Congratulations to Rocky and his fur-parents, Jim and Mary Jane Fitch, who just received the 2018 Nebraska Veterinary Medicine Association’s Animal Hall of Fame award in January! Even more exciting, they visited the State Capitol where Lt. Governor Mike Foley presented a proclamation from Governor Pete Ricketts highlighting March 5, 2018 as Animal Hall of Fame Recognition Day in Nebraska.

Rocky, born with a deformed front paw, was adopted by Jim and Mary Jane in 2014. After an incredible journey to get a prosthetic device for Rocky, they had him certified as an Angel Dog at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, where he provides comfort and joy to many patients.

State Capitol Story

Rocky’s Special Journey

Rocky at Madonna Rehabilitation

Don’t miss the GRRIN meet and greet on Saturday, April 28, 12-2!

Coming up:

May 19, July 28, August 11

Nature Dog is located at 13366 West Maple Road in Omaha. Check out our calendar page for a map.

Are you proficient using Adobe’s InDesign program? GRRIN is looking for a volunteer that can produce four newsletters per year. Our communications chair supplies most of the content and another volunteer is responsible for putting them in the mail. The previous editor estimates it takes about 12 hours to complete each newsletter. If you’d like to learn more about working with GRRIN, please send an email to newsletter@grrin.org!

Thanks to everyone who attended annual training today! Over 35 friends of GRRIN stopped in to enjoy lunch and learn about the rescue process. Special thanks to Marcy Graybill from the Greater Lincoln Obedience Club who shared her knowledge of dog behavior. We hope to see you at our annual meeting on April 22nd!

Sunday, January 28th, 2018
Luncheon 12:00 to 12:30 p.m.
Training 12:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Nebraska Humane Society Auditorium

RSVP to volunteer@grrin.org

New to GRRIN? So are a lot of us! Come out and meet other volunteers and board members. Thinking about volunteering? This is the perfect opportunity to learn more about what we do and how you can help Golden Retrievers in need.

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

• Lunch provided along with snacks and beverages
• Marcy Graybill from the Greater Lincoln Obedience Club will lead a discussion about dog behaviors
• Rescue coordinators will highlight their piece of the rescue puzzle
• Shop items from the GRRIN store or take part in a raffle

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.

It’s time to join GRRIN or renew your membership! As we wrap up our 26th year of rescue, we ask for your support by renewing your membership or becoming a new member.

The annual membership fee is $15 for one applicant and $10 for each additional applicant. You can also make an end-of-year donation. Just visit our Become a Member web page, fill out the online form, and then click the button that takes you to our PayPal page. Questions? Send us an email – info@grrin.org.

“Welcome Home” with Golden Retriever Rescue in Nebraska

Despite a rainy and chilly start to the day, Gold Rush was held on Oct. 1, 2017 at Offutt Base Lake Park. An intrepid group of approximately 50-60 volunteers, 10 vendors, and about a dozen students braved the weather and transformed the park into a playground for Goldens and their people. An estimated 75 people and 50 dogs attended – not bad considering the weather.

The games included newcomers Plinko and Spin and Win as well as old favorites such as Pin the Tail on the Cat , the Shell Game, Cake Walk, Costume Contest and a Biscuit Count. One of the new activities this year was the appearance of caricaturist Kirk Kuenzl. Another new activity was the photo booth. GRRIN was well represented by an information booth and the GRRIN Store. Several garden stones were donated for the event and were raffled off.

Vendors included Woof & Whiskers, Ask a Vet (Dr. Kaliff), Nail Trims by Courtney from Papillion Animal Hospital, Nature’s Logic, Doggurt, Nature Dog, Merck Animal Health, Kirk’s Caricatures, and photographer Janet Orcutt.

Thanks to all of the vendors and donors and friends of GRRIN who support our organization – we couldn’t do it without you!

Everyone is “welcome home” at our annual Gold Rush reunion!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who participated in Kibble ‘n Bids on November 10th. After a four-year hiatus, GRRIN’s Kibble ‘n Bids Yappy Hour & Silent Auction returned as a huge success!

 

Kibble ‘n Bids Yappy Hour & Silent Auction Fundraiser

Friday, November 10, 6-9p.m.

Arbor Hall, 14040 Arbor Street, Omaha, NE 68144

Tickets, $30/person | Heavy hors d’oeuvres and a signature drink!

Please purchase tickets through Eventbrite. Send us an email to kibblenbids@grrin.org if you would like to RSVP and pay at the door.

We’re looking forward to hosting a fun evening that will include yummy food, a signature cocktail and awesome silent auction items. You’ll be able to mingle with other dog lovers and check out the variety of featured auction baskets. Many of the auction items will make wonderful holiday gifts for your pets. All funds raised from this event go to medical bills for our rescued Golden Retrievers.

Special thanks to Molly and Rachel from Arbor Hall for helping us create an amazing event.

If you are unable to attend but would like to make a donation, you may do so on our website. Click here to donate.

If you’d like to volunteer or donate an item to the silent auction, please send an email to kibblenbids@grrin.org.

This is a humans-only event with a casual dress code. We can’t wait to share this evening with you!

