Our goal in GRRIN is to get every foster dog to their forever home. Each “Happy Tail” is a reflection of the caring effort shared by volunteers and the families who open up their homes to a rescued Golden Retriever.
Would you like to submit a story for your recently adopted dog or send an update for a former adoption? Contact GRRIN at webmaster@grrin.org.
10-23 Rustic aka Manny
Hi everyone, this is Rustic! Boy, have I had an exciting summer. I came to live with Nancy, Helen and their two Goldens and it’s been fantastic. They started out as my foster family and soon realized I just had to stay. My oldest Golden brother is Thunder, the wise old man of the pack. He’s 15! Then there’s Berkley, who’s only 9. So, since I’m just a year old, I’m obviously the little brother who’s still learning the ropes. It’s been so much fun the past few months doing things like camping and learning to swim in a lake! … Continue reading
09-53 Scooter HE
I am a happy dog! Nancy and Joe are awesome! I am a very loving dog, but they understand that I can be shy and need their help. I know I can trust them completely, and life is pure joy. Two more members are part of my new family — a Golden playmate, young Kate (she is an older puppy), and a cat named Hobbes. Hobbes is very pleased that I do not chase him! I have a large yard for running and tracking scents. Young Kate is really fun and energetic. We have such fun together, but I take … Continue reading
10-29 Daisy (K-5) HE
I am the luckiest Golden ever. Bill and Nancy think I’m so beautiful and so smart. Their whole family has been here to meet me, and I was on my best behavior. They said I was amazingly calm and loving and BIG. They kept saying, “Look at those paws!” Nancy says they’re just right for me. Even though I’m only 17 months old, I am very tall, and I will need big feet to hold me up. I love my new back yard. I can race in big circles and say hello to the dogs in the yards next to … Continue reading
10-32 Aspen (aka Ruby)
Hello everyone! My name is Aspen and I am 6 years old but my mom and dad think I act more like I am 3 years old! I came from a family that had to give me up because they were moving and could not take me with. My foster parents, Bruce and Vikki must have thought I was pretty special because they decided to adopt me. I think life is pretty cool here as I have sooo many toys and get to go on walks everyday! It was hard at first since I wasn’t used to it, but I … Continue reading
10-34 Harrington aka Harry
I’m Harrington – now shortened to Harry – and I think I like that! With two other dogs in the house, Harrington got to be a mouthful for my new mom! I seem to fit right in, sometimes sleeping with Mom, and sometimes with Jordi, my sister Golden. KJ ( a yellow lab mix) kind of just eyeballs me, but as long as I don’t get in his food before he is finished, he is okay! It is interesting being in a house of seniors! KJ is 8, Sadie is 15 and I am 10. Mom says I had better … Continue reading
10-15 Riley
Hello everyone! Riley here. I’ve been having so much fun that I almost forgot to write and tell everyone about my Happy Ending! I was adopted back in April by a great family. I’m adjusting to life with an 8-year-old and a 3-year-old, but we have so much fun playing together and running around outside. I like to play with their stuffed animals, but I don’t think they like sharing because they put them all up high where I can’t reach! That’s ok because I have lots of fun toys of my own. My mom likes to go running and … Continue reading
10-20 Shack Happy Ending
Hello, my name is Shack. I turned 9 years old in April and sure love my new forever home and family. Ron & Irma are so good to me (they’re spoiling me a little too much, but I love it). When I got here I found a big box of toys and plenty of tennis balls to play with. I get to go in the car for a ride to the park everyday and meet with my new dog friends. I always take a tennis ball with me to play with. I’m getting to where I can catch it really … Continue reading
