 |
 |
Happy Endings – Success Stories From Adopters
Here are some recent testimonials from adoptive families who were so thrilled with Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue (GGLRR) that they took the time to tell us in writing. Feel free to express your appreciation to the many volunteers at GGLRR helping with your Lab adoption. If you want to share your story with other prospective owners, just send it to our webmaster or your GGLRR Rescue Representative. Enjoy reading these happy ending stories for these lucky Labs and their forever families!
July 2010
072810.jpg)
Quinn has embraced her new city life in San Francisco, walking in Golden Gate Park every day with her new owners and playing in the dog park with her doggie buddies. She turns out to be quite a good ball fetcher and had her first bath last weekend! She'll be going to an SPCA obedience class in the coming weeks so she can turn her bad habits into great tricks. Thank you both for helping Katie and I find this most amazing dog!
Best wishes,
Jenny
Nani is settling in nicely. Loving her new friend Ipo and behaving like a charm. She has already been on a few hikes on the trails behind our house and does very well around other dogs. Especially loves to play with Ipo in a tug of war with a rope. She is so gentle, sweet and already very attached to everyone here in the family.
Thanks for choosing her for us!
Lisa, Jeff, Elise and Juliet
July 2010 
Dear GGLRR,
When we met Jack, we knew that he belonged to us. We adore Jack for his sweetness, gentle nature and his playfulness. He has brought so much joy to our lives. We call him the "nibbler" because he loves to nibble on our ears when he gives kisses
We want to thank GGLRR rep Deanne and his foster mom Diane, for making this possible. This is a great organization and the people we have met from it are top notch, very professional and have the dogs best interest at heart.
Many thanks,
Greg and Sandie N., Jack and Ella (the cat).
July 2010 
Judy,
Just could not wait to send you a picture of our wonderful new pal. He has already fit into our family and neighborhood from the minute we got home. I am sending you one of his pictures first of how pretty he really cleans up. He still has a lot more old fur to brush out of him and some left over discolorations but at this point he looks and feels a lot better. After washing him out front on the lawn with an audience of three of the little neighborhood girls, Bob and son in law, he basked in the attention and cool water. He didn't mind a bit and all I had to do is stand on the end of the leash in case he decided to bolt however...........he enjoyed every bit of it and wasn't going anywhere. While drying him off in the back yard and once again brushing him he decided to get frisky and with wagging tail he grabbed the towel to give it a few shakes then tried to run with the ball. With 110 lb Mac truck running your way not in control,it is in your best interest to step aside . He has had so many visitors already stopping to see this beautiful guy hanging outwith Dad in the garage . Our court is a friendly one with many smaller children right now. Everyone loves him! He is so gentle ,patient, very laid back and of course...........a moose! He keeps his eyes on us where ever we may be. I don't think he is used to being in the house as he could only be coaxed when on leash and the kitchen linoleum seems to spook him. Doesn't like the elevated water bowls and if Bob walks by him while he is drinking...........he scurries away from it. It is sad to think what someone or something might have done to him to spook him however we feel in time with trust and love it will pass. He has just eaten his dinner and is relaxing on a pillow on the deck where he can have a little down time from all the loving attention he has gotten today. Tonight will be interesting to see if we can get him to sleep in the house with us. Tomorrow we leave for the mountains where his Grammy and Poppa are anxiously waiting to meet him.
We know they will love him as we do as so far...........Who hasn't?!
Thank you for the Love Connection!
Wendy S., Oh!............and "Luke" too!
July 2010 
Hi Liz
Here is a picture of Toby at the beach. We really appreciate you and GGLR matching us up. I think he is very happy and we couldn't have asked for a better dog. He gets much attention and exercise. He has become a member of our family.
Paul
July 2010 
Hi Judy,
Piper is coming along great! I am working on some recall training with a clicker and she is really a smart girl. Lexie the yellow lab next door spent the night and has been hanging with Piper all day - they are already buddies!
Took her to our sea glass cove, she LOVED it!
Oh, another neighbor and friend adopted a female yellow from your organization (Opi) and she also has such great things to say about her rescue lab and you.
Best,
Krista
July 2010 
I just wanted to tell you about Buddy (aka Ryder), the two-year-old lab I adopted from Lab Rescue in January. I lost our family dog Lady to cancer at age 14, and was reluctant to adopt again. Then my friend Wendy told me about Ryder. When we met him, my baby granddaughter threw her arms around him and we knew he had a home for life.
Buddy is 62 pounds of boundless energy who began his new life by eating my sofa and my laptop transformer. With the help of crate training and doggy day care three days a week, he has evolved into a wonderful companion who now eats dog food instead of sofas. My son and daughter-in-law have an apartment in my home, so it was very important that he like small children. His patience with my 22-month-old granddaughter is endless, probably because she always manages to feed him something from her plate or lap. He endures her attempts to lift him and carry him to his crate with something approaching boredom. My older cat Emerald merely tolerates him and squashed his attempts to sleep on my bed, but Gooner is willing to hang out with him in the back yard.
Buddy loves day care and begins whining when we turn the familiar corner. He also loves his weekend morning walks with me where he gets to visit with his other group of friends. He wasn't too excited to meet the sheep that graze on these hills in the spring, but they have moved on.
Buddy and I found a Shitzu wandering in the road on July 4; he stayed with us for 2 days till we located the owner. Buddy was the perfect host, sharing food, yard, car and family with our little guest. He was visibly sad to have the little guy leave us so I am sure we'll be looking for another dog to join the family very soon.
