The MTGRR Connection

If you've noticed that there are a lot of Golden Retrievers (or Golden Retriever wannabees) in our group, it's not a coincidence. A few years ago, we adopted our Crazy Gracie from Middle Tennessee Golden Retriever Rescue (MTGRR). We were at a point in our lives where we were looking for somewhere to volunteer our time and efforts. The rest of our life had gone from crazy and full time, taking up all of our time and energy resources, to calmer and more flexible, allowing us to redirect our focus in new directions.The volunteers and folks who were (and most still are) running MTGRR were a dedicated, sincere and organized group. We felt that we had found the right place to volunteer our efforts.
We started off doing transports and home visits and a few months later MTGRR had a desperate facebook plea for a foster home for Bandit, a 15+ year old Golden/Pyr mix who was dropped at a shclter and needed to find a new foster home ASAP. We said yes.
Bandit had some dementia which caused him to wander aimlessly at times. He stayed up all night pacing, maybe from some pain or other discomfort. He had trouble getting up and down and walking on the hard floors, but still seemed happy. He walked with the other dogs and took dips in the wading pools with them.

Bandit sitting with Ozkar and Charlotte

Cooling off in the pool

Bandit did have some happy days with us

This happiness only lasted a few weeks. Soon after, Bandit's health deteriorated quickly. He had extreme difficulty getting up at all and once he did, he would pace for hours day and night. Bandit was obviously in pain and after medication changes didn't help at all it was obvious that it was time to help him to go to the Rainbow Bridge.We were thankful that we had been able to provide him with those last few happy weeks.
While some folks would have been put off by this situation, we were shown that there was a need for foster homes for the old, disabled and un-adoptable dogs who were pulled from bad situations and brought into rescue. It was easy to find homes for young and middle aged, healthy dogs, but not for these equally deserving seniors. We had found our calling.....
Just a month later, and almost exactly two years ago, we fostered and within three days, adopted Lucy. Ten year old Lucy (Doggy Perfection) was rescued from a terrible hoarder situation and was not expected to live. Once she was treated with IV and antibiotics for weeks by a vet tech who volunteered for MTGRR, she needed a home where she could recuperate and join a real doggy family. She has been thriving here ever since. Lucy is the most amazing inspiration to anyone who meets her. After living for most of her life in deplorable conditions, she she is a happy, well adjusted girl now.

Lucy's signature smile

Romping through the grass on her first day here

Lucy with her favorite toy, the hurley

In late 2011, we took in Rosie, a pretty 15 year old in the MTGRR program who needed a new foster home because her wonderful foster family would be traveling. Rosie didn't take well to changes and needed somewhere where she could settle down and get comfortable. Rosie was completely deaf and had all the stiffness that came with her age. Even so, she was a happy girl who wanted nothing more than to follow her people around and be petted and scratched. Rosie thrived and lived with us for 15 months before going to the Rainbow Bridge earlier this year. She was happy until then, but in only a few days completely lost her ability to stand up so we knew that it was time to let her go.  There are so many things around the house that are still a reminder of Rosie, like the extra wide stairs and the wall to wall throw rugs. I think of her tilted, smiling face often.

Rosie's first day here

Rosie (second from right) and friends begging for sunflower seeds

Beautiful Rosie a year later

Just over a year ago, Bo and Daisy Duke came from a county shelter as a bonded pair. Bo was 11 and Daisy was 13. They were surrendered by their owner and had lived together for their entire lives. MTGRR wanted to keep them together as this transition was difficult enough for them without having to be split up. After their vetting, Bo and Daisy didn't have a foster home and we agreed to keep them here. They stuck together like glue for the first few weeks, Bo learned the doggy door, Daisy learned the doggy door, Bo slept in the dining room, Daisy slept right next to him. After a month they were just starting to feel comfortable apart and with the other dogs. Exactly a year ago, on 4th of July weekend, Bo was not acting himself. On Saturday he wasn't eating as well as usual and by Monday morning he couldn't even stand up. We rushed him to the emergency vet and he had an attack and passed on the examining table. It was determined that he had cancer in his lungs that had finally caught up with him. When we came home without Bo, Daisy was confused. She smelled things that Bo had touched and wandered aimlessly for the day. At that point, Daisy became a permanent member of the Old Friends Family. She was brought back to her happy self by the rest of the gang and has lived here happily ever since. For a 14 year old girl, she is doing great. She still chases the ball (but Gracie gets it) and loves a good roll on her back. 

Bo and Daisy together

Beautiful Daisy Girl

It's mine, all mine....

A little less than a year ago, MTGRR rescued Hunny Bunny, a 15 year old "maybe there's some golden in there" dog from a rural shelter. She was a cute, sheeplike, round furball who just needed a place to stay and a family to rub behind her ears. Honey was cute, but her outside life made her a less than desirable housemate. She had changed foster homes multiple times in just a few weeks and was headed to a vet's office to board until another place could be found for her. She came here. Hunny Bunny still has her issues; she forgets to go outside sometimes to go to the bathroom and gets stuck in strange positions due to her extra large turn radius and inability to get up from all surfaces. She needs regular supervision and doesn't eat well with others. That's ok, she's doing fine here. Our paper towel budget is higher than the average family  and we've learned how to work with her other problems. We are constantly working to get the weight off of her and keep it off as it makes it so much easier for her to get around. She is using the trail of throw rugs through the house to get around as she often has trouble getting up from a hard floor. Just a month or so ago, Hunny started to bark, something that she had never done before. She's using that skill more and more lately. She's a funny Hunny Bunny....

pretty Hunny Bunny

Hunny Bunny sits so funny

enjoying the outdoors

Beautiful Maggie was adopted by MTGRR a few years ago to her "forever" home. Just this past winter, at almost 13 years old, she was surrendered back to rescue because the owner moved and only took his other, younger dogs. We took her in at Old Friends, first to foster and then, once she showed how much she liked the company of the rest of the gang, we adopted her. Maggie came to us with skin and ear issues and a bag of strange food. We put her on our "sensitive senior" diet and most of her allergies have gone away. She is an opinionated girl with a big mouth sometimes, but deep down is as sweet as can be and is super easy to live with. She loves a roll in the hay in the backyard and sleeps in the doorway. All she wants from us is scratch behind the ears and an ice cube or two. Although Maggie gets along well with everyone, she doesn't do so well at feeding time, which gets her to her room before anyone else. Maybe that's her plan.

Maggie loves to roll in the hay

Happy with her friends

beautiful Maggie

In closing, we love our MTGRR dogs and truly value our relationship with MTGRR. While we are building Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary, we intend to stay involved with MTGRR as well. They are a wonderful group of people with good hearts and we are proud to be associated with them. We are thankful to them for allowing us to be involved and in showing us the way to our true passion in life. Senior Dogs....