10-10 Parker HE
LIFE IS GOOD! I have been really fortunate to have people who really cared for me during my 2-year life. In my first home, my mom took really good care of me, but she also was very busy and knew that she was unable to give me the physical attention that she knew I deserved. So, I went to GRRIN where LIFE IS GOOD again. My foster family instantly knew I was a special boy. I had toys and kids to play with; went for car rides; and chased rabbits and squirrels. Scott and everyone knew that I would find … Continue reading
10-13 Brody aka Buddy II
Hi, my name is Brody (10-13). When Dick and Judy came to pick me up at Tori’s house, my name was still Buddy, but I think they had to put a number behind my old name because there were so many dogs names Buddy in GRRIN. Anyway, I like my new name, and I always come when they call me. I’m really tall and thin, and I LOVE to run after a ball in our big back yard. I run so fast I usually get ahead of the ball. I play with my new sister, Sadie (5-19) whenever we aren’t … Continue reading
10-14 Nell
Hey, everyone! This is Nell! I originally belonged to a military family but they had to move and couldn’t take me with them. Another nice family took care of me for awhile but it turns out I was a bit too much for their smaller dogs to handle. So, the GRRIN folks came into the picture and I went to live with Terry, my foster Dad, and his two Goldens. It wasn’t long before Kevin and Nora came for a visit and before I knew it I was adopted and on my way to live at their house. They love … Continue reading
10-12 Newman HE
My name is Newman, and I’m just over a year old. I was rescued by GRRIN from a South Dakota shelter, where I was taken when my first family didn’t have room for me. Well, the GRRIN volunteers soon found room in their rescue! After making the trek from Sioux Falls to Omaha, I made my way into the foster home of Dave and Michelle, and their GRRIN Golden, Bo. Before long I was alternating between retrieving a ball for humans and wrestling with Bo! My foster home had a pond in the back yard. I made it my mission … Continue reading
10-08 Heber Happy Ending
Greetings from Heber, “Ah-bear”. I can now say ahhhh with a new meaning. As you remember, I had been living a good life with my best buddy when he died. My buddy’s family had the great idea of surrendering me to GRRIN so they could help find the perfect home for me. I worked hard in foster care practicing my manners and adjusting to life without my constant companion, when along came Drew & Annie. They both grew up with dogs and thought it was time to have a dog be part of their family. I’m telling you it was … Continue reading
09-47 Sammy
When I came to my foster home, Patty and John didn’t know I was going to be so charming and smart. They decided they wouldn’t want to have me adopted by anyone else. Hey! I’m a fun guy to have around! I figured out the “in house” rules quickly, and I showed them how well I could obey commands. I taught them new behaviors, too! John learned that bread should be put in the cabinet, and Patty discovered a trash container can come with a pop-up lid. I’m not sure why they were concerned about bread disappearing from the counter … Continue reading
10-06 Red renamed Beau
Hi from Beau! You’ll probably remember me as Red, but when I was recently adopted my new owners decided I looked like a “Beau.” Just to recap my story, I was found as stray by some very nice folks who decided GRRIN would do a great job of finding me a forever home. Boy, were they right! Of course, I made it pretty easy. My foster owners, Cindy, Everett and their Corgi, Hailey, knew from the get-go that I was going to be adopted quickly because I was so easy-going and friendly with everyone I met, including other dogs and … Continue reading
10-00 Ginger – Honorary GRRIN dog!
