We are excited to announce that we are cautiously resuming some of our in-person events.
We held our first Meet and Greet at Zoomy Dogs! on Saturday, April 17th, with a wonderful lineup of six of our available dog. We had a terrific turnout and it was a treat to once again interact in-person with our dogs, volunteers, and those interested in adopting.
We also have two Wine and Design Pet Portrait events around the Triangle in May and the big news is that we have decided to hold our Spring Swim on Mother's Day. More information about these events can be found below. We hope to see you there!
Remember, the safety of our family and volunteers is of the utmost importance. Please wear a mask and practice social distancing when attending our events and if you are not feeling well, remain at home.
|
Here is a tentative list of events we have scheduled for 2021. We will review the latest government restrictions prior to each event to determine if it will be held.
-
May 9th - Spring Swim - Montague Lake
-
May 16 - Pet Portraits - Discover your inner artist - Cary
-
May 21st - June 27th - NRGRR 2022 Calendar contest - photo submissions open
-
May 23rd - Pet Portraits - Discover your inner artist - Durham
- July 1st - 31st - NRGRR 2022 Calendar Contest Voting
-
July 24th - Summer Swim - Montague Lake - TBD
-
August 28th - Golden on the Green - River Ridge Country Club - TBD
-
October 23rd - Rescue Reunion - Montague Lake - TBD
Meet and Greets will continue to be held on a case-by-case basis for the foreseeable future. We will announce our plans on our Meet and Greet webpage before the scheduled date, which is the first and third Saturday of the month. Meet and Greets will be held at Zoomy Dogs!, located at 5420 NC-55, Durham, NC 27713.
|
|
2021 Statistics
through March
14 Dogs Rescued
26 Dogs in Rehab
18 Dogs Adopted
|
Congratulations to these dogs finding their furever home in March
- Grace 21
- Kosovo Otto 21
- Turkey Naomi 2o
- Prince Charming 20
|
|
|
|
Join us on Mother's Day, Saturday, May 9th, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Montague Lake for our Spring Swim. You'll see a ton of dogs running, playing, and fetching tennis balls out of the lake!
This swim is open to everyone and we are asking that you wear masks and practice social distancing during the event.
Click here to see all the details about our Spring Swim.
|
|
Paint Your Pet
Discover Your Inner Artist
|
|
Paint a portrait of your pet with us at Wine & Design. It's easy, Wine & Design's professional staff guide you through the steps to create your masterpiece.
25% of the proceeds will be donated to NRGRR!
We have 2 events scheduled in May, one in Cary and one in Durham. Click the links below for complete details, book your spot in the class, and upload your photos.
|
|
|
|
Wine & Design
Cary
- Sunday, May 16th
- 2 to 4:30 p.m.
|
|
Wine & Design
Durham
- Sunday, May 23rd
- 2 to 4:30 p.m.
|
|
Blarney's Fund
for Dogs Special Medical Needs
|
|
Sometimes dogs come to Neuse River Golden River Rescue in need of specialized veterinary care. Blarney's Fund was created to help meet the financial expenses that go beyond routine care and allow supporters to specify that their donations go directly to our dogs with the most serious medical needs. Our Blarney's Fund page features some of the dogs who have come to us with special needs and is dedicated to NRGRR donors, volunteers, fosters, and adopters who help them navigate their journey. This month we are highlighting Naomi, one of our most recent Blarney's Fund dogs.
|
|
Naomi - A Blarney's Fund Story |
Naomi was just a puppy, 3 months old, when she was dumped in a forest in Turkey with only a few toys, a small carrying container, and a blanket. By chance, she was found by a good Samaritan who cared for her over the next couple of months. When she was around 7 months old she was turned over to a rescue who reached out to Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue through our International Rescue connections. Soon after, she would become a Neuse River girl. |
|
Although she may not look exactly like her foster brother, her heart and character are all Golden! She arrived in the U.S. on November 23, 2020 and after routine vet care she was sent to a foster. But we would soon find out there was much more to her story. On a recheck visit, the vet noticed a gait issue and put her on restricted activity and some pain meds, thinking it could just be a soft tissue injury. Her foster had noticed her “clumsiness” and occasional falling but thought it was the laminate flooring and just being a silly puppy. |
|
Naomi and her foster brother. |
|
Naomi recovering after surgery with her foster brother. |
|
When there was no marked improvement, X-rays were taken that confirmed Naomi had a dislocated hip. She would need expensive surgery and rehabilitation costing over $2500 in order to improve her quality of life. Thanks to the generous donations to Blarney’s Fund for special needs dogs, Naomi was able to have her surgery and begin the healing process. Today, she is a happy and healthy girl who just wants to love and be loved. Naomi is finally living the “golden” life she deserves with her adoptive family. |
|
Please consider a donation to help support the medical care for these deserving dogs. Blarney’s Fund helps offset the cost for some of our most expensive procedures.
|
|
Naomi and her furever brother. |
|
Golden Moments
Monthly Photo Contest
|
|
|
|
As we enter into a new year we look forward with optimism, despite an understanding that we will be faced with many of the same challenges and obstacles as in 2020. In light of that, we want to ask our readers to help us create “Golden Moments” throughout 2021 to lighten our hearts and remind us why we do what we do!
