Chance #02-087

Chance is a beautiful, friendly golden retriever/black lab mix, who looks like a black golden retriever.  He is approximately a year old, and is neutered.  He weighs about 50 lbs.  He knows basic obedience, is house trained, and gets along great with kids, cats, and other dogs.

Chance was hit by a car and suffered nerve damage to his right front leg.  The leg never regained feeling, and we decided the best thing for the dog was to have it amputated.  Chance doesn't even miss it, and is happy as ever.  He get around just as well as a four-legged dog.  Chance is a very cuddly dog, and is happiest snuggled up to anyone who will pet him.

Tucker and Chance

He had surgery one week ago, Mar. 6th.  On Monday, he will go in to get his stitches out.  He won't be adoptable for a couple of weeks yet.  His incision is healing fine, and we go for walks 2x/day around the block.  Chance would like an active owner who is willing to play with him and cuddle with him.  He'd make an awesome therapy dog - he has the perfect temperament.  (I do therapy work with my golden.)  He needs a bit more work on basic obedience, but is very intelligent and eager to learn.

UPDATES:

7/7/03:  The weather in Iowa is dreary tonight - but that did not stop Chance from smiling or dampen his spirits. Today was Chance's special day - the day he would be adopted. He looked out the back window of an SUV upon leaving and stared at me - it seemed his stare lingered and it made me want to cry. I am gonna miss this boy! However, after meeting Chance's new family - Anne, Shelly, and their dog - I know that Chance will be happy and loved and happy and loved and happy and loved.

Thank you Anne & Shelly for coming forward to express interest in Chance. He is a doll.

Chance - we love you! Goodbye!

6/20/03:  Chance is sitting outside on the deck now as i write this update watching the birds & squirrels. He really enjoys this - dog toys don't seem to interest him much. He went to the vet this week and everything went well. Chance is on thyroid medicine so we got him a refill. Overall, the doc said he looks good! His coat is basically black but he does have some shades of red, brown, and grey in places. He really is a very pretty dog. The fur around his face is sooooo soft, you think you are giving a puppy a hug. Chance is approximately 2.5 years old now and weighs 58lbs. Chance has been going for some jogs around the block as he prefers to walk/run at a fast pace rather than just stroll around. I was surprised to find him at the bottom of my basement stairs the other day - I guess he wanted to help me sort the laundry. He has no problems with getting around on 3 legs. He loves his breakfast and supper and rawhide bones but more than anything Chance craves attention. More updates to come!

6/12/03:  Would you like a chance to know more about me? If so, please keep reading. My name is Chance.... I am beautiful. I know that's what they say about all the dogs at RAGOM, but I am especially beautiful. I am kind and loving, obedient, quiet, thankful, compassionate - and I have a special inner strength and spirit. My personality enables me to excel in pet therapy and I enjoy that so much. I love to help people and make them smile. In my foster home, I have a male and female dog to keep me busy and of course I have a foster mom and dad! I love all of them. And they love me too! I spent the day with my Foster Mom getting ready for Father's Day. She gave me a kiss and said soon I would find a special family of my very own to celebrate the holidays with!

Everything they say about me is true! More updates to come!

9/5/02:  From Chance's new family...

Here are a few pictures of Chance.

He is doing very well and soon will have been with me 5 months. He is healthy and full of energy and most loving. He has just really started in the last month to play a little on his own and to stay outside happily on his own for short periods. The "velcro" is now reversed with my checking him every few moments when he is outside.

He loves to come on a flat out run when I whistle for him.

He continues to love everyone and gets along well with other dogs. Chance is in high orbit when he can tree a squirrel in the backyard-just makes you laugh at his total optimism that he can get that creature with the "big tail." He is a joy to have at all times.

4/13/02:  As I'm writing this, Chance is on his way to his new forever home.  I hope he's doing better than I am.  Getting to know that wonderful dog was an experience that I would do all over again, even knowing how much it hurts to let him go.  Chance is a really special dog, and his new mom saw that and loved him for it.  Pat came over early this morning (after driving four hours from Iowa) and met Chance, then came back this evening, ready to give him a loving, great, forever home.  This dog has been through so much in his short life, and hasn't deserved any of it.  I am so glad that I was able to help him find a wonderful home.  Thank you to everyone that went out of their way to help Chance.  Without the support of everyone, this dog would be dead.  For all of you that even said a prayer for Chance, thank you.  I truly believe that Pat was the right home for Chance.  She said it best...  "What could be a better dog to rescue than a black, three-legged golden?"  Truer words were never spoken.

