Say hello to Oliver

[Boondox]

Oliver is a 14 week old golden retriever pup with terrible genetics, a product of a backyard breeder where profit is king. Bad hips, an abbreviated soft palate giving him a snuffling sound and making him prone to upper respiratory problems, and both a severe murmer and mitral valve prolapse that will kill him within a few months. What makes it tough is he has the classic friendly, love me sort of personality goldens are known for! Hate to see this sort of thing, and remind all of you to spay or neuter your pets...or breed responsibly.

All we can do for Oliver is make sure his short life is full of fun and as much love as he can handle.

Pete
Ragtag Golden Retriever Rescue

 

[dmccarty]

Boondox,

VERY pretty dog. Shame about the puppies health.... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

But who is the goon on the tractor? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

One of my neighbors on the property got a GSD puppy. They have a real old Golden. Reminds me of our Thorpe we lost years ago. The Golden is so similar with the same ailments its going to flip my wife out when she see the dog. Anyway, the GSD puppy is a teenager and about to get its adult coat colors as well as its bark. She is still skittish though. I saw the puppy
out in the yard so I walked down to see her. My neighbors son sees me walking up so he goes to get his dad but I told him I just came to see the dogs. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I did talk to my neighbor, did not want to be rude but I really only wanted to play with LadyBird. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif LadyBird walked away with me and they had a heck of a time getting her to come back home. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Later,
Dan

 

[Junkman]

Hopefully he will fool you and live out his life for more than a few months. My Greyhound fooled all of us and made it to 19. She missed 2 of those years by sleeping away most of the day, but never missed a meal. If it weren't for her hind legs going out from under her, she would probably still be here today.

 

[SteveH_CT]

I have a wicked softspot for dogs - my Chocolate Lab is beyond best friend status - I call him my chocolate shadow. I'm heartbroken to hear about this pups situation, and I hope it isn't too common.... but it probably is. Thanks for the work you're doing - it's good to know that little soul will have a short but happy life.

You can see on the attached pic that Wally is right there with us... too smart to be a dog, too nice to be human /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Pete, without reading your post, I just jumped to open the attachment, hoping to find an old Oliver Tractor that you were going to restore. But no, I see a dog. Well I was disappointed, and then I hit the "back button" and read your post.

We have owned AKITAs for the past decade or so and have done little bits with the Akita Rescue Societies. It is a shame when a beautiful animal is neglected or forced from his home. So after reading your post I am no longer disappointed that it wasn't a picture of my favorite brand of tractor (those of us who restore Oliver Tractors think of them as the "correct color green" but that is another story. Glad you got the new dog, more glad you are one of those who cares enough to do it.

I rail against backyard breaders. I don't know how many times I've heard people say that they just got a female "insert breed here" and want to breed it to make some quick money. I typically start my tirade with a flurry of questions to see how stupid they are when in comes to pet health. Usually the questions revolving around OFA certification of the parents hips do them in right off the bat but when they are feeling pretty stupid about that, I then throw in a few choice tid-bits about the fact that AKC doesn't mean anything in terms of quality or health. By the time they start groveling, I start kicking them with questions about thyroid issues, skin issues, breed standards, head shapes, etc. I'm NOT a show dog person, but I generally feel that most people keep their dogs longer than they keep their cars, yet so many give ZERO thought to buying a pet!

 

[LarryRB]

18 months ago my wife and I acquired a mixed breed from a doberman shelter. He's dbie, great dane and lab mixed. Best move we ever made and one of the best dogs we ever had. First time we dealt with a shelter and will from now on. The shelter was very professional and dogs care is all they worry about..

 

[RichZ]

Pete, this kind of thing breaks my heart!!! Dogs are so full of love, especially goldens, and to see something like this happen to this poor little guy is too much. You and Tamara are doing a great thing by adopting him, and I know you'll make him very happy for as long as he has!!!

I know that you do golden rescues, but this is especially hard. I'm proud to know a guy like you, Pete!!!!

 

[Currmudgeon]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( All we can do for Oliver is make sure his short life is full of fun and as much love as he can handle. )</font>

<sigh> That's all you can do. I bless you for sticking with him and for being willing to put up with the pain you know will follow.

Between ignorant backyard breeders and puppymills, it is really a shame what goes on.

 

[Boondox]

Thanks for all the supportive words, folks. Little Oliver is turning into quite the shop dog! He finds a piece of hardwood to gnaw on, finds the one spot in which he'll be most in the way, and never takes his big brown eyes off me.

Knowing he has such a short time with us, I find myself indulging him in many ways, letting him get away with things the other dogs in the pack wouldn't dream of doing. Gives new meaning to the phrase, "Life is short."

Pete

 

[JayC]

That is so sad to hear about the little pup. I applaud you for what you do. I, too, hope he will live much longer than expected. If you can, keep us up to date on how Little Oliver is doing. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[MossRoad]

You're a great human, Pete.

(that's what your dogs would say if they could talk)

 

[jlbota]

I went to the local Petland today and couldn't believe the amount of Puppy's they had for Sale. I wish these places would start using their money to help the local shelters find homes for the pets left there. I guess what was going through my head is how many Petlands and such there are out there and how much they could help if they would decide to do so.
The other thing that bothers me is all these exotic birds you see in thier stores.

Just alot of abused and neglected animals out there of all sorts and I hate that these stores profit while adding to the problem.

I am really happy to see Oliver have such a good home. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Junkman]

Just as a point of reference, all those exotic birds are usually domestically bred. For all intents and purposes, the US hasn't allowed importation of exotic birds for pets in many years. As for the puppies, they wouldn't be there if there wasn't a market for them. I am neither defending or condemning the store, but just making a comment about what you have seen. Many pet shops don't sell dogs or exotic birds and do work with the local Humane Societies, where possible. The problem is that some of the Societies won't work with the pet industry and look upon the pet industry as a wholly undesirable lot. This is very unfortunate, because like tractor dealers, there are some very good pet shops and some bad ones also. The trick is to recognize which is which when you enter and not to have a closed mind. If it wasn't for the pet industry, you wouldn't have some of the quality products that they sell or the quality brands of pet foods to feed.