Tripp (Trey)
I just wanted to give an update on Tripp (Trey). We renamed him because he is such a trip/Tripp. Tripp is a three-legged Golden that you had rescued and I had the privilege of adopting. He is doing wonderful and I couldn't have chosen a more perfect dog for our family and for Brandy, our other Golden child. I took him to the vet last week for a check up, to have his thyroid checked, and a heart worm shot. My vet, Dr. Paul Park, just kept commenting on what a handsome boy Tripp is. I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful work that TVGRR is doing and to thank you for my two wonderful Golden blessings of my Tripp and my Brandy. My names for them are Tripper and "Pin-cess." I love them sooooooooo very much. Thank you, thank you, thank you. --- Blessings, Jane Heatherly

Leo
Leo has been with us a little over a year now and has definitely become a part of the family. All the cats have accepted him, three of our five cats use him as their favorite rubbing post and the two boys play chase with him.

I could write volumes on how nice of a dog he is and how lucky we are to have him around. We are grateful that there are groups such as yours out there doing such an outstanding job. ---Thanks, Dean and Barb Kowlsen


Jackson
Jackson is doing great. We are having a great time with him. He is having a blast with his new brothers and sisters. Energy is an understatement. Thank you all for the joy you have shared with us by making Jackson available. I have talked with his former parents; they are such nice folks. I just received a picture from them and a DVD they had made. Jackson really came from a loving and caring home. We are so thankful to have him and are looking forward to the warmer weather for some swimming time together...Please tell everyone at the rescue how thankful we are for the gift of Jackson. I will keep you updated. --- Don

Hoover
I thought I would update you on Hoover. He has obviously kept his name, we were going change to Montana Joe, but his training etc, was so ingrained with "Hoover" and it is a neat name. EVERYONE remembers Hoover. He is doing Great, enjoying the nicer weather, we are getting many opportunities to walk, run, play in Sequoyah Park, walk Lakeshore, Concord,etc. He also got a trip to Cades Cove last month and loved getting within 10 feet of a deer. He will soon join me on some short bike trips when I get him used to staying next to me when not on a leash. We are making some progress there, but have to limit depending on how many other dogs are around.

He is meeting more friends and saw some old friends at AgriFeed this last week. I plan on bringing him to PetSmart the middle of the month, so maybe you can see him then. Hoover continues to enjoy his yard and can pretty much have the run of it as he to date has been taught not to dig, he enjoys twigs, sticks and has been known to carry LARGE branches around the yard with him. Sometimes I think his favorite food is chewing up branches. While he still likes tennis balls they become more of a toy when he and I are together as he tends to chew the fuzz off and then chews rubber in half. His favorite toys, other than branches, is his soft rubber ball that squeaks and he loves to chase, and hard ball that my oldest daughter gave him that lights up as it is moved. And she has become his favorite other buddy. My youngest brings a little dog, of her own, when she visits so Hoover works with her a little less. His other favorite thing to play with is just turning in circles playing with and grabbing his tail and pulling.

He continues to do the things that Terry & Chris taught him, and has added a few such as high fives, knowing that he needs to sit instead of jump to get attention, petting or treats from others. Jumping was the hardest to cure him of when he met someone for first time, but we are making strides. He also enjoys his trips to PetSmart, and walking the Walmart parking lot challenge that Terry told us to use before he left. He no doubt gets alot of attention, as he is such a beautiful dog. He has had several return visits to PetSafe and while some of the friends he knew are no longer there, the ones that are, always love to see him. They also continue to groom him. He has a new vet at Rocky Hill, and even though he wasn't too crazy about the heartworm shot he seemed to enjoy the attention he got.

He rarely barks and mostly just when hears neighbors behind us driving down their driveway, and he now knows NOT to jump up on fence. The dogs across the street always bark when they know he is roaming in the yard but he pays them little attention. Hoover enjoys his rides and knows he must stay seated while car is moving. If he gets told too often to sit...he may not get the freedom he is going for, walk, playtime etc. He needs a bigger space to ride in and I may by the end of the year get a SUV type vehicle and then maybe this time next year get him a golden brother puppy to mentor. We'll name him Montana. I will try to send a picture or two of him. He has been an excellent companion, and very faithful. ---Tim Leveille and Hoover