Sincerely,
Joan C.
July 2010 
HI Liz
We are doing wonderful. “Sadie” is the sweetest dog I have ever met. The kids adore her and so do my husband and I. She has toned up and her energy level is much higher. We have a school field 1 block away we take her to and she runs with the other dogs and chases birds as well as an occasional bug or 2. We found a local vet, Whole Pet Vet, we chipped her and have her on heartworm meds. She’s 64 lbs and received a clean bill of health.
We feel blessed to have her, thank you so much. I attached a pic of her with the kids
Naomi S.
July 2010 
HI Liz
Here is Ozzy and HIS boys!!!! He knows the word "boy" and looks for them to come down in the morning one by one with tail wagging. He is a VIP in our family and just got his first bath on Sunday. He loved it and the boys LOVE him very much!!!!!! Thank you GGLRR for bringing Ozzy into our lives.
Thank you,
Shauna
July 2010 
What a wonderful addition Chico has been. I adopted Chico at 5 1/2 years old last July from a wonderful man in San Francisco who could no longer care for him (we still keep in touch and occasionally Chico and I stop by to see him). At first I was not sure. My prior lab who passed away, was about 75lbs, Chico weighed in at a 105lbs. I was not sure if I adopted a dog or a small horse! Well, it took a while to establish the master of the house, and Chico won that battle,
Someone recently asked me what I did before I adopted Chico....I thought and said I honestly do not know. My day begins and ends with Chico. He wakes me early in the morning for breakfast, and an early walk, then off to work for me. When I come home, he runs from the moment I walk in the door scattering the carpets all over the house running to his food bowl. After dinner, its to the park for some heavy play time. Then the last thing at night is out to do his business.
Thank you so much for Chico
James O.
July 2010 
Hi Liz,
Charlie has been a great addition to the family. His leg has completely healed, and he walks perfectly on it now, instead of limping. He fit right in from the day he got here, and is a wonderful dog. He sleeps with my 2 younger kids (12 and 9) on the note they are here, and in my room on the other nites. He is a well behaved dog, who loves people, and thinks he is a 100 pound lap dog. Thanks again for placing him with us.........
Chris C.
July 2010
I've had Cody for a little over one month. What a wonderful, sweet dog. I've always had labs (she's my 6th), and she's the best trained dog I've ever had. She's perfect in the house and has no issues with other people or dogs. For her age (6 to 7 yrs) she has a tremendous amount of energy. Everyday before work we go for a nice morning walk, and after work we either head to the beach for a walk in the hills or a swim in the ocean, or to a fresh water pond near my house for a nice swim. She is smart, well trained and loves to retrieve both in and out of the water. For an active person
like myself, I couldn't have found a better dog. She has added so much joy to my life. Thank you GGLRR for helping find this one of a kind dog.
David S.
June 2010
Our daughter, Grace, says "people should open their minds to being foster families, it's a good step towards adopting. You don't necessarily have to adopt, just take care of the dog and love it while it is with you." She continues, "Our experience was awesome and got better every day. It was life changing, it was so fun, and we love our new family member, Jack (the yellow Lab). Thanks to everyone working to rescue the Labs and find them new homes!"
Liz & Family
June 2010
Hi Judy
As you can see by the photos, she has settled in and made her beautiful self comfortable in her new life. The inside pic is what she was doing yesterday morning as I was working on my laptop in the kitchen and the other is during our dinner on our deck last night. NO problems and don’t expect any. She is so easy, loving and lovable. Everyone who meets her has same reaction. Her play dates with lab up the road have been great and everyone has a good time with lots of exercise. She is learning more leash walking on our 3 1/2 mile walk each morning and having lots of fun sniffing the deer, fox ,owl, etc leavings on the road. Exploring the fenced in garden area is a favorite pastime and she hasn’t bothered any of the vegetable beds. She absolutely LOVES to eat and wags her tail and whole body while eating her Wellness kibble twice a day. She sleeps on her bed at the foot of our bed and has learned the appropriate hour (after trying 5:00 the first couple of mornings) to ask to jump up on our bed for morning cuddles and love licks. I took her to the PO and library yesterday and she did fine in the car for the few minutes she was left alone. She has always been with one or both of us since arriving so she passed that little test.
Thank you again for all of your help. We will send updates if you’d like.
Carol and Jim
June 2010
We all fell in love with Casper from the first. Tom, our twin sons, Nathan and Miles, and me and Skylight (our old black Lab). It is so fun to have a dog who is pre-owned. Life is full of delightful surprises. He loves camping.He is the best hiker. He loves popcorn, and leaves our bedroom any time he hears the boys popping corn in the family room. He dives into the pool to retrieve whatever we throw onto the bottom. He loves rock and roll and dances when we do. When we went skeet shooting, he couldn't wait to go find the "birds" he was supposed to fetch. He loves to swim in the Carmel river. Loves to go for a ride in the truck, front seat, watching out of the front window. We are so happy to have this wonderful dog.
Casper has a unique relationship with our old black lab, Skylight, now 14. He has been scolded for doing her job, which is fetching the newspaper every morning from the end of our long, winding driveway. We feel that to take her job away would cause her to decline even faster. So what we have discovered through cameras is that he runs to the end of the drive, fetches the newspaper, brings it to her while she waits halfway down the drive, then she walks it the rest of the way to the house, where they both get biscuits. When Skylight gets stuck downstairs (she needs a little help getting started on the first couple of steps), Casper comes to tell us until we go down and help her.
