Colorado Animal Rescue Express (C.A.R.E.)

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Thank you for following up on Patches. She is a gem!!!!! :-) I think every day we comment to ourselves on how we just can't believe that someone could have made the decision to turn her over to a kill shelter because she is such a sweetheart!!!! She has been a great companion and member of our family. It took our cats a few weeks to get used to her being around but they all get along great and she has always been very sweet to them. She graduated from beginner & intermediate dog training with flying colors. We have found her favorite things are playing fetch with her tennis ball and rolling around in the snow! She makes us laugh every day!!!!! We take her hiking, camping and snowshoeing so she has come to love the great Colorado outdoors too!!  

Here are a handful of pictures (it was hard to pick just a few) ...hope you enjoy them!!!

Vivian

                                       GINGER FROM HOLTON, KS, JULY 2011 

We have fallen head over heals in love with Ginger. She is the kindest, gentlest soul with boundless energy that keeps us on our toes! She's become a welcome partner on our adventures... hiking in Red Rocks, swimming off the boat, or running Wash park. She's eager to jump in the car with us no matter where we're headed. She's brought so much added love to our home, and after at this point I don't think we could imagine our lives without her. She's always at our side, and so so smart. She learned how to roll over and shake a paw in one hour... amazing the power of some good treats :) 

She's the best, we could not have found a better dog. We and are incredibly grateful to have her as part of our family. 

Sandra, Jason and Ginger 

   
Thanks for following up! What can I say, we absolutely love Moose! (We kept the name, it suits him perfectly!) He is the greatest dog for our family! Incredibly well behaved, loves to meet new people and new dogs! He is fantastic on leash for our morning walks and he loves to just watch what the kids are doing! When my older two were in school he would sit or lay by my 3 yo while she did puzzles or gave him her nonstop monolog! He loves to follow me everywhere or just sit by me when I am gardening. We take him to the dog park almost every night and he loves that as well! He is really perfect for us! We had such a wonderful experience with Golden Retriever Freedom Rescue! Thank You! 
Wendy

Lucca had a great first Christmas here in December 2010!  We had my family over and he did fine with a house full of people.  Everyone fell in love with him and gave him lots of extra treats and toys.  Lucca's Christmas gift to us was learning how to use our doggy door.  It had a steep step on the outside and he seemed a little unsure about it so I added a step stool outside.  He hasn't had any more accidents inside since he started using the door.  He really is a great dog.  He is growing quickly and seems to enjoy playing the boys.  They had a lot of fun playing in the snow and sledding in the back yard last weekend.  They even put Lucca on the sled with them.  They boys went back to school today and it was good for my youngest son to get some time with Lucca.  I have attached a few pictures of him.  I have some new ones that I'll send soon but I haven't uploaded them from the camera yet.  
 
I hope you had a nice Christmas!  Happy New Year and thanks again for the best Christmas gift!
 
Laura
 

                                               ABBY

Wendy, now known as Abby Cadabby, could not be more wonderful. She loves everyone she meets, is so gentle and sweet and has perfect manners. The first day home, I showed her around and let her pick her spot and she chose my bed. She's slept with me every night since. Although she is not a velcro Golden, she will lie near me for hours to be brushed and groomed including teeth and ears. Now that she's eating the best food I can find, her gorgeous dark red coat is shiny, soft velvet and her Golden feathers are filling in. She is best friends with my five-year old granddaughter and plays for hours with my 11 month-old Golden grand-puppy. She loves to be outside and can usually be found with a tennis ball in her mouth. Toys however, are another story. She shreds every thing I bring home--including the cover off the tennis balls. But that's OK, I just bring home more. We walk every day and as soon as she sees her leash, she's at the door, tail going a million miles an hour. 

When I lost my beloved Golden, Molly, I couldn't imagine loving another Golden as much; but Molly had GRFR bring an angel to me. I know her first family must have loved her very much and I think of them and thank them every day for my precious Abby.

Thank you to all the wonderful GRFR people. You are all amazing.

Donna

Thanks for checking in on Oliver - he is settling in quite nicely – in fact I'm pretty sure you couldn't pry him away from us if you tried!  He's a big love and often tries to sit his 65 pound frame on our laps:).  He's been a great addition to our family - becoming a playmate for our boys, a running buddy for me and a loyal companion to us all.  My youngest son calls him "Ollie the talking dog" because he literally "talks" to us by making what can only be described as dog singing sounds.  He's quite a character - still growing into his long legs.  We love to watch him romp around and play. 

I've attached several photos of him with us.  He really is a great dog and we're delighted to have him in our lives.  We couldn't be happier and hope that he feels the same:)!

Thanks for your great work with GRFR - it's really a great organization.