4/6/02:  Chance, Tucker, and I loaded up the car and went to an adoption day for the rescue who originally took Chance in. We all had a wonderful time, and it was so much fun bragging about my two dogs for five hours!!! Both of the dogs were perfect. Tons of people and dogs came through, and the dogs got petted, played with, climbed on, and stepped on. Chance was the star of the show, and they both got lots of attention. Chance rides perfectly in the car. He's blossomed into such a wonderful, friendly, confident dog. He's doing great with basic obedience, but will continue to need some work. Chance's favorite trick is to pick up the food bowl (usually after I fill it up) and prance with it proudly around the house. Most of the time he doesn't even spill any! Chance is ready for his new forever home (sob) and is meeting a potential home today. Letting him go will be the hardest thing for me, but I know Chance deserves the best.

3/31/02:  Chance 02-087 and his foster brother Tucker made it up "north" to Loree's house for Easter (so this is written by Loree). He made a stop so that his foster mom and brother could visit a friend in the hospital and then on with the journey to St Paul. Both him and Tucker rode well in the back seat of the car for the 1 1/2 hour drive. Once in the yard, he got to play with my three dogs (what a blast) and the kids. While Mandy was in her room, Robby was playing with them all outside. The best thing in life is to have a back yard full of goldens!!!

His leg is almost healed and Robby isn't afraid of him (he was at first). It doesn't seem to bother him without his leg and he sure can run. He met Bob (the hubby) who thinks that I'm crazy. And even got petted (so he might be a great dog). He plays with the dogs well (all 4 others) and is always wanting to be petted.

Chance does jump up a little and is learning how to come. He does know off and only jumps up to cuddle. He's a very happy puppy. He is very good walking and would enjoy a family that can take him for the walks he loves. He gave me kisses before I took my shower and was very gentle. He definitely has the golden personality and if he wasn't black, I would say that he was a golden. He has the longer "golden fur" with some brown on the back.

Because Chance is a stray, he will have to go to a home with kids over 10, but does fine with my 7 year old. They are outside running around. Who is going to wear who out first? At least everyone will sleep tonight.

If I didn't already have 3 dogs, Chance would not be looking for a home. He is such a cute boy!!! I know that I want everyone, but he is a very special boy. Without the love of RAGOM, he wouldn't be safe and happy. Thanks Jane, Bonnie and Nicole for helping this boy.

3/24/02:  Chance is recovering nicely from his surgery.  His hair is growing back quickly, and has completely adjusted to having three legs.  He continues to be a very happy, excited, and loveable dog.

We have continued working on basic obedience.  He is doing very well, but he needs a bit of a reminder when he is excited.  At night, he has the run of the house.  He is housebroken and not at all destructive.  When I brought him to the vet to have the stitches removed, I did not crate him, and he just laid in the back seat and slept.  My dog, Tucker, and Chance love each other to death.  They constantly play and share toys.  Tucker is the dominant dog and Chance accepts this with no arguments.  He chases my cats a bit, but does not hurt them.  One of my cats just lays on his back when the dogs chase him and playfully bats his paws at the dogs.

Chance has completely stolen my heart.  He is the sweetest dog I have ever met.  I hate to let him go, but I know there's a perfect home out there for him.  A home that will love him and give him the second Chance this dog has earned.

3/17/02:  Chance continues to do well.  His incision is healing nicely and he's leaving it alone, for the most part.  Tomorrow we go to the vet clinic and the stitches come out.  He is all done with pain meds and antibiotics now.

We have been working on "sit", "down", and "stay."  We are also working on walking nicely on the leash.  He is so smart and picks up on things right away.  All he wants to do is be praised.  He just goes nuts when he does something right and I tell him what a good boy he is.

After our short training sessions, I sit on the couch with Chance's head in my lap, scratching his ears.  He closes his eyes in bliss and sighs, snuggling even closer if I should happen to stop scratching him.

He's not too great about riding in the car, so I do crate him, just to be safe.  He thinks he should sit on my lap and help me drive!  He's wonderful in the crate.  He doesn't like going into it, so we've been working on "crate."  He gets lots of praise when he goes in and retrieves the treat I throw in.

Chance will make some lucky owner feel very important!  He worships the ground I walk on, and he has a true GOLDEN heart!