Gigi #04-117

(Fostered in the Twin Cities Area)

Gigi is a 2 year old female Golden Retriever mix. She was brought into RAGOM care after her original home found they weren't able to care for a pregnant mama.  She was adopted by a family who loved her, but they found that in their senior years (70's), they weren't able to provide her with the exercise she needed to thrive and be happy.

Gigi is spayed and up to date on vaccinations.  She is also treat-trained to kennel up and is accustomed to sleeping part of the night in her crate. Gigi would love the companionship of another dog in her new forever home, or having you all to herself.

 

UPDATES:

6/8/05:  Another Golden moment.  Gigi has found what every foster dog is hoping to find:  a wonderful, loving family to call their own.  These photos show how happy Gigi is with her new family.

 

5/10/05:  Gigi, a patient girl who has been with us for six months, has found her forever home!  Gigi and her adoptive family are about as excited as they can be.  Gigi will enjoy her new home in the rural area south of Apple Valley , and will be able to frolic on 5 acres of land with Teri and Terry.  Zoom will miss her buddy, but she knows this is exactly what Gigi needs.  

Gigi thanks all of those who have helped her along the way, especially Bev, Glenda, and Andrea.

 

5/3/05:  The following is an article published in the Edge Life Magazine in June, 2004 about Gigi (GG) from her first foster.  It further pieces together Gigi’s life story.  

I'm humbled by the story I'm about to tell.  It started with an e-mail sent among rescuers throughout the Midwest who had pulled together to save a litter of puppies.

"I know some of you won't recognize the name 'GG'," it began.  "It stands for Golden Girl, the name given to the mother of the puppies who've been on such a strange and dangerous odyssey.  She's at my house as of last night, and today gave me an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life."

Susan, a rescuer who had cared for the pups on their way to Kansas City , was leading GG to her pen when she suddenly shot ahead, pulling Susan in with her.

"The light bulb went on inside my head about the time she came flying back out and squeezed past me through the gate," Susan said.  "GG, this most wonderful and devoted canine Mom, had recognized the scent of her puppies.  Two weeks worth of bleaching and disinfecting couldn't fool her and she was on a mission."

Susan cried and watched as GG methodically followed every trail that her babies had made.  When she finally realized all of the trails were dead ends, GG ran back to Susan and sat in front of her.

"By this time, I was crying so hard I had to wipe my face on my shirt in order to get a good look at her," she said.  "She had the most wistful and questioning look on her face I've ever seen.  All I could do was kneel down and cry into her fur, assuring her that her babies were going into good, loving homes.

"I've had some emotional roller coasters in my life, but the saga of this Mom and pups tops them all so far.  I think these babies must be destined to do great things in their lives to have faced so many odds and still survived.  Their Mom is equally special and deserves a happy ending.  Please pass the word and let's see if we can get her the kind of home she deserves."

I knew their story -- we all did -- and Susan was right.  Two babies died shortly after birth.  Parvo had taken the lives of two others.  Three survived deadly Copperhead snake bites days after arriving at yet another rescue, thanks to the rescuer's swift response.  Still, few of us knew anything about the mom.

GG stayed with me for about a week on her way to another rescue group where space had opened up.  I knew when I met her she was on her way to someone else.  I've given her two things since she's been here.  A red collar, "with hearts on it!" as I heard as I was shopping for it -- and a wading pool, which she walks through constantly but has yet to sit or lay in.  Perhaps she's getting her feet wet for next part of the master plan that is obviously at work.  Or perhaps she's dreaming of the home near water, manifesting it with each step, affirming to herself that she's on her way to where she's supposed to be.

4/8/05:  Instead of a narrative of a week in the life of Gigi, I decided to post a photo of her that shows her soft side.  After an afternoon at the park, Gigi jumped on the bed, played a moment with Zoom before having some quiet time.  The camera was nearby and she was too cute to past up the opportunity.

4/4/05:  Ms. Gigi has decided that driving the car does not allow for uninhibited squirrel watching, so she has put driving on the back burner for the next few weeks and is content just to ride.  After all, it is Spring and there are more exciting events that need her attention.  Most importantly, her daily excursion to the park where 2,400 acres of open land, water, and forests await her and Zoom.  The two dogs typically wait impatiently as I collect the gentle leaders, leashes, and treats before we take the 10-mile drive to the park.

Once there, the two princesses walk (or run) together until the sun starts setting.  Once in awhile, Gigi will slip her leash and head to the nearest pond for water break, but she always comes back to me when called. 

 

Early in fostering Gigi, we wanted everyone to know that she had an issue with resource guarding.  After four months of fostering her, we have noticed that this issue is one that should not merit too much concern for a potential family.  We have gained her trust, and with that we do not see that behavior in her.  I think the same will occur with a new family.  Trust is, in my opinion, the operative key with Gigi.  

With that, what does Gigi have to do to get you interested in her?  Let’s start again with the basics:  

If you are interested in Gigi, she would like to know.  Please email RAGOM!  Quickly!

