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:

https://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

Thanks for coming out to visit with GRRIN and the other rescues at the NHS Tayler Made Rescue Rally! If you missed it, here are a couple of photos from the event.

GRRIN will be at NHS this Sunday at the Taylor Made Rescue Rally. Stop by between 11am and 2pm and say hi to some of our foster and ambassador dogs. For more information, see the event post on our calendar:

NHS Taylor Made Rescue Rally

Founded in 1991, this year marks GRRIN’s 25th year of rescuing Golden Retrievers in Nebraska, Iowa, and surrounding areas. We will be finding many ways to celebrate this year. Here are a few of the ways you can join us.

Read Our Story

Interested in how GRRIN got its start? Read the story of our founding written by one of the three founding members.

Share Your Photos

As we at GRRIN gear up for our 25th anniversary, we’d like to ask GRRIN followers to share old photos they have of their GRRIN dogs and GRRIN events.

Attend an Event

Are you interested in meeting a foster dog? Attending a dog-friendly social event? Attending the GRRIN annual meeting? Check out a list of our upcoming events or the GRRIN event calendar.

Volunteer

Want to help make sure that GRRIN will still be strong 25 years from now? Volunteer your time and talents. There are many ways to help! Learn more about the different ways you can contribute.

Happy Tails

Want a great reminder of why GRRIN does the work that it does? Read some of our Happy Tails – stories of rescued Goldens finding their forever homes.

As we at GRRIN gear up for our 25th anniversary, we’d like to ask GRRIN followers to share old photos they have of their GRRIN dogs and GRRIN events. Anything you would like to share would be great, especially if you have any photos from before 1997.

To share digital photos via email, send them to webmaster@grrin.org.

If you have physical photos and do not have a way to digitize them (such as using a scanner) or you have questions about how to do it, email webmaster@grrin.org or info@grrin.org and someone will get back to you to help.

If you have any photos or memorabilia you would like to mail, send them to the GRRIN address:

Golden Retriever Rescue in Nebraska
PO Box 126
Boys Town, NE 68010

Thanks for 25 years of support!

Thank you to everyone for attending GRRIN’s annual training meeting held at the Nebraska Humane Society on Sunday, January 31st! GRRIN foster dogs Bella, Dan, Gracie, and Bogie were able to take part with their foster families and kick off GRRIN’s 25th year of rescuing Golden Retrievers.

Nearly fifty volunteers and friends of GRRIN spent the afternoon learning about various aspects of rescue, including intake, transport, home visits, adoptions, and working on the Goldline. Kelley McAtee and Gina Rotella from Dharma Dog Training shared tips about how to work with dogs that have just arrived in a new foster or adoptive home. Dr. Michelle Eckermann, a canine therapist at Five Elements Veterinary Alternatives, demonstrated physical therapy techniques she has used with her GRRIN foster dog Bogie.

If you were unable to attend the meeting and would like to learn more about volunteering for GRRIN, please send an email to volunteer@grrin.org.

 Special Note: Bring GRRIN Photos!

As we at GRRIN gear up for our 25th anniversary, we’d like to ask GRRIN followers to share old photos they have of their GRRIN dogs and GRRIN events. Anything you would like to share would be great, especially if you have any photos from before 1997. So, if you have any you’d like to share, bring them to the training on Sunday and one of our volunteers will scan them for you on site! (If you have any digital photos you would like to email, you can send them to webmaster@grrin.org.)

It’s time for annual training!

Sunday, January 31st, 2016
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.

GRRIN’s annual membership drive is under way! Did you know that we will be celebrating our 25th anniversary in 2016? You can support GRRIN by renewing your membership or becoming a new member. You can also make an end-of-year donation. Check out our online application and pay for your membership via PayPal or credit card.

Your membership fees and donations help GRRIN to pay needed veterinary expenses for our rescued Golden Retrievers.  During 2015, GRRIN cared for 34 foster dogs – 16 of those were seniors (8 years old and up).

Our wonderful foster families opened their homes to young dogs, old dogs, and dogs with special needs, but we always need more.  Please consider fostering for GRRIN in 2016.  You can find information about fostering here or contact info@grrin.org.

Happy Holidays & Happy New Year from Golden Retriever Rescue in Nebraska and all of our foster dogs!

Senior GRRIN dog Leroy 15-09

Dan has been in foster care since April. He is seven years old and will give the right family a lot of love.  Are you home most of the time? Do you have experience with dogs who are afraid of thunder (and you might even be one of those awesome dog owners with a sound proof room for your dogs)? Do you have a resident dog that would love a new buddy?  Dan might be the dog for you. The volunteers at GRRIN would love to see Dan settled into his new forever home. Please contact our organization if you think Dan would be a fit for you.  You can read his full bio here.

Dan the man!

Thanks for attending GRRIN’s monthly Meet & Greet! For those of you who missed it, here are a couple of photos from the event:

Come visit GRRIN from noon-1pm on Sunday, January 3rd to meet Toby 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

How many 16-year-old Golden Retrievers have you met?  GRRIN dog Max is one of the few who has been blessed with the title “super senior”.