Take care,

Sweetie now known as Saydie is doing wonderfully. She is such a STINKER! I mean a sweetheart. It has certainly been an adjustment having a puppy in the house with 2 small children but everyone gets along great and we're having a blast.

She is growing like a weed. Her legs are a mile long and as you'll see from the pictures she has the most beautiful face.

She is so smart too. We adore her.

Thanks GRFR!!!

                                                             GOLDEN OLDIES RULE

 Mike and Carol Polacek from Cody Wyoming are special rescue friends.    For over 20 years, Mike and Carol have been adopting senior goldens needing new homes.  On February 15, 2010, we received a sad email from Carol saying that Molly (adopted with Chief in Sept. 2007) had passed away.

With sadness and tears ....Molly "Butters" Polacek left this earth on Friday the 12th of February.   She had surgery to remove a ruptured spleen on Thursday and was coming along well, even well enough to pick up a tennis ball or two.   The vet thinks she had a blood clot and passed from that.  She came home Friday to sniff her yard, cuddle by the fireplace, get a kiss from Frankie and to leave this earth surrounded by those who love her.

I told her if you see Chief...run to him, apparently she did.   Thanks to all who cared for them on their journey to their forever home and now on their final journey home. Molly and Chief are together again. Butters was always happy, always my girl.  Take care of her Chief!  God must have needed a Golden Angel for the ball team. (Chief could not catch!!)

Molly and Chief were an abuse/abandonment case from Garden City KS.  They were left at a vacant house in the back yard with no food or water, "licking green slime" out of a kiddie pool.  They spent time in Doggie jail while the owner was being charged, and lucky for them, C.A.R.E. picked them up and brought them for placement with Golden Retriever Freedom Rescue. Chief was 13yrs and Molly was 11 when they came to GRFR.  Chief died of esophageal cancer on New Year’s Eve 2008.

Molly and Chief are a perfect example of Old Gold that Shines!  Thank you for bringing them into our lives.

Now for a little history on the senior goldens that have been blessed with love and a home with the Polacek’s.  We adopted our first Oldie when our first Golden Jesse (we got her at 7 weeks old) on the way back from our Honeymoon 25 yrs ago she died of lymph node cancer on Good Friday 1995 when she was ten.  Since then, we adopted Dusty at age 10 from Pikes Peak Humane Society.  #3 was Moose and he was not old but was an abuse case and lived with us before passing at 9 1/2 years.  He was involved in a "gang" fight in Las Vegas where his hip was broken and part of the deal was to put him down because he was defending his teen owner and bit someone.   You remember #4 Trigger Boy, we were contacted by CGRR to see if we could transport this 3 legged 10yr old to SLC from Powell WY. (We lived in Cody now) Well he stayed with us and passed at 16yrs old.  #5 was Alice, a wonderful deaf girl who was 11 and taken to the vet to be put down because she would not listen anymore, the owners had her since a puppy!!  Alice only graced our house for 9 months but they were happy ones!  #6 was Ol' Faithful who was 10ish when she was abandoned under a trailer in Logan UT when the family moved and left her tied to the trailer!! #7 and #8 were our first adoptions from GRFR: Finnley, 8 years, and Fischer, 9 years (wonderful boys always lived together) and #9  GRFR Madison who was 9 and the most confident dog I ever met, gentle and with perfect manners. #10 Molly and # 11 Chief (the clown dogs) and now #13 Freddie and #14 Frankie who came to live with us on Mike's birthday last April. We adopted the boys 4 months after Chief passed.

Our dream is to get back to Colorado and have a home with enough room (we have plenty of love!) and land to foster Golden Oldies until they can find their forever homes.  They can stay until the perfect home is found or they can stay with us forever.  They will never feel unwanted or abandoned again.

One Day … The GOLDEN GUYS RETIREMENT RANCH will be!

C.A.R.E. hopes that by reading the Polacek’s story that many families will consider and adopt wonderful seniors who need a home to live out their golden years. 

                                            MURRAY

We want this to be in memory of our Murray. In Murray's honor we hope this small donation helps save more dogs, like him, get to Colorado where they can lead the happy lives they deserve. 

Murray's story:
Nicole worked on Murray's intake about 2 years ago.  Murray weighed 170 lbs and had been kept in a garage.  We can only imagine what his life was like. 

Kevin drove the transport van that day....Paul and I were going to foster Murray, and will never ever ever forget that first day. We watched as Murray rolled out of the van. He got to ride co-pilot, for one thing he was too big to fit in a crate and more importantly Kevin decided that Murray should ride up front and help navigate the way to Colorado. 
 
