Greetings, GRRIN Members and Supporters:

As you know, 2016 was GRRIN’s 25th anniversary year. We celebrated at various events and looked back fondly on our accomplishments built on the foundation of our primary mission: to rescue and rehome Golden Retrievers. GRRIN recently held its annual meeting where we had the chance to take one more look back with appreciation for all of the time and contributions provided by people like you. Everyone reading this newsletter has played an important role in making GRRIN’s long-term success possible.  Perhaps you served on the rescue team or volunteered for events.  Maybe you adopted one of our Goldens (lucky you!!) or made a generous donation to the organization.  There are many other ways you no doubt did your part.  Whatever it was, whenever it happened, THANK YOU!

Now that we’re well into 2017 and GRRIN’s 26^th year, a shout-out to the GRRIN Board of Directors is overdue. Our board members work very hard behind the scenes to conduct the business of the organization. That obviously includes Golden Retriever rescue efforts but also our outreach/educational activities and fun events like Gold Rush where we gather to build community among Golden enthusiasts.   I would like to take this opportunity to recognize and thank three individuals who are rotating off the GRRIN board: Barb Garrett, Theresa Houston and Cathi Smetana.  Please join me in giving them, along with all current and past board members, a standing ovation for their service to GRRIN!

Thanks again,

Kathy Glenn,

President, GRRIN Board of Directors

Thanks for coming to Wine & Howl! It was a warm day but GRRIN dog Greta stayed cool!

Join GRRIN at Lincoln Animal Ambassador’s 9th annual Wine & Howl Fundraising event on Saturday, June 3rd, from 11am-5pm at Deer Springs Winery.

16255 Adams Street, Lincoln, NE 68527

Thank you GRRIN supporters for your outstanding participation in Omaha Gives! We raised $6480 with the help of many generous donors. Your donations will help us cover medical care needed for GRRIN foster dogs. In 2016, our total dog expenses were $22,682, an average of $630 for the 36 dogs we fostered.

During the 24 hours of giving, Omaha Gives raised $7.8 million for the community and over 900 participating non-profits. The Omaha Community Foundation has brought this outstanding opportunity to the metro for five years.

Thanks also to the humans and canines who enjoyed the gorgeous evening and came out to Pizza West to celebrate Omaha’s biggest giving day!

You can schedule your donation now! Just click here.

Follow all of the action for Omaha’s 5th day of giving on May 24th on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

The giving begins at midnight with a minimum $10 donation and hourly drawings and prizes make your donations go further. So start gathering your circles and get ready for another great big give-together!

Pups on the Patio!

Make sure to come celebrate on the 24th with our volunteers and supporters at Pizza West in La Vista from 5-8pm. We’ll be on the patio and friendly pups are invited!

12040 McDermott Plz., La Vista

GRRIN wants to share a great opportunity for dog lovers to walk their canine family members in a fun new environment! There are six Leashes at Lauritzen events in 2017 including the first on May 1 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Other dates include June 5, July 3, August 7, September 4, and October 2.

The garden has gone to the dogs! Bring your canine friends to walk the grounds and enjoy the great outdoors together. This is an informal, fun way to enjoy and explore our 100 acres and miles of trails with the family and the family dog. Water and treats will be available at stations throughout the garden. Don’t miss this tail wagging good time!

The following rules and regulations are in place to ensure the safety and enjoyment of our visitors, their dogs, and the protection of Lauritzen Gardens’ collections:

• This event is exclusively for the listed times and dates. Non-service dogs are not allowed during other hours of operation.
• Two dogs admitted per adult
• Dogs must be up-to-date on all vaccinations and registrations and have a current rabies tag attached to their collars
• Dogs must be on a leash at all times and should stay out of garden beds and water features
• Handlers are responsible for picking up after their dogs and disposing of their waste
• Enter through the visitor and education center

Admission is $10, FREE for garden members

Dog admission is $5, FREE for garden members

For more information, visit https://www.lauritzengardens.org/Visit/Events_and_Exhibits/Leashes_at_Lauritzen/

Thanks for attending the annual meeting! We had a lovely group of volunteers, potential adopters, and very photogenic dogs who stared longingly at our BBQ lunch. Special thanks to the Greater Lincoln Obedience Club for allowing us to use their space.

If you couldn’t make it out to this gathering, please save the date for our Pups on the Patio night, scheduled Wednesday, May 24th, at Pizza West in La Vista. We also have many other events scheduled throughout the summer – you can see them all on our calendar.