Sophie
After sharing 15 1/2 years with a beautiful black “Golden Retriever” (a Golden/Black Lab mix), I lost my beloved pet, Elsie, in March 2002. While we still had our 10-year old boxer, Scooter, our children really wanted to get a golden retriever puppy when Elsie died. I simply could not handle it. In late June 2003, I dreamed about a full-grown golden named “Sophie” two nights in a row. Jokingly, I told my husband that I thought somewhere there was a dog named Sophie that was supposed to be our dog. Our children went away on summer vacation, my husband and I went to Europe, the kids came home and started school, and we all fell back into our normal routines in August and September. Finally, my husband and I discussed the issue of a second dog. We both felt that our family was too busy to adopt a puppy, so I did an internet search for animal shelters in and around Chattanooga.The first website that appeared was TVGRR’s. When I clicked on “Available Dogs,” there was Sophie! I called my husband, and he said, simply, “Let’s go get her.”

We picked her up in Decatur, Alabama, late last September. When her foster mom gave us her records, I saw that Sophie was rescued on June 21, 2003—right around the time that I had dreamed of a golden named “Sophie.” My husband calls her “Spirit Dog,” and he thinks Elsie sent her to find us. Sophie is wonderful. Thank you so much for saving this precious dog and for posting her picture on your website so that I found her, too. We know that Sophie truly was meant to be a member of our family! ---Tonya Cammon and Family

Sam
We adopted Sam after losing our beloved George at 5 years old to cancer. At first Same was very aggressive towards our other dog, but he soon calmed down. Sam was very affectionate, craving any and all attention, but when Same would get excited, he tended to scratch us. Through training and perseverance, Sam changed the scratches into kisses. Our Sammy is the sweetest dog in the world. Thank you TVGRR for our most precious family member.
---The Shey Familyi

Belle
Belle is doing beautifully and is so sweet! She has spent the last 10 days at the lake with us and has discovered ducks, fish, and boats! She seems to be very happy and just tries to please...We love her so much - she is a treasure. She has fit into our lifestyle so well and is very happy. Pepper and I are fairly sedentary, but we have a huge fenced wooded yard that she loves with lots of squirrels to chase. She is doing well at the lake and is learning to wait for Mom and Dad before she goes in the water. She would be an excellent gun dog with ducks, but of course we don't hunt, so she just chases fish. She is a true retriever in every way. She seems satisfied with picking up pine cones and bringing them to us.

I had to board her when we went out of town for 3 days and she did not do well. She was fine there...but would not eat for a week (stress?). I'll have to find an alternative. She came in with two white growly bunnies that she uses for comfort - they are getting really ratty and I can't find them anywhere - any idea where they came from? She adores our 19 year old daughter who lets her up on the bed, but otherwise sleeps in her L.L. Bean beds around the house. Everyone loves here as she is such a sweet dog! Thanks so much for everything - it saved Pepper from desolation and makes us laugh. I've never seen a dog show her teeth when she's happy and that is guaranteed to make anyone smile! P.S. We have a stuffed Golden Retriever that I brought to Pepper from Times Square years ago. Now we call her T-2. Belle kisses her every time she passes and we say "Don't touch T-2!" Then she lays down in front of it - it is so funny! --- The Pettit Family

Wilbur
We thought we would give you a quick update on Wilbur. I guess the best description is that he's doing great! He has made great advances over the last 4 to 6 weeks. He hated to be put into the car. We wonder if someone took him for a "ride." We've gone to Dairy Queen a few times and he loves to get an ice cream cup. He hops right in now and has a great time. We never put a leash on him unless we are leaving the yard. When we are working outside, he stays in the yard and doesn't try to leave. He still loves to play with all of the neighborhood dogs and is great with the two small bull terriers next door. He has such a great personality! We spend half of our time laughing at the things he does. He has a great time playing with his toys in the back yard.

He still prefers Connie over me but I was out of town for 3 days this week and he has been my best friend since I returned. We've never had a dog like him. Connie has to go upstairs and get him out of bed at 11:00a.m. every day. He loves to sleep! He sleeps with us every night. He loves to snuggle and cant ever get close enough. He'll stick his nose in Connie's armpit and go to sleep. He's been a god send to Connie since her surgery. He is so much company for her. He never lets her get out of his sight. Initially, whenever we left he would tear something up. He would chew anything paper or wood. We didn't want to put him in a room or a cage so we started leaving him for different lengths of time. Now we give a "lecture" before we leave and he does great! He slips occasionally but mostly he is so excited to show us he didn't chew anything except his toys. I'd better let you go. It's 11:00p.m. and he keeps coming over and stares at me. He wants to go to bed. We've been outside all day and he didn't get his naps today.
--- Take care, Loren Bone