The following stories were submitted to our website by people who have known the love of a senior Golden. 

From Carol and Mike in Wyoming - submitted December 1, 2010

Sold on Old Gold

For more than 15 years we have been fortunate to have been chosen to share the lives of some very special Golden SENIORS.   If by chance or a higher power the passion of the PALE  FACE has tugged at our heart strings.   Nearly 22 years ago we picked up our first golden pup. Not unlike most young families we didn’t even consider an older dog, yet alone a SENIOR.   As the years passed, the frost settled on Jesses’ face.. we watched our vibrant girl slow down and the light in her eyes dim to a mere flicker and than a cold peaceful silence like the snow falls she enjoyed to frolic in in her youth.

NEVER again, NO MORE DOGS the pain was too much!  The silence grew unbearable we longed to feel the love and devotion of this Angel again but how?  No one COULD take her place and never WOULD, but maybe if we just looked in the shelter her spirit would guide us to someone to help fill the void in our hearts and theirs.

Well that was how it started…We saw a 10 year old “Frosty” at the Colo Springs Humane Society.  I couldn’t believe that someone had “dumped” her from a car and sped away. Hence “Dusty” became part of the pack.   This amazing girl shared 6 more years as Pack Princess.  With the addition of Dusty we discovered several amazing attributes!  Hey this girl is potty trained, leash trained and slept all night long.  She was happy to discover we had a “3 bowl”(toilets) house appreciated our devotion to her and reciprocated like all SENIOR”S with a double back at yet kinda love!.  

Over the years the faces have changes more often than we would want in our home.  Each son or “doghter” has shared life’s lessons and gods blessings.   There is Alice 13yrs when she arrived who taught us being deaf was NOT a handicap but a reason to look deeper in her eyes to capture the sparkle.  Dusty who eventually went blind, never missed a chance to sleep on the couch no matter where we moved it.  Moose at 120lbs, a kind soul, a gentle giant whose goal in life was to sit on every lap he could find!   Old Faithful at 14yrs never missed a beat; her feet looked like fuzzy slippers, a true lady always ready to socialize.. Finley truly amazing…..let us know its better to leave this world doing what you want than to sit out the dance.  

All these loving SENIORS have so many things in common …they all settled into their new pack easily, only wanting a warm place to sleep and bowl of chow.  We didn’t have to POTTY TRAIN  YEAH!!!  They know basic commands and LISTENED to them.  SENIORS are Mellow and learn new things quickly.   NO CHEWING or destruction SENIORS are focused. Since SENIORS “lounge” more.. they give us more time to get things done and NOT feel guilty to leave them alone when we are at work.  They don’t need a huge yard to play in nor need constant attention or supervision.  SENIORS APPRECIATE every day and the HUMAN contact that comes their way.  When you adopt a SENIOR what you see is what you get.  You know their size, temperament and habits….SENIOR’s come to rescues for many reasons some uncontrolled like a death of or sickness of an owner, some become unwanted when the puppy stage is outgrown.  WE must look to SEE the VALUE IN and APPRECIATE the ALL KNOWING WISE SENIOR and their UNWAVERING DEVOTION.  SENIORS are not for everyone.   It takes a special person to recognize the rewards of RECYCLED SENIOR GOLD.  

I believe everyone has a purpose in Life, but a purpose without a passion to achieve it allows us to fall short of its accomplishment.  Why do we adopt SENIOR GOLDENS? Simply… it is a truly rewarding experience.  

A puppy from a pet store                                                 $500.00
First shots and Vet visit                                                     200.00
Trip to PetsMart                                                                100.00  
A Rescued SENIOR Golden
   (neutered,  potty trained, AND “Santa dog” Savvy)     PRICELESS!!!

When my time comes and it’s time to pass thru the light…
May I be guided to the bridge by the “woo woo” sounds of GOLDEN Delight!

Overwhelmed by the love that I feel at this place…
I realize the light is a refection of their Precious white face..

Follow the light…adopt a Golden Frosty!

Carol, Mike and the Old Gold at the
The Golden Guys Retirement Ranch Cody Wyoming  
Frankie, Freddie, Frannie

And the memory of all the SnowCovered Faces of our Pack at the Rainbow bridge
Jesse, Dusty, Moose, Trigger Boy, Alice, Faith, Madison, Fischer, Finnley, Chief, Molly

From Lynn in Carbondale about her beloved Kodi - submitted November 24, 2010

Taking care of an older Golden is so rewarding.  Kodi had developed cushings so we monitored her with homeopathy and attentive care.  She had knee surgery when she was 4 and it was the only place that developed arthritis and caused her stiffness as she got older.  To help navigate around our hardwood floors, we used booties at first and finally gave in to a path of bath mats around the house affectionately known as "Kodi's Carpets".  The last months of her life she did not like to be left alone so she went everywhere with us or one of us stayed with her.  Leaving her with a house sitter was not an option for us, she was our baby and we were going to be there for her.  It was a commitment we made to her and to each other to take care of her ourselves. Our friends and neighbors all loved Kodi and she was our office mascot for many years - people still stop in to say hi and are saddened to hear she is no longer with us.  We received over 100 cards and over 300 emails when her obituary appeared in the local paper.

These animals give their love unconditionally and it is so rewarding to be able to give them so much during their final years with us.

If you have time and patience and want a great 24/7 companion, an older Golden is the ticket.  They love to be loved and smothered with attention and love to be with you.  Kodi was our "constant companion" and even in her final days never had a bad one.

All the Best,
Lynn