Casper has good radar for when to get help. My husband walks the dogs every Sunday in a big loop which includes a foreclosed property nearby. He raised an alarm which caused Tom to follow him to the pool behind the empty house, where a fawn had gotten into the pool and was standing on the pool ledge below the water but couldn't get out. It was screaming. Tom lifted the little guy out of the pool. His mother was waiting far away, watching, and the little fawn ran towards her, though by then she had disappeared into the woods.
I just love him, and I sometimes wonder what happens to all of the other Labs who need a loving home. He had so much disruption that he is probably too attached to me. Tom thinks that he somehow sees me as his lifeline. But he will never have to be in a kennel again. Even when we travel, he will stay here with Mary (my right hand) who he loves, and his routines and environment will be the same. And of course his dog buddy and goat friends.
Thanks for all you do,
Kandis
June 2010
Sylvana and Gretchen,
I have thought many times of writing you both to tell you how Nina is doing. She is doing GREAT. We love her to pieces, and she lives in dog paradise. We have 100 acres with a natural pond on it and trails everywhere. I take her and the other dogs out twice a day for long walks off leash. She loves to swim. She’s also a bushwacker, going off into the underbrush after birds and animals constantly. When she’s not swimming or bushwacking, she’s digging furiously for moles and gophers which she often gets, or jumping into the air trying to catch butterflies and dragonflies which she never gets. She is a wonderful playmate with the other dogs. Both my kids are home this summer with their dogs, so there is a pack of 5 dogs including the Great Dane who lives in our guest cottage. As energetic as she is when she’s outside, she’s calm, gentle, and cuddly in the house, and it is really fun to cuddle her because she’s so silky. I’m attaching a couple pictures from a recent walk just to show you what her life is like. I just wanted you both to know that Nina came to a happy home and will be loved and taken care of for the rest of her life.
Thank you.
Jenny
June 2010
Hi Liz,
Quick update on Loki (formally Wally). He is doing great, growing, playing and really a joyful addition to our family. Thank you GGLRR for bringing him into our home.
Janie
June 2010
Here is a picture of Big Leroy, now 9 weeks old and nothing but puppy love and energy. The first few days away from his litter, he was very mellow and affectionate. As he started feeling more confident in his new home, he has blossomed into a rambunctious, loving, chewy, stuffed-animal-cuddling ball of joy. He's had his first car ride, first walks, first trips to the park, first romp through Crissy Field. Our vet commented how healthy and well taken care of he has been. Thank you so much for rescuing his mom Stella and raising her puppies! If not for you and Golden Gate Lab Rescue, we would not be enjoying every surprising second with our little boy Big Leroy.
Best,
Jessica & Mark
June 2010
Many thanks to GGLR for helping us throughout the adoption process! Chase is a wonderful loving addition to our family!
Thanks,
Nancy
June 2010
Hi Liz
Smokey and Lisa are doing great! These dogs are the sweetest dogs we have truly ever met. Our 4 year old twins keep the dogs very busy. We are so lucky to have them as part of our family. Thank you GGLR for bringing this two dogs into our lives.
Erica
June 2010
Rui (then "Rudy") was adopted in February. Here is a photo of him (on left) together with Annie, who is 13. Lua, almost 2 now and not in the picture, is also from Golden Gate Labs.
Rui is a sweet, quiet boy, who is exactly how he was billed. He has become a kind companion to a 13-year-old yellow lab who was waiting for his company and enthusiasm. Did we mention enthusiasm? He is that -- most eager to please and spread joy.
Candace and Paul
May 2010
Hi Liz,
I wanted to send you an update on River for your success stories. Thanks for your great job with the process and the outstanding vet care to get her checked out and spayed. River is doing great in our home and is a loved member of the family. She is athletic, enthusiastic, curious, playful, and cuddly with lots of licks/kisses. She has been enjoying being queen as the solo dog in the house - and sleeps in our son's room every night. She loves playing ball in our front yard and down the street at the Middle School field with us. She is really comfortable in our home and is enjoying life here. Thank you GGLR!
Will
May 2010
We have a happy ending. We adopted “Reno” last March, 2009. We named him Reno since I drove there to get him. Seemed to fit. GGLR had started working with Nevada as there were so many foreclosures and the shelter in Elko, NV (eastern), had found 2 large black male labs, approx. 2 years old. They think they were foreclosure victims as they were found wandering the streets. When they were found, only weighed about 75 pounds.I Googled “black lab rescue” the day my husband gave approval (our Black Lab Mix had died 3 mos. prior and I was devastated but wanted to rescue another dog) and his picture popped up. Fate or what? The description that Robin wrote about these dogs was incredible. He had everything on my list and more. His “brother” had been adopted the day before so he was the only one left, with no other phone calls. We coordinated the “rescue” and the minute we met each other, we knew it was for keeps. I drive a Beetle but he hopped in that car like he owned it. Still loves it.
To this day, I bring him to work every day, to my store, so he now has a career as a shop dog. On weekends and vacations and every other chance he gets, he goes with us to our home in the Sierras. This is one lucky dog. He gets pets all day, every day at the store - Reno already has his own fan club here at Kumquat Art. In the mountains, he gets to romp everywhere – we take him to pristine glacier lakes for swimming, he goes with us when we go snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing and hikes and will be going camping with us this summer! We are outdoors-y and he is the perfect companion for that. But we also live here in San Francisco and Reno LOVES Ocean Beach. LOVES it. Between the beaches and all of the amazing parks we have here, he gets plenty of exercise and outdoor time. The love is endless for him. He adjusted from day 1. We love him, he loves us. I tell everyone to go to you for their rescue.
