GRRAND Tails - June 2023 - News & Events And Update on Nala


June 13, 2023	View in browser

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Missing Dog Nala is Found!

Nala was back home by 9 p.m., last night. She was found wandering down the middle of the road near Frankfort Av., and Shelbyville Rd. The person who found Nala contacted GRRAND's phone line to report the tag number. Kudos to our persistent phone volunteers who identified Nala and turned the information over to our lost dog coordinator, Alyssa. She coordinated the homecoming for Nala and Kate.

Kate is grateful for every GRRAND volunteer who scrambled to coordinate the search and find this poor girl! And, GRRAND is grateful for the many folks that took time out of their busy schedule to search for Nala, post flyers, and pray for a good outcome.

What an awesome team we we are! You always come through for these dogs! Thank you!

We have so much to tell you and so little space! Periodically we will post full articles on the GRRAND Tails Rest of the Story page of our website. The links will always be shown at the top of our Tails page for easy access. Below are the first two articles - just click on the links to see the stories!

Q&A From Last Newsletter - What To Do When Your Dog Reacts To Other Dogs

Marshmallow Toss - Pictures From Our Recent Have-a-Heart Celebration for Dogs Adopted in 2022

2024 GRRAND Rescue Calendar

Lights! Camera! Action!

We all know Golden Retrievers, like most dogs, can communicate with their faces, eyes, mouth, ears, tail, etc. Body language tells the moment’s story. GRRAND challenges you to capture these moments on camera for entry into the 2024 GRRAND Rescue Calendar contest. Keep your camera ready and watch for your dog's perfect pose!

Here is your chance to show off your gorgeous GRRAND dog to the world. Enter your GRRAND dog’s picture here ($10 registration fee). Then encourage voting for $1 from your family, friends, and social media followers.

This year the top vote earner will be on the cover of the 2024 calendar! The winner will also receive 2 tickets to the GRRAND Affair event scheduled for November 10, 2023, and a calendar!

The next 12 photos with the most votes will each receive a monthly spread and a calendar. Each winner has a chance to tell their GRRAND dog’s story.

Reserve a Day to Honor your Pet! Want a guaranteed spot on the calendar? Reserve a day to honor your pet. Your pet's photo will appear on the day of your choice. Just choose your favorite photo and then choose the day and pay! First come first served! Once a date has been reserved, it will no longer be available. Each day is $15. Submit your photo and $15 donation here!

Hot Tips:

Read the Contest Rules for information regarding photo requirements. Make sure your photos are of high quality to reproduce well (300 DPI recommended).
The more you communicate your participation in the contest (i.e., at work, with friends, via social media), the better chance you have to win one of the top spots, and the more GRRAND will benefit. Votes are $1.
No people in the photos, please. For privacy purposes, we cannot use a photo that includes a person.
It’s not over until it is over. The battle for the calendar spots can go to the very last minute of the contest. Our contest will close at 9 p.m. EST on 7/19/2023.
People can vote as often as they like, and votes will display on the contest web page as they come in.
In case of a tie, the entry date and time will be used as the tie-breaker.
The goal is to raise $10,000 to help GRRAND continue its efforts to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome wonderful GRRAND dogs.
Calendars make excellent holiday gifts! You will be able to pre-order calendars.

LOOKING FOR PHOTO IDEAS? CHECK OUT THE PICTURES BELOW!

Special Note: In our May issue about GRRAND's trainers we misspelled Alicia's last name. Her last name is Noschang. We apologize for the error.

Do you have a training or behavior question?

Trainer Spotlight & Volunteer of the Month - Sharon Gretsinger

This month we're spotlighting another one of GRRAND's awesome trainers—AND Volunteer of the Month—Sharon Gretsinger!