Meet Max…

It doesn’t matter why he was surrendered in January of 2015, what’s important is that GRRIN had a foster home ready to accommodate a dog that was possibly hard of hearing, with vision and mobility problems.

Max got along with his new canine brothers, Shiloh and Bo, also GRRIN dogs.

He got along with his new foster parents (Seth & Erika) and his daycare grandparents and their GRRIN dog, Daisy.  Max’s new family members and GRRIN decided that he would stay with them for the rest of his life.

In October, they celebrated his 16th birthday!

He just enjoyed his first Christmas with his new family.

On January 13th, his “gotcha” day, he will have been given the wonderful gift of a year-long second chance with an amazing family.  They would say that he has been the gift given to them.

You can read more about Max here.

THANK YOU for attending GRRIN’s Holiday Shopping & Social Hour at Julio’s! Sales of boutique items, donations, and the auction of the Southwest Airlines tickets brought in nearly $1200 to help GRRIN continue the mission of rescuing Golden Retrievers. Happy holidays to everyone and thank you for your support all year!

Golden Retriever Rescue in Nebraska is hosting the 3rd annual Holiday Shopping & Social Hour!

Sunday, December 6th, from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Julio’s, 123rd & West Center, Omaha
GRRIN members receive a 10% discount

You’re invited!  Bring a friend and join GRRIN as we open our store one more time before the holidays. You will have the opportunity to purchase new GRRIN logo merchandise and special items for your favorite canine while visiting with other dog lovers.  Southwest Airlines tickets will be available for silent auction during this event!

Julio’s is opening exclusively for this event – don’t miss it!

Bogie recently visited The Bookworm and we were able to get some video of him browsing the book stacks.  We even captured the magic of bladder expression – yes, we said it – and it’s surprisingly easy!  There are many rescue animals that need this type of care and GRRIN is trying to share the news that it is an easy procedure. The videos are also on GRRIN’s Facebook page and our Vimeo page (https://vimeo.com/grrin).  Please contact GRRIN at 402-330-6680 or info@grrin.org if you would like to learn more about Bogie!

Bogie before his diagnosis

Bogie during rehabilitation

Bogie today!

Bogie is ready to meet families and find a “furever” home. Even though he has been diagnosed with a condition and will have permanent partial paralysis and weakness in his hind end, he is still moving through life with the typical Golden smile. He charms everyone he meets and his foster mom would love to see him in a permanent home with a family that has the capacity to give continued care.

If you would like to learn more about Bogie, please contact GRRIN at 402-330-6680 or info@grrin.org, and one of our volunteers will get in touch with you.

Bogie has been featured on the Pets in Omaha website. Click below to read the story:

http://petsinomaha.com/meet-bogie-twoyearold-golden-retriever/4986

Visit Bogie’s UPDATED profile:

https://grrin.org/adopt/15-04-bogie/

We had so many photos from Gold Rush that we put them into a video!  You can watch it here or view a higher quality version on our Vimeo page. Hopefully we captured you and your dog on this special day!

Thanks to everyone who came out to meet and greet at Growl-O-Ween!  GRRIN volunteers saw some amazing canine costumes.  Foster dogs Dan and Leroy were able to attend along with adopted GRRIN dog Greta.

When: Saturday, October 24th, 10am-1pm
Where: Three Dog Bakery @ Midtown Crossing  –  30th and Farnam Streets

For more information, visit the website: http://threedogomaha.com/growl.html

On Sunday, September 27th, NHS held it’s annual Walk for the Animals and GRRIN was part of the festivities.  Thank you to everyone who stopped by to meet our ambassadors and foster dogs!

Thank you to everyone who came out to Pups on the Patio in memory of Rick Fox a few weeks ago.  The patio was packed with dogs and their humans, the weather was beautiful, and a great time was had by all.

GRRIN lost a dear friend and supporter with Rick’s passing.  Rick and his wife Shelly adopted Norman in 2008.  Norman was a dog that came from Kansas and had survived a tornado; he and Shelly loved that Norman and their sheepdog Stella were such good friends.  Stella passed away and a new Golden puppy Marge came in and is giving Norman a run for his money.

When volunteers were looking for a site to hold GRRIN’s fundraiser Kibble ‘n Bids in 2011, they reached out to Rick to see if he would help.  He didn’t hesitate to open up Julio’s and took great care of us that year and in 2012.  Many GRRIN meetings and social gatherings were held at Julio’s over the past few years.  Rick was always there to greet everyone, especially the Goldens.  Julio’s has every intention of continuing its involvement with GRRIN and hopes to see everyone there soon!

Here are some photos from the event

Sandy got adopted!

Also, a little insight into the process of trying to get 13 dogs to line up!

Someday we’ll get them into a perfect line! Until then, we’ll just love them for the wonderful animals and members of our families that they are.