Thanks to Golden Gate Lab Rescue, we got an incredible animal – thank you so much.
Keverne & Tim
May 2010
Here is an update on Nikki, aka Saint Nikki. Today she is at the office with George playing psychotherapy dog, which consists mostly of lying on clients' feet or accepting strokes. Amazing the calming influence a gently snoring dog has on life's trials and anxieties. I can't tell you how many "What a beautiful dog" comments we get. I think it's mostly that she just looks happy, and carries herself with calm self-confidence. In the car she rests her head on the partially open window and samples the air with twitching nostrils and half-closed eyes, seeming so relaxed and blissful that people looking at her when we're stopped at a light can't help but smile.At home she ignores mail drop-off and garbage pick-up, giving an indolent "grrr" (lying on the rug, not bothering to look out the window) when a strange car stops by, but a pair of squirrels in the oak tree got the full repel-all-invaders treatment. They are vermin after all! She is a diligent vole hunter at Pt. Isabel, even more so after she caught one last week. Just mouthed it a little. In fact, we gave her a squeaker toy, and although she responds to the sound, she doesn't bite down on it hard enough to make it squeak herself.
She's a very easy dog, always ready for a walk or a game, but mostly content to hang out and snooze. We walk to a nearby bookstore where she sits and downs for treats, and the grandkids love to play with her. She settled down nicely when our reading group came over and last week she settled in peacefully at a house with a resident toy poodle, yorkie, and another small dog. I can't tell you how blessed we feel every day and are so grateful to GGLRR and her first family for giving her such wonderful care.
Love,
Diane
May 2010
Woody is doing great. He is velcroed to me when I am home, but is adjusting much better to me leaving. He is a big old lap dog and I love that. He is on the couch with me with his head in my lap most of the time when we watch TV and at night he sleeps on the pillow next to me. He is such a love! He and Shyanne get along great and I am so thankful for that. Here are a few pictures of the 2 of them visiting my kindergarten. The kids just love them to visit and the dogs love it too. Woody is helping fill the void in our life that we feel without our wonderful Peach (yellow lab from you guys 7 years ago) I think Peach would be happy for us to have helped out a new friend.Thank you for all you do to help,
Karen
May 2010
Judy,Hope things are well with you & your dogs, how’s the puppy? Seems like it been forever since we were at the coast. We will be over the end of next week for a few days. Thought I’d send you a few picture of Cali, as you can see Macy and she have become best of friends. They also pretty much sleep where ever they want our bed, patio furniture, etc. etc. and the picture with Julie & Cali is at Spanish Bay sitting by the fire pits. Last week we took them to the lake and Cali decided she wanted to chase the ducks she also found out she could swim she would chase the ducts out a little ways then she realized that she could not catch them she would come back this went on for about a ½ hour, I think it was a game for the ducks. Needless to say Cali has been a wonderful addition to our family, we have enjoyed her so much, and July 30th will be one year that we have had her. I received the 1st monthly news letter today from GGLRR I will be looking forward to that each month.
To make a long story short we love her and she is very very spoiled.
Kip & Julie
May 2010
Hi Liz,Colby is awesome and a joy to have in our family. He loves to play with the kids and his friend Macy. He enjoys walks with girls and is doing well in puppy training. His leg is growing well, although his injured elbow still has potential for issues. Good news for now is that he is using his leg as if its normal and he is pain free. We plan to take things as they come! Looking forward to a summer of swimming and camping! Thanks to Lab Rescue for making this placement possible-we love him!
Chris
May 2010
Our family adopted Mokie in April 2010 (Mokie means 'sweet fruit' in Hawaiian). It had been a great desire for us to have a dog but we were unable to adopt due to apartment restrictions or bad timing. We waited for the right time in our lives and we are so happy that we did because we found the best dog! Mokie is 7.5 years old and had been raised with a lot of love. She is gentle, kind, protective and the perfect combo of relaxed and playful. We needed a dog that could be sweet with our 6 month old and also get along with our 2 cats. This is one of the benefits of adopting an older dog-it was one of the best decisions we ever made! (Mokie's owner was ill and had to move in with her son who could not keep the dog and wanted to find her a loving home) Mokie feels like she has been in our family for years and we love dearly.
Thank you Liz and GGLR for helping us find Mokie
Megan
May 2010
Thank you GGLR for bringing Jerry into our life. He is a work in progress but with hard work and training I know he will be a great dog for our family.
Vince
May 2010
Tyler has settled in nicely and Brie loves having a brother. He walks with us between 1 and 2 hours a day. The yard is finally in so you can imagine the running around they do there. A far cry from a dog run with 8 other dogs. He's happy, healthy and a big part of our family. We love our new guy.
Thank you GGLR from the bottom of our hearts,
Diane, Larry and Brie
April 2010
Things are great so far......we are still amazed at how great Agis is. He seemed to have been very well taken care of by his previous owners. There are a few things we still want to work on, like obedience outside of our home. We plan to enroll in a class pretty soon. Other than that, we love him and all of our friends and family love Agis (previously Jerry) including the little ones.
Thanks again for all the help and for Lab Rescue bringing him to us!
Jonathan and Marissa
April 2010
Life with Abby (formerly Cammy) is far better than good. She is healthy, exuberantly happy, learning at a prodigious rate, and is firmly bonded with the family pack. Formal obedience training begins May 8 at SPCA/Dublin. I have to say, whoever lost this dog lost a real champ. She is one of the brightest dogs I've worked with, is wonderfully athletic, has a phenomenal tracker's nose, and is uncannily intuitive. I see no limits for her, and I couldn't have a better partner. Thank you GGLR for bringing her into our lives.