 

3/15/05:  After spending a considerable amount of time training Gigi to sit, stay, wait, come, down, heel, no, and other commands that are a part of our house rules, Gail and I felt Gigi was ready for some more specialized training.  Since I drive every night to the park to run with Zoom and Gigi, we thought it would be nice if they could get there by themselves, freeing us to do other things.  With that idea in mind, we started giving Gigi driving lessons last week.  You’ll note by the photo that she looks very comfortable behind the wheel.  We think she would rather be driving a sporty Porsche or Audi, but we convinced her that ‘dogs love trucks’ so the Ford Pickup is fine.  In a couple of weeks, we may let her take a spin around the neighborhood with Zoom riding shotgun; she is that easy to train.

 

Need a chauffeur?  Call or contact Placement@ragom.org and inquire about Gigi.  You can’t lose with a dog that loves trucks.  And by the way, she will obey sit, wait, stay, down, off, and come.

 

3/8/05:  Ms. Gigi is doing very well.  Every night, Zoom and Gigi wait looking out the windows for us to arrive home so we can go to the park and play for an hour or so before dinner.  Now that the snow is gone and the sun sets later, we can walk the trails until the park closes, and we usually do.  This is her favorite time of day.  Ms. Gigi loves to walk and run beside Zoom and me.  She is perfect on the Gentle Leader and knows how to follow directions.  Then, after her dinner, Ms. Gigi quietly thinks about a forever home, knowing that we can’t keep her.

Gigi has steadily progressed in her training to not be so possessive, and she has made fabulous progress.  She is gentle with Zoom, plays well with her, and has been very attentive during training.  She knows and follows all the commands we know:  sit, wait, stay, down, off, stop, no, etc..  She heels on occasion, but that command is still a “work in progress”.  We have had Gigi for 14 weeks, and she has fit into our rather hectic lifestyle without a problem.  We leave the house at 6:00 and come home at 4:30, and there has never been a mistake in the house or an object chewed.  And that is pretty darned good!

Now that spring is making its appearance, and you would like to meet Gigi (aka Missy G and Giger) in person after reading about her for months, make your appointment today (email Placement@ragom.org)!  She looks even better in person!

 

2/19/05:  While we were out of town on vacation, Andrea stayed with Gigi for 12 days.  When we returned, she had written this message about her time with Gigi.  We thought it was the perfect update about her.

"Welcome Back!  Everything went well.  You were right about Gigi attaching herself immediately to me.  She followed me everywhere from the first day to the last.  She is so happy to be around people; especially people who will rub her tummy.  She walks beautifully on the Gentle Leader!  I cannot believe she hasn't been adopted.  She is wonderful.  I hope that a family finds her soon and takes her home.  She deserves it."

Andrea summed up Gigi perfectly.

 

2/2/05:  The entire family, with the exception of Gigi and Zoom, has been afflicted with a cold-flu bug that has interfered with several activities, most notably getting Gigi’s update to press.

Gigi is excited about this weekend.  She is meeting a prospective family for the first time on Friday night.  She’ll be wonderful, as usual, but this is her first meeting in a long time.  She practiced meeting people the other night.  We had just finished our nightly excursion to the park, and as I was taking off the snowshoes a family with a small dog walked by and she bolted to say hello.  She ran over to them, sat down, and then rolled over on her back as she always does.  That is Gigi’s way of saying hello.  The family was amazed that this dog would lie on her back in the snow and wiggle her docked tail frantically.  That’s all she did -  no barking, no jumping, no intimidation.  I came over, apologized for not having her secured, but they thought it was fun.  So did Gigi.

 

Gigi's favorite toy is her bright red Kong.  She will even share it with Zoom, so more progress with Missy G has been made.  She plays with it constantly.  It is full of goodies in the morning, but by night it is empty, yet provides hours of fun for her.

 

Saturday brings another change for our sweetheart foster.  We will be off on a vacation to recuperate from the winter, work, and this awful flu bug, and Gigi will be having her first sitter.  She is excited for two reasons.  The house rules she has followed for the past 12 weeks may not be as strictly enforced, and the treat cupboard is brimming full.  The sitter also has a very soft heart.  Have fun Gigi!

 

1/19/05:  Gigi has not let the cold weather deter her from having fun with Zoom, but after the nightly, cold romp in part she has been ready for some warm, quiet time.  I give her credit for not letting the cold snap deter her from her nightly runs in the park.  Bravely, she and Zoom were out every night, even on the coldest, windiest days.  

Gigi has settled into a routine with us and we think she has matured.  The high-energy dog we brought home in early November is now a calmer, adult dog that still enjoys playing with Zoom and all of the toys that surround her, but she is also content to lie on the floor and watch the activities around her.  We have noticed that her favorite possession has become her red Kong that we fill every morning with peanut butter.  She will carry it around at night, probably hoping we will fill it before bedtime; but sorry, Gigi, that is only a morning treat.

 

Gigi continues to impress us, and she is only beginning to learn how to become a terrific dog.  She has unlimited potential if somebody would spend only a few hours a week helping her to learn.  In the short time we have had her, she has learned to ‘wait’ before eating, ‘stop’ and ‘sit’ on command until told OK, ‘stay’ at the door before going out, be ‘gentle’ when receiving a treat, and ’out’ means the backyard.  ‘Heel’ is not quite there, and ‘come’ is good in the house but more difficult to comply with in the yard when there are so many distractions.