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Likes: attention, killing squeaky toys, attention, going for rides, attention, eating, attention, being a couch potato, and swimming in the pool.
Pet-Peeves: thunderstorms, people who won't pay attention to me, and the cat.
Favorite Toy: whichever one is still alive and hasn't been destroyed yet
Favorite Food: Anything in the bowl.
Favorite Walk: walk? why walk when mom will take me for a ride?
Best Tricks: welcoming burglars, sleeping, drooling
Arrival Story: We became Moose's guardians a little over five years ago through a rescue program in our state called Sooner Golden Retriever Rescue. SGRR was looking for a single dog home for Moose, and we had fit his requirements perfectly. Moose is our second rescue Golden, our first had gone to the rainbow bridge after living with us for 10 1/2 years. We brought home a bigger-than-average, rambunctious, not-so-well-mannered young adult Golden whom over five years has grown into a wonderful companion. We've rescued two Goldens now, and we're two for two in excellent dogs!
Bio: Moose is probably the world's most expensive rescue. I'm pretty sure there is a college fund for my veterinarian's kids with Moose's name on it. Shortly after coming to live with us, he had a surgery to correct rolled eyelids and eyelashes growing on the inside of the eyelids. We knew about that going into the adoption. What we learned post-adoption was that he has allergies (no surprise there), with his highest allegens being cat dander and human dander, among others. Yep - he's allergic to people. He's had full allergy tests and allergy shots, but not before going through chronic ear infections, and still occasionally having an ear infection. I can't walk into my veterinarian's office without leaving them $150 - $250 per trip; then with the allergy testing, shots and first surgery significantly higher. We're somewhere in the $3 - 4K range now. He's been worth every penny.
Most recently, Moose had a very large Lipoma removed from his left shoulder/neck, weighing in at a whopping 3 1/2 pounds. It was under the muscle layer and very invasive. He is still recovering from the surgery. His resiliency is incredible and he's got the biggest heart of any dog I know.
We will start working toward becoming a therapy dog, as I feel like it is what he should be doing. He's brought us such joy, and since he keeps bouncing back from adversity we feel like he is meant to share his love and heart with other folks who are not as fortunate to have a wonderful dog around as we are.
Forums Motto: I got a Whoosh top! Let's go for a ride
The Groups I'm In: "Canadian Golden Retrievers" who want to be Friends with other Goldens..., ***The Pet's Fun Forum***, Fancypants Cafe, Disney Fan Club, Dogs for the Environment, Febreze® Pet Odor Eliminator™, Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever Lovers, Golden Retriever FunHouse, Pawsome Awesome Goldens, Pawsome Pages, Simple Scraps 4 Dogs & Cats!, T-town Doggies, The Big Dog Lounge, The Disney Group, The Dog Park ;), Volume 3 Goldens Birthday/Anniversary Picture Album, Zealie Lotto, ~~~*♥Dog Park USA♥*~~~
The Last Forum I Posted In: question re: - bad breath and da stinky farts!
Or is it perhaps the FIRST chapter in a long, happy, and hopefully successful volunteer career as a therapy dog. I guess you could say I got my doctorate in Therapy. Did it come easy? Well, maybe not for mom.
But I had my final supervised visit this past week, and the work of the past 3 months or so has come to an end, or more appropriately, a beginning. Mom is proud of me. Sis, the one who refers to me as "the Rock Star" is proud of me. Dad is proud of me (I think...). My paperwork has been sent, and I await the mail with great anticipation for my official tag and identification.
It's a job, and one that I look forward to with zest. I love to go, and all it takes is mom putting on her tennis shoes in the evening for me to know I'm going somewhere. The shoes go on, and I bark at her. I bounce up and down in the dining room until mom comes and puts the collar on me, then bounce up and down, all the way out of the house. Once out of the house I run to the the back door of mom's car, sit and wait, impatiently, until the car door opens and I get to jump in and GO!! I love my work, I love the people, and mom loves to be making a difference. (Doesn't she know, it's not HER...)
A person whom I am proud to call a friend here told me, "Call it the laying on of paws, the counsel of quiet or the ministry of just plain reassuring presence, Therapy Dogs help heal the heart". Words that I can live the rest of my spoiled, happy, wonderful Golden life by.
1. Greeter/Wecome Wagon
2. Therapy Dog/Bringer of Joy
3. Alarm Clock (it's time to get UP! it's 5:30!)
4. Teddy bear for my sister - hugs hugs hugs!
FOUR PLACES I HAVE LIVED AT (OR STAYED);
1. Broken Arrow, OK
2. Oklahoma City, OK
3. Bartlesville, OK
4. ???
FOUR PLACES I HAVE BEEN:
1. The Dog Dish, Tulsa, OK
2. GreenTree Retirement Home, Sand Springs, OK
3. Southern Agriculture, Tulsa, OK
4. West Bank of the Arkansas River, Tulsa, OK
4 PLACES I'D RATHER BE:
1. Riding somewhere in the car
2. Sitting in sister's lap
3. The Vet's office (like Annie, I love the vet)
4. Sleeping on mom & dad's bed
SEVEN THINGS ABOUT ME:
1. I was found stray and roaming the streets
2. I've had three (known) surgeries
3. I love FOOD FOOD FOOD!!
4. I help mom cook dinner every night (that she cooks)
5. My favorite person in the whole is my skin sister
6. I ate an entire plate full of homemade cream puffs one day when I was counter-surfing
7. I snore like crazy!
Now, it's my turn to tag friends...let's see....I tag
Normally we wouldn't post another entry so soon, but mom had a touching evening on Thursday. Thursday was my 2nd supervised Therapy visit - two down and one to go. I'm guessing that those of you who have done Therapy have had this happen to you before, but it took mom by surprise, and reiterated the entire reason I have this job, and confirmed to mom that it's God's calling that I do this.
Visit #2 was at another nursing facility. The group of people was a little less ambulatory than my first visit, with the majority of folks being in wheelchairs or scooters. One gentleman was in a hospital bed, and he was incoherent. Mom was not sure if she should approach or not, as there was really no sign of lucidity.
We had been visiting around in a common area for about half an hour, and were visiting the lady next to him, chatting it up and all. The man in the hospital bed was on the other side of me - 2 or 3 feet away. Out of the corner of her eye, mom saw him reach his hand out to me, all at the same time not appearing to be concious of what he was doing. Mom pardoned us from the lady we were visiting, and she repositioned me under the man's hand. Again, being the giant I am, no one has to reach to pet me, and as he sensed my presence, he began to stroke the top of my head. As he stroked, he began to talk. Mom saw just a split second of vague lucidity as he stroked and spoke. Although we could not understand him we listened and conversed back. He stroked for a few minutes and placed his hand back onto his hospital bed, all the while disappearing once again into the dark void that his mind was trapped in. I gently nudged the hand - letting him know that I was still there. He stroked me once again, and poked at my nose and forehead. Keeping a close eye on my for my protection, mom allowed him to prod and touch. Shortly thereafter, the man 'left' again, and was finished for the night.
We have learned that what I do is to help heal, and bring joy to those who are lonely and sick. What we didn't expect was to see someone, trapped in the binds of their own mind, free themselves from their private world to emerge into the light... if only for a brief moment.
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