Cheers, and again, thanks,
Liz
April 2010
Liz,
Thank you so much for helping us to find Ebony! She is such a happy dog - and just makes everyone smile! She is so young at heart and loves her toys, people, walks at the park and hanging out with us in the house. She is a great friend and companion. Thanks again for all that you do for labs and humans!
Colleen
April 2010
I thought you might like to see this picture of Cali getting ready to go in the water. I guess this can finally be our success story. My son in this picture just adores her, and the feelings seems to be mutual. Cali loves being outside and is totally at home in the outdoors. We look forward to many more campouts, beach walks and other outdoor adventures. She is a wonderful addition to our family, and I finally have another girl in the house! Thank you for saving her for us, and many thanks to all of you at GGLRR.
Warmly,
Gary, Cris, Jake, Anthony (pictured), & Cali
April 2010
We are absolutely loving Jake! He is the best dog...just so sweet & smart! We have had to take him to the vet for a couple minor things but overall he is just thriving! He goes on lots of hikes and runs and also goes to work with me. :)
We couldn't be happier! Thank you GGLR for what you do!
Best,
Shawna
April 2010
Dear Liz, Judy, Holly and all the wonderful people at GGLRR,
It's been barely a week and Nikki has settled firmly in our home and hearts. A few days ago we let her off leash at the dog park where she raced around, nose to the ground and tail in air, happily socializing with all. She backed off the puddle when I said no, kept an eye on us, and came when called. Yesterday with George she got belly-down in that puddle, then washed off in salt water, had another mud wallow, wash-off, etc. etc. That was one tired dog when she got home, content to chill out but always up for a walk if anyone's going or a belly rub. Nikki had a lot of love and training from her first family and we are the grateful beneficiaries. She's super smart and a great communicator. A kiss on the hand means I'd like to go out, in-and-out of the crate means, How about a treat, let's do some training or tricks. We love that dog and I think she's pretty happy with us too. You should see (and hear) Nikki dance with excitement when George comes home.
Thank you also to her foster, Barbara, for her loving care during a stressful transition time.
Diane and George
April 2010
Liz,
Thank you GGLR for finding us Kenai. We just love him!
Vic
April 2010
I wanted to let you know what a difference Twister has made in our life. As you know we had just lost our beloved lab Bo to cancer and were devastated by his passing. We were not really thinking about getting another dog quite so soon but just for something to do one day I decided to look at the Lab rescue sites. I came upon Twister's picture and thought how he much he looked like Bo. I showed Jo Ellen his picture and she thought the same thing. We thought maybe it would be good to at least check him out. We called and we set up the visit. Our little Dachshund Gunter missed his big buddy also, so we brought him with us to our meeting with Twister. They hit it off and so did we. We brought Twister home that day. Twister was very quiet and shy those first day's and very well mannered. He sat on command and would lie down on his pad with just one word. He did not seem at all like Bo, who was very outgoing. Slowly he has come out of his shell. He runs to great us when we come in the door and plays for hours with our grandson. He stays right with Jo Ellen or me whenever we walk around our home inside and out. He is such a gentle soul, he even lets Gunter share his food. He greets our friends and family with such warmth and happiness, everyone just thinks he's great.
We are so grateful that Twister came into our lives. He is helping fill that hole in our heart. We will never forget Bo but Twister has made his loss so much easier. Twister is a great dog, a great companion, and great to be with, and our love for him grows every day. I wanted to say thank you so much for all your efforts. Because of you and the rest of the Lab rescue folks, our home is again filled with joy and we are able to let go of our sadness. We think Bo sent you and Twister to us. We will be forever grateful.
Thank you again
Marty & Jo Ellen
April 2010
Driego is doing well. The photo is of Driego and his best friend, our son Gerard who is 9 1/2 years old. They love to play tug of war and fetch with the tennis ball in the back yard. Driego is eating and sleeping well. We think he is happy and we are happy to have him in our lives. We can't thank GGLR enough for bringing him into or life.
Best Regards,
Mil, Louis and Gerard, and Driego too!
April 2010
Liz & Volunteers at GGLRR,
Jack has settled in nicely and has been busy exploring Glen Park Canyon and snoozing on his bed. He has been busy charming the neighbors and everyone he meets. Thanks again for all that the organization does.
Stephanie
April 2010
Bodhi is a joy and full of puppy energy and puppy teeth. He's taken naturally to house training -- I have to watch him, but he knows what to do when we stop by his chosen spots outside, and holds it at night in crate until we run out in the morning. He's a good follower and fascinated by pigeons; when he spots one he sits immediately and stares. GGLR thank you so much for helping to fill the hole in our hearts and lives.
