Old Gold finds way "home" thanks to rescue

Zooey wandered off on Halloween.  Her distraught owners did everything they could to locate her.  They contacted rescue, they put up posters in their area.  But Zooey hadn't been found.

Earlier this month the local shelter contacted GRROW asking them to take in an older stray.  That stray was Zooey.

After many months apart Zooey and her owners were reunited, thanks to GRROW.

Toby the Rescued Golden
to become a Search and Rescue Dog

WISC Channel 3 Madison, Wisconsin

Milwaukee Journal Sentinal

At 8 months of age Toby had been through two homes, diagnosed as aggressive by a professional behaviorist at 4 months, and ultimately surrendered to a shelter. From there this well muscled, mature appearing Golden Retriever puppy came into foster care through Golden Retriever Rescue of Wisconsin (GRRoW).

It soon became apparent that we had a very special and highly intelligent Golden on our hands. He displayed his problem solving capabilities by learning how to open bi-fold doors, showed a photographic memory by growling and barking at a picture over a bay window that we had changed, and would literally hold his breath in order to better hear and determine what was happening on the other side of a closed door.

Outside we had several occasions to watch him put his nose to the ground and begin to track his way back toward our house when he thought he had lost us and was left alone to find his way. He worked obedience exercises with full attention, great intensity, and was a quick study. We continually pushed to test for aggression; but there just wasn't an aggressive bone in his body.

We never saw him close his eyes for a short nap, not even after a long cross-country ski trek or off leash hike in the woods! When out of the crate or kennel he displayed an endless amount of energy, curiosity and intensity.

Clearly, Toby possessed many qualities that would not make him a good family pet, but would be highly desirable in a Search and Rescue dog. We therefore contacted National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (NDSDF) in California. They sent us a videotape to view, which explained the qualities and characteristics of potential candidates and how to test them. We video taped Toby's testing and submitted it to NDSDF. They replied saying they only needed to see the first 10 seconds, they felt he was a perfect candidate for their program! Now our once Rescued Golden will be trained as a Rescuer!  

A Wisconsin family who lost their daughter in the September 11th World Trade Center incident, has set up a memorial fund in her honor at NDSDF. Toby will be renamed Andy, after their daughter.