Stay tuned for our 2016 rescue report and updated list of board members. There are three openings if you are interested in helping GRRIN: volunteer chair, communications chair and resource chair. Send an email to info@grrin.org and we will get back to you.

For now, we have some great pix from Sunday!

Noon – 2:00pm

Greater Lincoln Obedience Club, 5740 Johanna Road, Lincoln, NE 68507

Join GRRIN as we celebrate another great year in rescue! Thinking about becoming a volunteer? Own a Golden and want to meet other Golden Retriever fanatics? (Let’s face it, we’re crazy about our dogs.) Everyone is welcome, including your beloved canine family members. We’re serving lunch, conducting a short business meeting, and then we get to visit about – what else – our wonderful Goldens!

Potential volunteers, we need supporters who can meet new adoptive families, conduct assessments for incoming dogs, foster those incoming dogs, or casework dogs already in foster care. We need YOU!

Of special interest, our GRRIN store needs a new manager. If you have room to store a few boxes of GRRIN merchandise and are interested in helping us find fun new items to sell, plus work at a few events each year, please send an email to volunteer@grrin.org.

Business meeting

• Vote on open board positions
• Review finance and rescue reports
• Pre-planning for Gold Rush will be discussed and GRRIN would love to hear your ideas

Fun for dogs and people! Bring your Goldens (or any friendly dog on a leash). Lunch will be served.

RSVP 402-330-6680 or volunteer@grrin.org so we can make sure we have enough goodies to eat!

Stella 09-59 will be meeting and greeting from 11:00am-1:00pm. Join GRRIN volunteers at the I Love My Dog Expo! For more information, visit our calendar post.

We’re waiting for you! Don’t miss the expo in Lincoln today!

Thanks for coming out to see us and all of the other rescues!

Join GRRIN volunteers at the Nebraska Humane Society’s Taylor Made Rescue Rally on Sunday, February 12, 10am-1pm. For a map to this event visit our calendar page.

Thanks to everyone for coming out to support GRRIN! And thanks to The Green Spot for giving GRRIN a turn at Trimming Claws for a Cause!

Bring your dog to The Green Spot on Tuesday, February 7, 6-8pm for $10 drop-in nail trims. All proceeds will be donated to GRRIN!

Visit our calendar post for a map to The Green Spot.

Thanks to foster dogs Peaches and Stella for meeting and greeting at The Bookworm!

Come visit GRRIN from noon-1pm on Sunday, February 5th, at The Bookworm’s location in Loveland Centre on 90th and Center.

A small, cozy and quiet setting to meet a Golden that is in foster care. Visit The Bookworm on the first Sunday of the month, noon to one p.m. This is an indoor event! Click here for a map.

The Bookworm
Loveland Centre
90th and Center Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68114

Thanks for coming! What a great day we shared with our volunteers, potential volunteers and the dogs. We covered procedures for the Goldline, home visits, fostering and caseworking. We need more volunteers in each of those rescue areas. If you missed the meeting but are still interested in working with GRRIN, please send an email to volunteer@grrin.org. Special thanks to the Nebraska Humane Society for allowing GRRIN to use the auditorium.

Sunday, January 22nd, 2017
Volunteer Luncheon 12:00 to 12:30 p.m.
Training 12:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Nebraska Humane Society Auditorium

RSVP to volunteer@grrin.org

Whether you’re already a GRRIN volunteer or just thinking about becoming one,

Please plan to join us as we socialize and cover hot rescue topics!

• Lunch will be provided along with snacks and beverages
• More to come on agenda items!

The Nebraska Humane Society is located at 8929 Fort Street, Omaha.

We will be in the auditorium (hallway to the right of the main entrance).

In case of inclement weather, we will post cancellation information on our website and Facebook page.

Thanks to everyone who visited Brenda Orr’s photography studio to get a photo taken with their dogs. And special thanks to Brenda for giving a portion of her sitting fees to GRRIN! All of the dogs had a great time smiling at the camera!

If you would like to have photos with your furry family member, you can contact Brenda at:

Have you ever wanted to help out GRRIN by doing almost nothing? If you are an online shopper, you can earn money for GRRIN simply by making purchases on amazon.

Since we began asking for your help, our Amazon Smile donations have increased!

• May – $10.27
• August – $20.81
• November – $28.25

How can I do this amazing thing?

When you want to shop on amazon, simply go to smile.amazon.com instead of www.amazon.com. It’s exactly the same as amazon, but a small percentage of your eligible purchases will be donated to GRRIN.

How will amazon know I want to support GRRIN?