Jim & Jennifer
April 2010
My name is Moses, and I've just moved to this really cool new home. I met this other lab named Otis and we got along really well, so he invited me to come join his family. We play all day long...it's great! He shares his toys with me,and I brought some toys to share with him too. Our favorite game is tug of war! I'm stronger than he is, but I let him win sometimes, cuz he's so fun to play with. We share our food with each other too...he's really cool about letting me try his food and treats, so I let him have some of mine too. We chase tennis balls a lot too, and we take turns catching them and bringing them back to Mom and Dad and Gabi(she's a pretty good seat cushion, by the way!) There's lots of grass here to run around on, and a really big yard to explore. Otis has been telling me about this big big water bowl called "the pool", and I cant wait to check it out when the weather turns warmer. I got to bring my own bed with me when I moved, which was nice, but Mom and Dad have a much more comfortable bed, and I like to warm it up for them before they go to bed. Since I'm so big, I can warm up a really nice big area which Mom seems to like! I've been a really good boy, not tearing anything up, even though my new brother, Otis does sometimes...I'm trying not to learn that from him! I'm having such a good time here. They are really nice to me, give me lots of hugs kisses, and pats, and I have everything I could ask for. I feel like I'm already a part of this family, and I want to thank Golden Gate Lab Rescue for finding them for me! I hope I get to stay here for a long long time. Mom and Dad and Gabi say thank you too! They said I get to be a part of their family forever and ever! Yippee!
Lots of love,
Moses
March 2010
Randall and I are thankful for the wonderful service that Golden Gate Lab Rescue provides. Thanks to individuals such as yourself and Many wonderful dogs, like our Kelly, are given a second chance and they truly enhance our lives. Kelly , a 7+ month old lab mix, who was abandoned and rescued from a shelter by Golden Gate Lab Rescue was allowed a second chance. She was diagnosed with pneumonia when she was first rescued but with Golden Gate Lab Rescue’s investment in her treatment and she has fully recovered.
Kelly has been a wonderful addition to our family. We have an eight year old lab, Bailey, who took a little exception to sharing us with Kelly initially but she has come around and they are now doing everything together. Kelly is playful and gentle and easy to love. She does a great sit and will be scheduled for some training classes soon. We now refer to the two as “our girls” and it feels that she has been a part of our lives for more than one mere week. We are looking forward to many playful hours and long walks with both of them. Thank you Liz for rescuing her and foster mom, Mary, for taking such good care of her while she was in transition from the shelter to our home. We truly appreciate your care and dedication.
Liz & Randall
March 2010
Liz,
Thank you for your email and checking in.
Bear is doing great. We've had a fun time getting to know him and introducing him to friends. I call him the official neighborhood ambassador because everyone loves so meet him. He is a very social dog - he loves to meet people on the street.
Overall he seems to be doing great. He is a beautiful dog and has added a lot of joy to our lives. We are very thankful to Golden Gate Lab Rescue as I feel very blessed to have such a great dog.
Best Regards,
Carl
March 2010
Chuck is HOME! He’s been here a week and has already adopted us as his people. He’s a bundle of energy and has inspired us to take lots of walks. He absolutely loves romping through the tall grass in the fields around our house. His foster parents Laura and Noel had already started him on his house manners and he’s quickly learning how to fit in with us and his big sister Emmie. Chuck is crazy smart and will soon be training us. He’s a great addition to our home and has brought a whole new batch of love into our house. Thanks for your help and my compliments on how effectively and efficiently your organization works.
Respectfully,
Scott
March 2010
Liz,We welcomed Riley into our family and home on Sunday, March 14th. She certainly is a beautiful dog and she is well behaved and an absolute joy. She has jumped into our life with all four paws. She loves going on walks, including her lunch time walks with our other daughter, watches her big brother’s baseball games, playing fetch, chasing birds out of the backyard, and being by our side. Linda and I would to offer our praises and thanks to you, Laura and Tim. Liz, as the Lab Rescue Rep, thank you for making sure Riley went to a good home. To Laura and Tim who were Riley’s foster parents, they were terrific and loved Riley until she was able to find her forever home with us. They welcomed us with open arms and their two yellow labs (Hello Hank and Trixie Bell) also welcomed us and helped keep Riley in line. Riley was well taken care of and Tim and Laura are excellent foster parents.
Our sincere thanks and admiration to all of the volunteers of Golden Gate Lab Rescue!
John, Linda, Janelle, Tucker, Kyle, Brett, and Riley (I'm the cute one in the middle).
March 2010
Hi Liz,Gunner (now Duke) is such a joy! We have fallen completely head-over-heels in love with him. He is so full of energy and playfulness - he makes us laugh every single day. We are working with a trainer, and he is doing well in his lessons. He is a wonderful walker thanks to his previous owner, and he and I both enjoy our daily morning walks ... what an awesome way to start our day! He is a gorgeous, smart dog, and is a wonderful addition to our family. His favorite thing to do is to play "fetch the ball" up on the hill in our backyard ... and he has discovered if he drops the ball while on the hill, the ball will roll down to us. So, he'll drop the ball, and then back up excitedly until the ball reaches us and we throw it up back up to him. We found out that Duke was born on my birthday ... a sure sign that he was meant for us!! We are so happy that he has found his forever family .... and we are so grateful for those who took care of him in his first year of life. Thank you for all that you do for GGLR ... it is such a fabulous organization!
Cathy
March 2010
Ginger (formerly Besty) joined our family 2/28/2010. She fell asleep on my son's lap on the way home from the foster families house. At seven months, she is a beautiful and healthy girl weiging in about 38 pounds. At first she was very quiet and somewhat timid. As she bonded with our family, her true lab personality is shinning through! She is sweet, active and loving. She is so patient and gentle with our children, 9, 5 & 2. Ginger has made doggy friends and has "play dates" a few times each week. She came to us with out much training but if of course very smart and is taking to our training very quickly. Considering that she is such a young lab, I expected her to be much more rambuncious, but really she is very calm. Ginger is a great blessing and a happy addition to our family.Thank You so much GGLR for all that you do. Your work is awesome and I am so glad you work so hard to match the right dogs with the right family.