If you’re familiar with GRRIN, you probably know that it can take months to find the perfect match for a family. Lynn and Danny had their home visit in September of 2009 and patiently waited to meet a young female Golden. Of course, at that time GRRIN was fostering numerous young dogs–all male! Finally, after the holidays, they got a call that more than one female was going to be surrendered, but it was too late. They had already heard about a dog in Wisconsin that needed a new family, and plans were made to go meet Ginger and bring … Continue reading
09-25 Dolly
Hello, GRRIN folks, Dolly here! I finally have a forever home. I’m a very sophisticated girl, so it took me a while to find my forever home once I got to GRRIN. I interviewed many candidates and decided to adopt Svetlana and Jon. I’m a little shy around people and good at playing hard to get, but Jon just wouldn’t stop chasing me! I was afraid Jon, Uncle Tim and the GRRIN rescuers would get hurt in the cold snow so I let myself get caught. My forever home is a dream come true and a perfect match for me. … Continue reading
10-02 Brewster aka Buddy
Hi, everybody! This is Brewster. My foster family named me Buddy but my wonderful new forever family already have another Golden named, you guessed it, Buddy! My new Golden brother and I have a lot in common besides the name. He’s also a GRRIN dog who was lucky enough to be adopted by Amy and Joe. For the record, I’m the dark red Golden in front posing with Joe and their kids. I’m doing great in my forever home and I think it shows in this photo. And, I can’t forget to send a big thank you to my foster … Continue reading
10-09 Sage
Sage is a one year old Golden surrendered to GRRIN because her original family could no longer keep her. She went to foster care with Terry and his two grown-up dogs, Maggie and Harley. She kept Terry busy because she lived up to her breed name – Retriever! Terry frequently searched for slippers, shoes and socks! Sage is very smart and quickly learned the house rules, so Terry said that she could meet a family. Within a few hours of an initial phone call, Adam, Nikki, and Hannah were already meeting Sage and it was love at first sight! It … Continue reading
09-50 Rusty
My name is Rusty, and I’m a little over 1 year old. I could also be called Lucky Dog, because that’s what I am! Before I came into GRRIN, I had a life with no exercise, no structure, and no affection. All that changed when I was fostered in the home of Tim, Nikki, and Joel. They pointed me in the right direction, and their dogs taught me how to act like a Golden Retriever! I have a very high energy, so it took me awhile to know what was expected of me. After I got the hint, I started … Continue reading
10-04 Casey
2010 started out to be an ever changing year for me. It all started last fall when my owner had to move to another state far away. We had a great time hanging out with each other for those first few years. But, for some reason, I couldn’t go with him when he moved: I missed him and I know he missed me. So, I stayed with his extended family for a few months. I was outside most of the time which was OK until it got cold and snowy. Sometimes I could come inside the house to get warm … Continue reading
09-55 Bo
My name is Bo, and I’m about 20 months old. When I first heard the word GRRIN, I thought that it meant what humans did when they met me! After awhile I learned it also meant an organization where I would be part of a new family. My first stop was in a super foster home with Bruce and Rebecca, and their Goldens Jazz and Dexter. I loved the structure, training and love that the humans provided, combined with playtime from my canine foster siblings! Even though I didn’t show much pain, my hind-legs had some stability issues, so Rebecca … Continue reading
10-03 Charity
Charity is a dog with a gentle soul that has endured quite a bit of change in her life. She was abandoned by her family but taken in by a good samaritan who turned her over to GRRIN. She is 6 years old and already has a beautiful gray face. In foster care Charity exhibited wonderful manners and got along with the family and resident canines. About the same time, a very loving GRRIN family was in the process of saying goodbye to their senior Golden. Life just wasn’t the same without a dog in the house, so Mike and … Continue reading
09-35 Josie
Hi, I’m Josie, a newly-adopted GRRIN dog! The past few months have been quite eventful for me. After I was surrendered to GRRIN, I started to limp a little bit and the vet decided I was an excellent candidate for ACL surgery. By that time, however, my new owners, Frank and Kathy, had decided they wanted to give me a forever home. To make a long story short, they waited and waited and waited for me to have my operation and recover – which took a few months but went fine. My foster mom and her resident dogs took such … Continue reading
07-33 Ethan
It’s been a long long journey but I am finally home. It all started when I was found as a stray in Hastings, NE, then sent to several foster homes. There was a time when I almost didn’t make it but the great people at GRRIN rescued me and saved my life. Finally I reached Elbert, my foster dad, who brought out the best in me and helped shape me into the perfect companion for my new family. I am so excited to finally be home! Can you say WooHoo?! (Maybe Woof-Woof is more like it). I can now be … Continue reading
09-46 Thor
Hi! It’s me, Thor! I got my Christmas wish and found my forever home just in time for the holidays. I was fostered by Seth and Erika for 2 months where I learned how to be a good boy and live inside. I had so much energy they sent me to daycare so I could run and play all day. Now in my new home I have Dalton to wrestle with and McKenna for lots of hugs. I even get to help Carmen and Rick wake the kids up in the morning! I am learning to calm down when we … Continue reading