To select GRRIN as your organization of choice to receive donations, simply click on this link: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/47-0758414

(Alternatively, you can search for “Golden Retriever Rescue in Nebraska” on AmazonSmile and select us as your organization.)

You only need to do this once. In the future, amazon will remember that you want your shopping to support GRRIN.

Is it really that easy?

Yes! So go to smile.amazon.com and shop to support GRRIN!

Still have questions?

Go to the AmazonSmile about page to learn more about the program: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/about

Golden retrievers are amazing, beautiful, friendly, loyal, and loving dogs, but they are also dogs that are diagnosed with cancer at a very high rate. In fact, research has indicated that approximately 60% of all American Golden Retrievers will pass away from some form of cancer.

Visit the page that has been created to honor those beloved Goldens who have passed from this unfortunate diagnosis:

http://grrin.org/play/canine-cancer-memorial/

Silver and Gold Rush 2016

GRRIN’s favorite color is gold, right? In 2016, however, we’ve been giving an important nod to silver as we celebrate GRRIN’s 25^th anniversary. Put them together on October 2^nd and we had Silver and Gold Rush! This year’s event included close to 100 guests, 30-some volunteers and over 60 dogs – predominantly Goldens with a sprinkling of other breeds.  Offutt Base Lake Park in Bellevue continues to be a great setting for Gold Rush and that, combined with wonderful weather (again!), means we couldn’t go wrong.

Here are highlights from the day:

• Vendors Papillion Animal Hospital and Nature Dog;
• The GRRIN Boutique sold lots of great merchandise;
• Current GRRIN foster dogs were introduced on stage and remained on-hand to greet guests;
• Games and activities for dogs, adults and kids;
• Animal rehabilitation therapy demonstration courtesy of Michelle Eckermann, DVM, Five Elements Veterinary Alternatives;
• Training Demo with Gary Platt and Kathy Rasinowich-Platt, Innovative Dog Training;
• Our can’t-miss Halloween costume contest for dogs;
• Last but not least, the wonderful parade of rescued Goldens;
• Great food throughout the day afternoon including 25^th anniversary cake;
• Curt Bright with The String Beans provided music throughout the day; and
• Finally, congratulations to Joe Muller, winner of the silent auction for two roundtrip tickets generously donated by Southwest Airlines with proceeds to benefit GRRIN.

Thanks to everyone who attended and volunteered for Gold Rush 2016! It’s such a fun way to connect with friends and Goldens while reinforcing GRRIN’s mission.  We look forward to seeing everyone at Gold Rush 2017, tentatively set for October 1.

Thanks to the generous spirit of our supporters, $7305 was raised for GRRIN during Omaha Gives! The community gave a total of $8.8 million to 783 different non-profit organizations.

Wednesday, May 25th – Midnight to Midnight

GRRIN is proud to be participating in Omaha Gives! – a 24-hour charitable challenge organized by the Omaha Community Foundation. The online giving holiday will take place May 25th from midnight to midnight. Mark your calendars because we will need your help!  We will be joining over 700 local nonprofits to raise money together and compete for matching funds and prize money. The more money we raise, the larger the percentage of the bonus dollars we will receive. The more donors we get to give to us, the more likely we are to win prizes.

Go to GRRIN’s Omaha Gives! page to make your donation on May 25th, then watch the leader board to see how much money the Omaha community has contributed throughout the day.

You can also schedule a gift! For your convenience, you can schedule gifts through May 24th. We encourage you to donate early if you cannot participate on May 25th.

Why does GRRIN need donors? The majority of our funds cover veterinary expenses – over $350 per dog we cared for in 2015. As we celebrate 25 years of rescue in 2016, GRRIN will embark on an exciting new international mission to bring five dogs to the Midwest from Istanbul, Turkey. The very first flight of pups will arrive in Chicago at the end of May, and GRRIN volunteers will transport them to Omaha.

GRRIN will continue to cover the cost of spay and neuter procedures, testing and monthly medications for dogs with allergies, along with treatment for dogs with heartworms, epilepsy, and thyroid imbalance. In addition, monthly heartworm and parasite prevention are administered to each foster dog along with annual vaccinations and a microchip. Many of our foster dogs in 2015 were eight years of age and older, classified as seniors. We are extremely grateful to have the resources to care for these Golden oldies with loving foster homes and the ability to cover all of their medical expenses so they can live comfortably in their later years.

This is a Golden opportunity to unleash your generosity! Our goal this year is to raise $10,000. Your donation will help cover the Turkey rescue mission, annual veterinary expenses, and care for three of our senior dogs that will remain in foster homes indefinitely.