When Paul and I met Murray it was love at first sight!  Although we were wondering how we would ever get that weight off....I think it was Kevin that said he was round as a barrel.  And he was! Paul and I wondered how to even get him in the back of the SUV..but there was happy Murray doing his famous "happy dance" and trying to get into the car.  Well...he managed to get his front paws up and then the two of us hoisted his golden booty up in there.  He gave us slobbery kisses on the way home and was soooooooo happy! 
 
When we got home we helped him out of the car and off he ran(waddled) after a tennis ball!  His love for tennis balls and fetch was what saved his life.  Paul and I only started his healthy new lifestyle....with the infamous green bean diet and lots of fetch!  Bob and Debby adopted him and they did the real work.  Shortly after adopting Murray, Bob had knee surgery.  Murray was his inspiration during the rehab and together the two of them helped each other.  They helped each other so much that Bob's doctor said he was amazed by Bob's recovery, and during that time Murray went from 170 lbs to a healthy 97 lbs! 

During their time with Murray, he survived cancer (a 9 inch incision to remove a large cancerous lump from his hip).  Then there was the time his stomach turned and he had to have surgery. and then Murray swallowed a tennis ball while playing fetch and had to be hospitalized!  Another time he swallowed another tennis ball but Bob bravely stuck his hand down his throat and saved his life yet again.  He had the bruises on his arm to prove it! 
 
Despite these mishaps, Murray never missed a beat. He was the happiest dog I have ever met!!  He did the best happy dance each morning, and when anyone walked in the room he'd wag his whole body with excitement.  Murray had a dalmation sister, named Molly, who adored her big brother!  We had the pleasure of having them stay with us from time to time and it was obvious how they loved each other. 

Each day, Bob would go home at lunch to play fetch with them both....each time Murray would brighten Bob's day with the look on his face...like life was FANTASTIC because Dad was there to play with him.  Bob even took the two dogs with him to work whenever he could. 
 
Murray's love was playing fetch!  It is literally is what saved his life and helped him lose that weight. He came to GRFR obese and became a healthy happy golden boy.  He was so loved by so many and always will be. 
 
Sadly, Murray passed away very suddenly today, December 22, 2009.  Debby called me crying, saying that Murray was gone.  She asked me to go over and say goodbye to Murray.  I did. 
 
We sat there this evening crying over missing Murray, and laughing over his funny antics. Remembering his happy dance, barking if you took too long to throw the next ball, trips to the dog park, and more. 
 
Bob was playing fetch with Murray today and he said Murray was full of life!  Happy, energetic, anxious to play....and then on the way back to Bob after a few throws, he collapsed and died instantly.  I know this is sad, but Murray passed away doing his most favorite thing ever!! 
 
Bob and Debby asked one favor of Paul and I.....they asked if Murray could be buried at our home.  So, Murray is now resting peacefully on our hill, next to his foster sister, Meg.  One of Murray's favorite things was to roll in the snow and funny that it is snowing like a blizzard at our house tonight while we sadly bury him. 
 
Please keep Murray's family in your thoughts during this difficult time.  Murray is a true success story, much loved, and will be missed.  I wondered this evening as we buried Murray, how I could bear yet another loss but in Murray's memory I will continue to do what I do with GRFR. 

Thank you to everyone who saved and loved Murray....sincerely, Shereen

Luna is a beautiful, gentle golden mom. She was adopted by a very special family....their young son has cancer and Luna is his best friend!

Luna is doing great here with our family. She is just as sweet and gentle as she is pretty.  She settled in almost immediately and loves to be loved.

My son William has been ill this fall and she has been his constant companion. Luna was the one he really missed when he had a stay in the hospital. In fact, the other night he and Luna cuddled on the floor together where they both fell asleep in each other’s arms. Very cute!!!

Laura and Family

 Thanks to CARE for getting her to Colorado!

From Shereen: When I first met her,  I had stopped over to the foster home and I sobbed when I pet her. I was afraid I’d break her little bones that were sticking out. Her fur was brittle and dry, look at what a healthy diet, and a good home can do in such a short time! I honestly was amazed that this little girl was alive….look at her now!

Stout is doing great!  He has already lost quite a bit of weight and is still in the process of becoming svelte.  We've taken him hiking, camping, swimming, running, and to the dog park numerous times, and he's loved it all.  We really enjoy having him and think he is the best dog in the world.  He is in great health and behaves wonderfully.  Of course, he's still a dog and has a mind of his own, but is really doing great at minding us.  We work on obedience almost every day, which he loves (because of the cheese!).  I've included a few pics from a recent camping trip.  He does wear a gentle leader, since he loves to run after small animals like bunnies and squirrels.  With the Halti, he's stopped!  We are still so greatful to GRFR for taking him in and for helping us adopt him!