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Digby was adopted by Dennis, Barb, Spencer & Kate in June of 2008.

Digby is my name and getting attention is my game! I don’t even mind if I get stuck in the furniture, as you can see by my picture. I was adopted almost two years ago and I love my new family. They don’t have a choice, because wherever they are in the house I’m there too and working hard to be a lap dog. Did I mention I’m a very large dog? I might be old and slow but I’ve got size on my side. Barb was very upset because the vet called me a “blockhead”, but that’s just a term they give to dogs like me with a really large noggin!

My Golden sister, Gracie, is very patient with me but she draws the line when I try to take one of her toys. I have a pretty bad reputation for destroying any rubber toy I can find. Dennis has made it a personal challenge to find a toy that will last more than a few hours! I have discovered that shoes are a great toy substitute, so now they are all kept away from me. Even Spencer & Kate’s friends know to put their shoes in the hall closet or I might chew the tops right off.

My mellow temperament makes it easy for Barb to have emergency foster dogs in the house - I guess I’m a naturally calm and patient guy, but please, no more PUPPIES! All of the kids in the neighborhood like me because I stand very still for them while they give me hugs. Hugging is very important. It’s my dog job and I intend to be giving hugs for a very long time.
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I’m Dexter (08-40) and life has been great for me since coming into GRRIN about a year and a half ago! First, I got to go live with the most excellent foster family ever! Tim, Nikki and Joel took such good care of me that I almost didn’t want to leave. I got to spend lots of time learning new stuff and spending time with all my golden foster brothers. But then I met Bruce, Rebecca and Jazz and they added me to their home FOREVER!! Since I’ve been with them I’ve been to several obedience classes. I love going to classes because everyone says how smart I am…even the teacher says so!! We also go camping a lot. Heck, I only lived here two weeks when we got in the RV and headed to SEATTLE!! YAHOO! What a ride! This past year we went to Colorado, and I learned to SWIM!! At first I was kind of afraid, but once I watched Jazz do it I figured what the heck. And you know what? I LOVED THAT, TOO!! Living here has been wonderful. I just love Jazz to pieces; he’s the best big brother ever! And I still get to have the most awesome play dates with Tim, Nikki and my foster brothers, so I don’t miss them too much. I have cousins in Sioux City I get to run and play with, too. GRRIN has given me the best gift ever: a HUGE family where everyone loves me!!!! So if anyone is wondering where I am, I’m either hanging out in Iowa on my own personal 15 acres, traveling across the country in my chauffeur-driven RV, being a star pupil, or teaching the ropes to the foster dogs that come to live with us. I’m a busy guy, but life is so good! Thanks, GRRIN!!! YOU GUYS ROCK!!

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This is GRRIN dog Rocky 09-18 with his new friend Sophie. Rocky was adopted by Bob & Linde in July.

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Some of you may remember me as Hercules, but now my name is Brinkley. I was adopted by Doug and Kris and their son Ryan in January, 2008. I turned 9 this past July, and am going strong!

My favorite thing to do is counter-surf, and I was caught ‘red-handed’ standing on top of the kitchen table cleaning up the leftovers! BUSTED!!!! Don’t worry – I didn’t get in any trouble, instead, my Dad took a picture of me on the table so my Mom could scrapbook it!!! I will go that extra mile to get that extra goody. Well, you know how it is – where there is a will, there is a way!

Otherwise, I am a real Velcro baby, and follow Mom everywhere. She nick-named me ‘Boo-Bear’ because I love to get up on the bed with her, and snuggle up close – summer, winter, spring or fall – it doesn’t matter what the weather is like. Weekend mornings are the best when there is no alarm clock to interfere with our time together!

I have a big brother, Cooper, who was also adopted from GRRIN in 2000 and we are very close. Cooper is 10 but don’t let his age fool you, he has tons of energy and keeps me young! We keep each other company during the day while Mom and Dad are at work and when we hear that garage door open at the end of the day, we greet them with huge smiles and wagging tails!

Mom and Dad have friends who have a cabin on a lake and we get to go there during the summer. Cooper loves to swim, but I’d rather hang out next to Mom in the sand and take in the beautiful scenery.

I really enjoy going for walks and riding in the convertible. Man, am I cool! Maybe I should get a set of shades to wear! The best part about these outings is sniffing all of those great smells! Humans just can’t appreciate the variety!

So I just wanted to let everyone know that I am doing GRRREAT! I have a wonderful loving family that I adore and who adore me. I couldn’t be any happier!!!!!