Featured auction items:

• Two round-trip Southwest Airlines tickets
• Gift basket from Woof & Whiskers
• Gift card and items from The Bookworm
• Whiskey basket, coffee basket
• Wine basket from S.M. Stevens and Associates, LLC
• Dog Art & Photo Frames
• Orr’s Golden Hour Photo package
• Dog home decor
• Cat gift basket
• Dog-related Christmas basket
• Gift card from The Green Spot
• Gift certificate and basket from Clearview Pet Care Center
• Gift basket from Nature Dog
• Husker puppy fan poster
• 3 nights stay + bath from Cottonwood Pet Resort
• 2 one-hour, in-home training sessions with Rowden Pet Training
• Lenox Golden Retriever salt and pepper set
• Rainbow Bridge tapestry
• Suellen Ross “Day Dreamer” print with $100 gift card from Ginger’s Hang-Up
• Fred Stone first responders “Partners” framed print from Ginger’s Hang-Up
• Glass art bowl by BBG Artistry
• Market Basket gift card for Happy Hour drinks & appetizers

New GRRIN store items:

• Toys, toys toys!
• Holiday gear for your dog
• GRRIN blankets

We thought you’d like to see York’s latest portrait – he’s turned into one gorgeous Golden. He’s getting ready to spend his second winter in Omaha with his new family after flying in from Istanbul, Turkey in May of 2016. York is one of five dogs that GRRIN rescued as part of a larger rescue mission involving several Midwestern rescues. These missions continue – hundreds of street dogs without families have been brought to the United States in the last three years.

GRRIN is extremely lucky to have amazing volunteers who traveled to pick up the dogs in Chicago, foster families who learned basic Turkish commands so the dogs would understand them, and the “furever” families who adopted them!

Here is York’s original story:

Hi, my name is York and I am a world traveler! I came to Nebraska with 4 other Golden Retrievers who lived on the streets of Turkey. In Turkey, I did not have a home and had to hunt for my own food, but some wonderful people picked me up to care for me and help me find a better life. With some help from GRRIN and its wonderful donors, I was able to travel to Nebraska to find my forever home.

When I arrived, I was very skinny and was struggling with some allergy problems that affected my coat. I also wasn’t sure what it was like to be a family dog. My amazing foster family of Cindy, Steve, Michael, Jason and resident dog, Rosie, worked with me over the last couple of months and helped me learn to be the awesome Golden I am today.

Since I fit in so well with my foster family and they can handle my strong prey drive (I love rabbits and birds), I am staying put and have been adopted by them. The love and affection I have been show by GRRIN and my new family has allowed me to accomplish my destiny in life, loving everyone I see! Thank you all for the opportunity to be a Golden in America!

Don’t miss GRRIN’s annual fundraiser, Kibble ‘n Bids Yappy Hour & Silent Auction on Friday, November 10th! Our co-chairs have been busy putting together a great menu of munchies and awesome silent auction items so everyone can come out and have a fun evening. Tickets are $30 each and can be purchased through Eventbrite or on our Donate page. We’re gathering at Arbor Hall in Omaha (140th & Center) from 6-9pm. Questions? Send an email to kibblenbids@grrin.org.

Also, check out these great events posted by Pets in Omaha and Omaha.dog. If you want to spend time with your furry friends there are many things to do in the Omaha area!

UPDATE:

If you want to provide hurricane relief for Golden Retrievers, please read this statement from the Golden Retriever Foundation. All of the dogs living in the sanctuary have safely landed in temporary foster homes while the GRASS staff begin the long process of cleaning and rebuilding. Visit the GRASS Facebook page for more pictures and video clips of their Harvey journey.

As President of the Golden Retriever Foundation, I want to assure you that the GRF is doing everything possible to help with the tragedy of the Hurricane Harvey in Southeast Texas. We are also in contact with the GRCA-National Rescue Committee and the Golden Retriever Club of America in coordinating the efforts to help those in need.

The GRF has already rushed an emergency check of $4000 to GRASS – Golden Retriever Acres Senior Sanctuary to help with their immediate needs.  They are the only rescue organization in Texas with a facility that was flooded.

Today, The Golden Retriever Foundation is setting up a Disaster Relief Collection – Rescue Fund on our website, http://www.goldenretrieverfoundation.org/donate.html. Any rescue organization that helps in this disaster relief effort or is affected by the disaster can submit grant requests for reimbursement of money spent in support of the recovery effort.   The GRF will cover all expenses within our funding that is allowed.

Resist the urge to send food or items.  The senior goldens are on special diets and it is hard to determine exactly what is needed.  So monetary gifts go a long way for them to get the exact items they need.

Donate money to the Golden Retriever Foundation’s Disaster Relief Collection – Rescue Fund or donate funds directly to Golden Retriever Acres Senior Sanctuary (GRASS) (see below) via their website at http://www.grass-tx.org/

If you have not seen the photos of FB of the water damage to GRASS, here are a few photos.  The water has now receded but the damage was done.

Thank you all for your continued support of the Golden Retriever Foundation.

Collette Jaynes – President GRF
Cindy Collins – VP GRF
Shirley Peskie – Treasurer GRF
Dianne Barns – Secretary GRF

Despite being in business for 25 years, we still hear people say, “I didn’t know there was a Golden Retriever rescue.” So we put up a billboard! Keep an eye out as it will move around town throughout the year – this one is currently located at 84th & Madison.

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

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/