Brandy #04-209

(Fostered in Duluth, MN)

Brandy is an 11-year-old female purebred Golden Retriever.  We have had her about a week and she is the perfect houseguest.  She is housebroken, doesn't chew, bark, jump on the counters or get into things.  She is such a good girl!

Brandy visited the vet Wednesday and she checked out fine.  Brandy weighed in at 92 pounds so we are trying to help her lose a little of that.  She does have a large fat tumor that sits behind her right shoulder but the vet said it is nothing to worry about.  She is up to date on all of her vaccinations and is currently on heartworm preventative.

Brandy loves to go on walks.  She has a little arthritis but she does really well.  She doesn't pull on the leash at all.  At times she likes to jog along and sometimes I can hardly walk fast enough to keep up.  We take shorter walks at this time as she isn't used to a lot of exercise and tires easily.

Last Saturday when she arrived she spent the day outside with us while we pulled out shrubs.  She napped in the shade and every once in awhile she lifted her head up and checked to see if we were doing things right.

Brandy has spent the last couple of years living in a garage so she is really enjoying being with us in the house and spending time outside in the sunshine.  She is such a good girl to have around.  When Brandy greets us she is so cute because she tries to pick up all of her bones and toys at once to carry them around.

Brandy is ready for her forever home and will make someone a very good best friend.

UPDATES:

7/18/05:   It is with great sadness that I am sending this email.  My dear, sweet, Brandy girl crossed the rainbow bridge on Friday afternoon.  She was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure 2 days before. On Friday we were to start her on IV's to help hydrate her and see if it helped her.  But, she did not feel good and god called her home.  I was with her, telling her how much I loved her and holding her tight.  She had a pink balloon tied to her left wrist from my children.  They did not want her to forget us and also, wanted her to reach heaven quickly.  Brandy will be in our hearts forever.  She was a loving, graceful girl that has touched our hearts in so many ways.  Here's to Brandy!!!  We love you girl!!

9/8/04:  Brandy will be adopted by me….her foster (who loves her so much).

9/2/04:  Well, Brandy and I are sure having a blast together.  She helps me entertain my children, keeps me company when I cook, and she even watches HGTV with me (believe me, not one person in the family is interested in sharing my love for that!!!).  She is just an all around good friend.  Soon, Brandy will even be a more beautiful friend.  I am bringing her to the poochie parlor for some well deserved pampering.  She will be massaged, bathed, fluffed and trimmed, elaborated with ribbons and we are really splurging with the nail painting.  I have told her all about the wonderful things she can look forward to.  By the look in her gleaming eyes, she is sure excited…..maybe not as much as I am though.  Sometimes I wonder why I never wanted daughters (luckily, I got two cute little boys).  I guess I feel now that my “golden girls” are the daughters I never had.  I absolutely love primping them……

8/24/04:  Well, little Brandy has had a change in foster homes due to some upcoming schooling for the last foster.  Brandy wishes her the best of luck on all of her studying.  Lucky for me, I get to spend plenty of time with this sweet girl.  Brandy has made the transition beautifully.  She is such a gracious guest.  I am sure thankful for the opportunity to get to know her in the time she will spend with us.  We adore her…..  

7/27/04:  Brandy is doing great.  She has been left for up to 11 hours and has had no accidents in the house, nothing is chewed or gotten into.  She is such a great girl I just don't even know what to say!  We have really enjoyed Brandy staying with us.  She and Cookie 04-244 are about the easiest foster dogs anyone could ask for.  She met Cookie, our new foster dog, a couple of weeks ago and they get along great.  They have been enjoying this great weather and our walks together.

Brandy loves to go on walks and lay in the sunshine.  She had been a little stiff at times from her arthritis so I started her on glucosamine, chondritin, and vitamin C.  That should help her joints.  She is stiff sometimes when she gets up from laying down too long in one spot.  I know how she feels.

If anyone would like a "no muss, no fuss" dog, here she is.  Please contact RAGOM and let us know if you would like to share your life with this fantastic senior girl.

6/24/04:  Brandy is doing great.  She got the "thumbs up" from the vet last week.  Her lump on her shoulder and a couple of other bumps are fat tumors.  She does have slight cataracts on both eyes but she seems to see just fine.  Her blood work is A-OK.  Wahoo!

Brandy came along with us to our daughter's for Father's Day.  She enjoyed being with everyone.  Our granddaughter was in charge of Brandy for the day.  After we ate we took a short walk.  Brandy needed to walk off her hamburger too.  I am not too sure she even tasted it because it sure disappeared fast.  All I got was the empty plate in the picture!

When we went to leave we almost had an extra guest - both of them all ready in the back of the car.

Brandy is such a great girl.  She has free roam of the house and she no longer tries to chase the cats.  She loves to just be wherever we are.  Her tail just never seems to stop wagging.

If you are interested in sharing your love with our senior girl please contact Placement.