Sharon is a master trainer, owner of Pawsitively Professional Boarding and Training Kennels and founder/co-founder of Canine Partners for Independence, Wags Pet Therapy of Kentucky and Paws with Purpose. She wears several hats at GRRAND, training and fostering dogs, helping with transport, performing home visits and serving as International Rescue Coordinator. Sharon even boards surrendered dogs at her boarding and training facility when we don't have enough space at GRRAND, which has saved dozens of dogs' lives as GRRAND has taken in more and more dogs surrendered by puppy mill breeders throughout the area.

"In addition to having an amazing heart for rescue, Sharon is an excellent dog trainer and behaviorist and a highly respected authority on food, health, and nutrition for dogs. GRRAND is incredibly grateful to have Sharon on our team during these difficult times!!" -Jane Sonntag, Adoption Lead Coordinator

Click here for some training advice from Sharon and to read about her favorite training case.

I Found Love - Adoption and Fostering Stories

Happy Seegall and her family opened their hearts and adopted Bridger because they wanted a dog that wasn't "perfect" by most people's standards - but Bridger was perfect for them! Bridger had to have his back-left leg amputated, but nothing can stop him from living his best life.

"I would describe Bridger as: goofy, playful, lovey-dovey, resilient, and most importantly very able. Bridger has taught us a lot, but one of the biggest impacts he has made on my life is my perspective on ability vs disability. He had my heart the second I saw that he was going to have to learn to live without a leg....but, honestly, Bridger does not care that he's a tripawd. He runs extremely fast, doesn't hesitate to get rowdy, and loves his walks. Honestly, the only thing he can't do is scratch behind his left ear! So, all that to say, I definitely changed my perspective on what 'ability' means and he's been monumental in that. He's only 3 now and I know as he ages, his mobility will change and we'll need to make modifications to accommodate his energetic lifestyle, but until then we're having a good 'ol time."

Click here to continue reading about Bridger's heart-warming adoption story!

SUMMER TREATS AND REMINDERS

Summer Treats for Your Dog

Yummy frozen treats for your dog this summer:

Using a food processor or blender, mix some blackberries, two slices of bananas, half cup of peanut butter and ½ cup of plain unsweetened yogurt. Put in a mold, using a dog biscuit as the pupsicle stick and freeze. Doesn’t it look delicious? You should have one too! Nobody wants to eat alone!

Summer Activities & Traveling

You may find yourself traveling with your pet this summer. Whether it's a day trip or a destination further away, make sure you check your dog's collar ID for accurate emergency contact information. If your pup escapes you'll be glad your contact information is correct.

Pet Friendly Lodging

Packing List for Your Dog

Flea, Tick, Heartworm Prevention

Public-health officials say ticks and other pests are emerging earlier and staying active longer because of changes in climate and land use. Many of our dogs spend more time outdoors during the summer. Flea, tick and mosquito bites can wreak havoc on your dog's health resulting in serious illness or even death. Don't make the mistake of thinking your dog is immune. Contact your vet for more information and ensure your dog is protected.

Recognize & Prevent Dehydration

Hydration is critical to your dog’s health and safety. Knowing the signs of dehydration helps you respond quickly to catch serious medical conditions before they become life-and-death emergencies. One test for hydration is to gently pull up your dog’s skin near his shoulder blades and then let it go. If it quickly falls back into place, hydration is usually okay. If the skin does not fall back into place quickly, your dog may be dehydrated. For more information visit this site.

In our next issue we will provide more information about the perils of extreme heat (paw burns, heat stroke, hot car warnings, pets with no place to shelter from the sun, etc.). Minutes can make the difference between life and death and there are laws to protect animals in negligent situations.

May Rescue Report

GRRAND volunteers are trying to catch their breath after the surge of rescues in the last 5 months. As of the end of May we had 57 dogs in our program but a number of those are owner relinquishes that will stay with their owners until a good home can be found. We took in 9 dogs and placed 11 dogs during the month of May. As always, we appreciate your donations and support while we continue to find homes for these precious rescue dogs! Spread the word about GRRAND to your family and friends.