THANK YOU for your support!

UPDATE 5/22: The Turkey dogs have been receiving a lot of media coverage. Check out some of the stories here:

KETV: http://www.ketv.com/news/rescued-golden-retrievers-travel-from-turkey-to-omaha/39665534

UPDATE 5/20 @ 4pm: The Turkey dogs have landed! No matter what country they’re from, they still have that Golden spirit. Here are some photos of the newly landed pups!

UPDATE 5/20 @ 8am: The Turkey dogs are officially in the air and on their way to Nebraska! All five dogs that GRRIN is welcoming into rescue will meet with their foster families this weekend after their long trip. Here are pictures of the five new dogs:

Thank you to all of our supporters! Stay tuned for an updated list.

Fox 42 featured the Turkey dog mission here!

Golden Retriever Rescue in Nebraska will rescue five Golden Retrievers from Istanbul, Turkey. The very first flight of pups will arrive in Chicago at the end of May, and GRRIN volunteers will transport them to Omaha.

The life of a Golden Retriever in Turkey is very different than a normal house dog in America. There are many homeless dogs in Turkey. With minimal room in Turkish shelters, many of these dogs live on the street or in forests after they are spayed/neutered and given rabies vaccines. Because Golden Retrievers are not effective pack dogs and are of gentle nature, their odds of surviving on the street are not favorable. These dogs are in need of a fur-ever home and a family who will love them unconditionally.

Dogs wait for transport at a shelter in Turkey

Q & A – Turkey Golden Retrievers

Why are you rescuing dogs from Turkey?

As we mentioned before, there are many homeless Golden Retrievers in Turkey. One of GRRIN’s missions is to rescue a Golden in need, and dogs located outside of the U.S. are no exception to that. There has also been a decrease in the number of foster dogs within GRRIN due to a lack of surrenders. We used to foster at least 50 dogs per year, but since 2010 we have only averaged 25-30 foster dogs per year – and we still receive the same number of applicants and always maintain a waiting list. Some of our families wait a year to adopt a Golden through GRRIN. We know that there are many loving families within our state who are more than willing to help a pup in need. That’s why we’ve decided to participate in rescuing Turkey dogs.

What kind of medical care do they receive in Turkey?

Golden Retrievers coming from Turkey do not receive a great deal of specialty care. They are spayed or neutered and receive rabies vaccines while living in Turkey. Dogs with health issues are not allowed to travel outside of the country.

Why aren’t they quarantined when they arrive in the U.S.?

The dogs are isolated together in Turkey, and receive health certificates and passports before leaving the country. U.S. Customs and Border Protection must review the dogs’ documentation and clear each pup once they have arrived within America.

How are they transported to the U.S.?

Just as humans do, Turkey dogs fly in air-conditioned, pressurized cabins to ensure they are comfortable for the long plane ride. To ensure that all transported dogs arrive safely, they are housed in individual storage crates.

What happens after they arrive in the U.S.?

Turkey dogs are treated just like any other new pup in our care. Each dog receives a wellness exam, blood work and fecal tests. We also like to evaluate each dog’s temperament and knowledge. For instance, are they capable of walking on a leash. And yes, they will have to learn to understand English commands!

Does adopting Turkey Dogs negatively affect the adoption of Golden Retrievers who need to be rescued in the U.S.?

No, there are waiting lists of loving families all over the country who are ready to help a Golden Retriever in need. There is no risk to Golden Retrievers in the U.S. with the adoption of Turkey dogs. GRRIN has many foster homes available, so local dogs needing care will not be affected.

Is the process for adopting a Turkey dog different than normal?

The adoption fee for a Turkey dog is $600. This is much more than our standard adoption fee of $300. The extra cost helps us cover transportation expenses to bring these dogs to America. GRRIN will process applications like we do for all of our dogs that need a fur-ever home. A fenced yard is required and dogs must live indoors as part of the family. We may have more specific needs for each dog.

To donate, go here.

Check out these news articles to learn more about the Turkey Dog mission:

Retrieve A Golden of Minnesota (RAGOM) – Latest Rescue

CNN: How Istanbul’s Abandoned Street Dogs End Up in America

http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/13/world/turkey-stray-golden-retreivers-atlanta/index.html

CNN: Turkey Rescue Dogs Thriving In U.S.

http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2016/01/01/turkey-dogs-golden-retriever-sidner-dnt.cnn

CNN: A Homeless Dog’s 5,000 Mile Journey Ends with Forever Home

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/humankind/2015/07/06/humankind-homeless-dog-hero-family/29790791/

WSB-TV: First Moments in America for 36 Golden Retrievers from Istanbul

https://twitter.com/JoeFloccari/status/597460758583062529

Thanks to our sponsors and donors!