Sometimes you just need to stop and smell the flowers. Congratulations to Opal for being selected as the spring fever dog. As a result of winning this month's contest, her owner will receive a 25% off coupon to the NRGRR online store. Next month we're looking for your most playful dog photos, so get your entries in by May 8th. Email your photos to nrgrr.rescueranger@gmail.com.
|
|
Thanks to everyone that submitted photos this month. We had a lot of submissions and it was really tough to pick a winner. A select few are shown below. All photos entered can be seen on our Golden Moments web page.
|
|
Golden Moments Entry Information |
|
The Golden Moments photo contest is to simply share photos of NRGRR alumni and current fosters on our website, the Rescue Ranger newsletter, and on our social media pages. One photo will be selected monthly to win a 25% off coupon for the NRGRR online store. The winner will be selected based on alignment with the monthly theme as listed below, as well as composition and clarity.
Please ensure the photos are focused and clear and sent in the original size. Close ups are best as they will be displayed in thumbnails. Your photos can be horizontal or vertical and can include people with the NRGRR alum or foster dog. (We cannot accept any professional photos and by submitting your photo you acknowledge NRGRR’s right to use your photo.)
We hope you will participate and make us all smile with your “Golden Moments” photos. Let us know if you have any questions and we're looking forward to seeing your masterpieces!
|
|
“Golden Moments of 2021” Themes |
|
 |
February: Most Heartfelt/romantic
March: Most mischievous dog
April: Spring fever
May: Most playful dog
June: Best swimming/water photo
July: Most patriotic dog
August: Best “dog day” photo
September: Football fever
October: Best Halloween costume
November: Most thankful face
December: Best holiday moment
|
|
|
|
Please submit your most playful dog photos by May 8th.
|
|
|
|
Volunteer Spotlight
We Rescue Dog—What’s Your Superpower?
|
|
In 2020 we highlighted ten of our fabulous fosters; human fosters that is! Fosters are the lifeblood of any Rescue, but it still takes many other volunteers to do what we do to Rescue, Rehab, and Adopt dogs to their furever homes. Throughout 2021 we will be spotlighting various volunteers and their superpowers! We’ll let you know more about what they do, how they got involved with NRGRR, and how you can participate in some of the volunteer opportunities available through Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue and develop YOUR Superpower. Together we are Stronger, Together we are Golden! |
|
Agnieszka and Marcin Banbula
NRGRR Foster
|
|
Agnieszka and Marcin Banbula began volunteering for NRGRR seven years ago after losing their resident Golden and having adopted Hallie13, now Sophie. They love dogs and being fosters give them an opportunity to welcome many dogs into their home, get to know them, play with them, and help them find forever homes. |
|
They work with many dogs with medical and behavioral issues; scared and in poor health, watching their transformation is amazing. They appreciate the support they receive from NRGRR to help them and their foster dogs through the entire adoption process.
Over the years they have fostered more golden-hearted dogs than pure breed Golden Retrievers. According to Agnieszka, all had amazing personalities and she and Marcin have learned so much from each of them. Their fosters have brought so much joy into their lives.
|
|
Agnieszka encourages other fosters to open their heart to the mix breeds. “NRGRR does a great job of matching your personal preferences with the right dog.” The advice Agnieszka and Marcin would give to potential fosters, “Just try, do not over think it, and you are going to love it!” |
|
Tick Talk Time of Year
In this month's medical blog post, our Medical Coordinator Katie McKay reminds us that tick season is upon us. With temperatures warming up these nasty critters are becoming more active. Katie includes pictures to help us identify ticks commonly found in NC, shares how to use a handy tool to easily remove ticks from your pet, and provides advice about using tick prevention products.
|
|
|
|
Alumni Updates
When a dog becomes an NRGRR dog, they are one for life. We are able to follow our dogs' transformation from rescue-to-adopt but some of the greatest stories are about how well they are thriving in their fur-ever home.
If you have special pictures or stories that you would like to share with us, please send them to nrgrr-alumni-updates@googlegroups.com. Your updates may be shared in our publications or social media pages.
|
|
The ShopRaise app is an easy way to make philanthropy part of your online purchases. From groceries and apparel to technology and travel – a percentage of almost everything you buy will be donated back to NRGRR. The best thing is the program is free, you do not pay any more for the items you buy, and you get access to all the best coupons and deals. |
|
Creating a fundraiser for NRGRR is super easy. Just click the link below and adjust a few details and you're all set. Share it with your friends and encourage them to help you raise money on Facebook.
In 2020, we received almost $10,000 from Facebook fundraisers! Help us raise even more in 2021.
Thank you March Facebook Fundraisers:
KT's Birthday
|
|
Check out our new home decor items that we are excited about in our store!
They are all made by a dog lover who donates her time to help dogs in need.
|
|
We are always looking for new ideas for store items. If there are any items you would like us to carry, email our store manager, Nikki D'Ambrose, and we will see if it's feasible for us to provide it to you.
|
|
Share this newsletter on Facebook |
|
Follow us on social media |
|
|
We hope you enjoy this new platform for the Rescue Ranger! You may receive this edition more than once as we strive to not leave anyone out. You can always email questions or concerns to us at: nrgrr.rescueranger@gmail.com.
|
|
NRGRR is a 501(c)(3) organization in North Carolina that is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption of Golden Retrievers in need. The organization advocates responsible pet ownership, community education and protection of all dogs. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