Sincerely,
Eran and family
March 2010
Dear Liz and GGLRR,We wanted to write our first update after adopting Brudy the yellow lab! It has only been a few days but he seems to be adapting well to life in SF and has already made a lot of friends – both in his new house and at the dog parks. He is a friendly and energetic guy who is doing great with his dog pal, Bo. He loves to play and seems to always find a new toy to present to everyone around him – tennis balls and kongs are his favorite so far. We can’t wait to take him camping this Spring and Summer. Thanks again for everything and we are so happy to have found Brudy!
Talk soon,
Jen, Scott and Bo
March 2010
Hi Liz,Oso is so sweet and yet so much a boso, we are so happy that we got him. We want the thank you and Lab Rescue for bringing him into our home.
Baruch
March 2010
Hi you guys:We just wanted to check in to let you know that Choco is doing just fine here at his new residence in SF! Laura, Noel, we know that he was missing you something fierce last night, and was a teensy bit anxious. But we got him on his blankey next to Rob's bed (just like next to Noel) and he settled down and slept peacefully through the night. He minds pretty well, and apart from some anxiety surfacing through chewing his blanket, he's doing great. We got him 3 new toys, but only gave him one thus far. He's got yours too, Laura. So he's making his way and as we speak is asleep under my desk very peacefully.
Thank you ALL so much for this incredible opportunity! We adore him already, as do our friends who said "we don't know you, Choco, but we love you already!" We will keep you posted. He really is a love... Today we go to Glen Park at lunch, yippeeee!
Best, Rob and Laura
March 2010
My husband and I have suffered great loss in the last couple of years. We have toyed with the idea of a new dog for about 18 months (our last chocolate lab, Snickers was a much-loved family member). We have scoured many rescue sites and shelters, but always have come back to the GGLRR site. We fell in love with this beautiful yellow lab with the smiling face. We re-named him Mr. Mojo, since we were looking for some good mojo in our lives. Boy, did we luck out! Adopted on Valentine's Day, we have worked with Mojo consistently since we put his first leash on, and he has repaid us by being a loving, patient, calm and happy guy.He loves his daily walks (and fetch-time!), and loves to get his nose into whatever we're doing. He's getting along (and knows his place) with Lola the cat, and is even being gentle with the guinea pig. He loves the grandkids, and howls like a wolf every time he hears a siren (thanks to the hound at the kennel). Mojo also brightened my 80 year-old father's day with his gentleness. He seems to be happy and satisfied as long as he is with us, including riding in the car/truck everywhere we go. But, as long as he's had his morning walk, he is already content to be home on his own and hasn't gotten into too much mischief. He also loves his dog bed!
Our life has been changed in such a positive way with Mr. Mojo. And the GGLRR is first class! Thank you so much, and we look forward to adding another lab to our family this summer!
Kathy
March 2010
Dear Liz, Holly, Barbara, and everyone who keeps GGLR running,We are so grateful for Kasey's presence in our family! We feel so lucky to have her: she is sweet and easy-going, gracious no matter what "love" our three small children show her. She is coming out of her shell, playing in her goofy way, loping around and feeling freer. It is impossible to think that she was in the Modesto pound just a month ago, headed for euthanization.
Our friends and neighbors are astonished to think that anyone would have willingly let this beautiful, sweet creature go. A huge part of her model behavior and great disposition is due to the support we received from GGLR. Liz's advice at the beginning and her recommendation of a fantastic trainer, Annie, got us all started on the right foot. Thanks, too, to Kasey's foster, Barb: we all saw how attached Kasey had become to her, and truthfully, my kids had some misgivings about taking her away from "that tall, pretty lady who brought her." The bond and love Kasey felt for you, Barb, was a function not only of her need, but also of how well you cared for her, and now that she is a part of our family, we feel especially lucky that you were in charge of her foster care.
We adore Kasey and can't imagine our lives without her. We are so grateful for the work you do. You deserve your excellent reputation, and we can't help but tell everyone who admires Kasey all about GGLRR.
Sincerely,
Kate, Mark, Maggie, Rogan, and Charlie
February 2010
(background: a 98 lb pretty yellow Lab from the Fremont shelter now in her new home --what a improvement having her own pool and a wonderful FOREVER family!)
Judy, Holly and the rest of the GGLRR team,
We just want to say thanks for finding the perfect addition to our family. Sophie has settled in quite nicely. We are having a blast with her.
Will continue to send photos.
Thanks again!
Larry & Sue
February 2010
We just wanted to update you about our new family dog, Bart. If it hadn't been for GG lab Rescue, we would have never met him. Bart has brought so much love and joy to our family. He is very social with both people and animals and loves to play with the neighborhood dogs. He is the perfect match for our rambunctious 4 year old son, grumpy senior kitty, and talkative parrot. We are so grateful for all of the dedication and hard work that GG lab Rescue continues to provide for these sweet natured dogs who deserve a loving home. We recently took Bart on a family trip to the snow. It was the first snow trip for both our son and our new family dog, Bart. We had a blast! We also had a trip to a family ranch where Bart was able to run and play with goats, horses, and another dog. So many more memories to share with our sweet, lovable, black lab, Bart.
Thank you Golden Gate Lab Rescue.
Chris, Debbie, Harrison, Greddy, Rascal, and sweet Bart
February 2010
Hi Renee
I was wondering if you can forward this photo of Miss Molly. We are having so much fun with her! She has settled in very well. She has melted my husbands heart : ) He loves her (as we ALL do). We couldn't imagine our lives without her! Thank you again!