Mark Langan, Vice-President of Field Operations at the Nebraska Humane Society and best-selling author of Busting Bad Guys

A Lotta Brownies • Bagel Bin • Bank of the West • The Bookworm • Dave Buechler • Roger Campbell • David & Julie Churilla • Colleen Cochrane • Kathy Creighton • Eagle Run Golf Course • A Hill of Beans • Jimmy Ellis • Jimmy John’s • JoAnn Farrell • Collean Fullmer • Owen Henderson, DVM • Hy-Vee • Kitty Kentsmith • Kevin & Dora Klein • Mark Langan • Lazlo’s • Long Dog Fat Cat • Mama’s Pizza • Liz Marriott • Linda Natale • Pam Nathan • Nature Dog • Natural Grocers • Olive Garden • Perrigo Animal Health • Jim & Jeri Regan • Mark Renner, N.P. Dodge • Rich & Laura Roccaforte • Round the Bend Steakhouse • Mike Rustkalis, DVM • Jaclin Smith • Southwest Airlines • David Stevens, TD Ameritrade • S.M. Stevens & Associates, LLC • Kate Spielman • Three Dog Bakery • Cecily Tinder • Thad & Janie Tinder • Two Tails Dog Bakery • Upstream Brewing Company • Veterinary Eye Specialists • Dr. Tonya McIlnay • Ken & Rita Vetter • Vincenzo’s • Rich & Kathy Woodward • Barb Zelechoski

Oh, what a night!

The Platte Room at Soaring Wings Winery was filled to capacity for GRRIN’s anniversary dinner on April 16th. Original founders Barb Zelechoski and Deb Goll were special guests for the evening.  Barb gave an informative and motivational speech about national and local rescue efforts. A wonderful dinner from Mangia Italiana was followed by our second speaker, Mark Langan, author of the best-selling book, Busting Bad Guys.

The silent auction bidding closed at 9:30p.m. and nearly $4000 was raised! This event would not have been possible without the endless hours given by the committee volunteers and the folks who showed up early on the night of the 16th to make sure we were ready to roll.

Special thanks also to Three Dog Bakery for providing yummy take-home treats for lucky dogs & A Lotta Brownies for helping GRRIN serve an amazing post-dinner treat for the humans! Finally, Curt Bright & The String Beans for setting up our sound system. Please note our many donors and sponsors and their support of GRRIN!

A very pregnant Gracie!

It is very rare when GRRIN sees puppies in foster care, but one special dog named Gracie created quite a stir five years ago when she brought 11 puppies into the world. On Saturday, April 9, 2016, “Mama” Gracie crossed the rainbow bridge.

Gracie was over 7 years old when she came into Golden Retriever Rescue in Nebraska from a puppy mill in Missouri.  A pregnancy test was performed on intake, and it was negative.  But that was a false result, because on October 2, 2010, she gave birth to 11 puppies.  She nurtured those pups until they were all adopted by terrific new owners.  Then the search was on to find an adoptive home for Mama Gracie.

Jim and Jeri were looking for a more active dog, but they met Gracie and decided that she was the one for them.  Gracie’s horrendous “previous life” faded away as Jim and Jeri doted on her, and she gave them pure love in return.  A very special dog from difficult circumstances, she was rescued and gave birth to wonderful pups, then led a life of leisure with loving owners.  The definition of a Happy Ending story.

Rest in Peace, Mama Gracie.  We all love you, and you’ll be missed.

Thanks for coming out to meet Babe and Misty. Here are two pictures of our beautiful ladies from the event. The top photo is of Babe. The bottom is of Misty.

Come visit GRRIN from noon-1pm on Sunday, March 6th to meet Babe (and maybe Misty!) at The Bookworm’s location in Loveland Centre on 90th and Center. Thank you for supporting The Bookworm during 2015!

A small, cozy and quiet setting to meet a Golden that is in foster care. Visit The Bookworm on the first Sunday of the month, noon to one p.m. This is an indoor event! Click here for a map.

The Bookworm
Loveland Centre
90th and Center Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68114

See the event listing on the GRRIN calendar:

Rescue Dog Meet & Greet @ The Bookworm

Thank you to all who came out on Friday to meet our beloved Bogie, and thank you to KPTM, KETV, and WOWT for their coverage of the event!

Meet Bogie on Friday, March 4th from 9-11am. View the event page for more details:

Meet Bogie