Jen, Jarod, Gino & Julio And Molly
February 2010
Liz,
Annie came to our family straight from Heaven! She is the perfect dog for our family and we couldn't be happier with her. She is so mellow and loves her five brothers! Thank you for all you did to make this adoption possible for us! Annie is now one of us!
Raymond
February 2010
Hi Liz
I adopted Skeolan (aka "Shay" - shown here on his dog bed) from Golden Gate Lab Rescue and we are a wonderful match!
Thank you for all the work you guys do! I am so happy I called Liz to find
me a rescue dog.
Peter
February 2010
Bo is a big sweetheart and loves to play in the creek with the two young labs up the road and come to work with me where he gets lots of attention from everyone (and treats).Thank you, Liz, and Golden Gate Lab Rescue.Barbara
February 2010
Things are really great. Barkley's settled in, and he's a wonderful dog: loyal, fun, loving, well-trained. We feel blessed by how this has all worked out, and very grateful to you and to your organization. We took a vacation altogether recently, a couple of days down in Carmel; it's a dog friendly town, so we could take him out with us everywhere, and run him on the beach off leash. I've got Barkley on a very healthy, homemade diet, which he loves. And although he still sometimes misses being able to go out the dog door, we've established a good structure of exercise during the day, with each of us taking him out to play at different points during the day, in the field behind our house, and around the neighborhood - 3x/day of a lot of ball playing, jogging, and walking. A good time is being had by all!
Thank you so much for all of your support!!
Kathryn
February 2010
Things are great , we love him so much. Railey went to Yosemite with us over the holidays. For an old man, he did awesome hiking in the snow, he managed 4 miles with energy to spare. My little sister loves him, she calls him a bear He is still on a diet poor guy, the vet wants to us keep him on it until he is about 55-50 pounds. We are finally starting canine school with him. He is pretty good at home but can be very willful when he does not want to do something, such as moving into the garage at night for bedtime :) Here pictures that I promised.
Jenny
January 2010
Liz,
Kona , has become a very important part of the family in the last 3 months since his rescue. He and Bailey have a grand time at home and at the dog park, or on that rare occasion they get to go to the old quarry ponds in Pleasanton, cal. I would and will recommend G.G.L.R.R. to anyone asking.
David
January 2010
Liz,
The second we brought Josh home with us, we knew he was meant to be a
part of our family. He is doing great! We couldn't be more pleased
with our new furry addition. Being true to his Lab heritage, Josh is a
happy, wonderful, and tolerant dog who second by second is melting our
hearts! The kids are running around the house playing with him and he
seems to be just as in love with us as we are with him. Who could ask
for anything more?! Thank you GGLRR for everything you do! What an
amazing organization.... Thank you for saving Josh and giving us the
opportunity to love him like he deserves!
Annie, Denny, Kayla, Anthony... and now Josh!
January 2010
Hi Kathleen,
After leaving your house last Sunday, we took Tia for a quick walk by the ocean, then drove home to Paradise. As you can tell by the photos she feels right at home, she is happy, confident, very active, always ready to play and after the first day her tummy settled also. She is a true joy to have, we walk to the park every day and she has put our life back in order. We are so grateful for having her, she will be loved!
Wishing you and your family a Happy and Healthy 2010!!
Dorothea, Tatsushi and Tia
January 2010
Hi Liz,
Minnie and I are doing great!
She is sooooo smart and easy to to train; but is already pretty trained! We do great with the cats and we start our class at the humane Soc. Wednesday! She loves our walks on Burdell and we are off to the mountain now!
I am so grateful to have gotten such a loving dog.
Thank you and keep up the good work! You were a pleasure to work with!
Melissa
January 2010
Late last year our beloved yellow lab Spencer died after 13 years. Spencer was a rescue dog we got from the Marin Humane Society. My wife Carol and I hooked up with GGLRR and started looking for a new dog. Last week we were talking with one of the coordinators Sylvana, and she said they had a new dog that had arrived.
It was a huge surprise when she said the dog's name also was Spencer. She had no idea that we had a dog named Spencer that had died.To make a long story short Spencer II is now roaming the trails on Mount Tam, playing in the Mill Valley Dog park and has been a welcome addition to our lives. Some things are just meant to be.
Mike and Carol
January 2010
We waited a few months after losing our 14 year old yellow lab (also a GGLRR rescue) before getting another dog. So when we found Buck, we were ready and so was he! He’s a wonderful addition to our family, and the boys love to tell people that we got him from Rescue. Buck is a quick learner and seems to just love his new home. We will continue to encourage our friends to adopt from rescues and shelters, because there are so many great dogs out there that just need some love. Thanks Liz.
Mark, Susan and family
January 2010
I wanted give you an update on Shasta. In a word, she is AWESOME and we are very glad she adopted us. We named her after a favorite California destination of ours that holds special memories for us. Even though we were hesitant to adopt a puppy, we are very happy with our decision. Sure, our schedules have completely changed, but we were prepared for that and we are actually enjoying our time spent bonding with her as we teach her the ways of the world. Training is going very well and we may be biased, but she has been an excellent student. :-)
She's almost fully housebroken and sleeps through the night in her crate (the crate-training is working like a charm!). She's starting to learn some of the basic commands and she's learning leash walking. She is just so lovable and woos everyone she meets. We lost our dear Taylor in August (a yellow lab also adopted from GGLRR 12 years ago), and it was time to feel that joy again. Shasta seems to be very comfortable in her new forever home and we couldn't be happier to have her in our lives. Thanks to GGLRR for the wonderful work you do!Ron & Vince
