Love, Hope, and Forever Families

Gotcha Date: 10/15/2020 (at the age of 3)

Hunter (formerly Xander) arrived from Istanbul into JFK in October 2020. My partner and I had been struggling to start a family for years and were also trying to rescue a dog. We received a call from GRRNJ and had a house visit from Robin and she knew we would be fantastic parents to Hunter. We are very active and walk for miles every day. Today, Hunter gets walked daily, rides in the car to Florida every winter, has dog beds in every room, a gated backyard to roam around, and has his first human brother who will turn 2 in July! He is our good luck charm and has changed our lives. We love him so much.

Gotcha Date: 10/15/2020 (at the age of 3)

Hunter (formerly Xander) arrived from Istanbul into JFK in October 2020. My partner and I had been struggling to start a family for years and were also trying to rescue a dog. We received a call from GRRNJ and had a house visit from Robin and she knew we would be fantastic parents to Hunter. We are very active and walk for miles every day. Today, Hunter gets walked daily, rides in the car to Florida every winter, has dog beds in every room, a gated backyard to roam around, and has his first human brother who will turn 2 in July! He is our good luck charm and has changed our lives. We love him so much.

My name is Ralph Knutsen, my wife Janet and I adopted Max from GRRI on 11/22/2014, Max was three at the time, born June 11, 2011. The adoption process was very well organized; from the time we applied, the phone interview, house visit, and acceptance was without issue. It was the weekend before Thanksgiving when we had our meeting at the foster home with the foster parents and Max. It was the start of a great relationship. Max is turning 12 this June, has slowed down a bit, but still takes a one mile walk each day. He is truly part of our family.

I have attached three pictures; one from that 1st Thanksgiving with him, one keeping lookout for the pizza delivery and the last helping with autumn leaf clean up.

My name is Ralph Knutsen, my wife Janet and I adopted Max from GRRI on 11/22/2014, Max was three at the time, born June 11, 2011. The adoption process was very well organized; from the time we applied, the phone interview, house visit, and acceptance was without issue. It was the weekend before Thanksgiving when we had our meeting at the foster home with the foster parents and Max. It was the start of a great relationship. Max is turning 12 this June, has slowed down a bit, but still takes a one mile walk each day. He is truly part of our family.

I have attached three pictures; one from that 1st Thanksgiving with him, one keeping lookout for the pizza delivery and the last helping with autumn leaf clean up.

When I picked him up at surrender, he hopped into my car and never looked back at his previous owner. He immediately greeted me and attached himself to me, kissing my face and hands. When I looked at him it broke my heart.... he had bald patches and scabbing where he had scratched himself until he bled. The previous owner handed me a bag of medications that had been prescribed to address these issues, but none seemed to have worked......and he smelled bad. It seemed he was with the mother during the day while she worked from home, but the son had taken a dislike to Simba, so Simba was relegated to the basement when he was home.

During the car ride home, Simba lay quietly in the back seat, even falling asleep. When I pulled into my driveway friends met me to assist in the introduction to Harry, the king of the castle. With both dogs leashed, I held on to Harry and talked to both of them and they went up to each other just fine.....doing the sniff test.....over time, we worked to the fenced in back yard......at one point, they were both in a tight space and I sensed a tension so we backed off.....within a half an hour, both boys were in the backyard ......first Harry, then Simba came off leash, and Simba hesitated.....he was unsure about being able to run free - he found a toy in the yard and a chase evolved, but he dropped the toy as Harry neared. When we first came into the house, both dogs were back on leash, and I walked Simba around to show him the areas he was allowed in..... after a dinner served concurrently but on opposite ends of the kitchen both boys went into the yard unleashed. That night, I slept on the den couch.... Harry was up with me for a time and Simba curled up on the floor and never left my side.

Over the next few days, I first left the boys in the yard as I ran out front to grab the newspaper and both sat waiting for me to come back.....crating Simba while I showered had him barking....and when I let him out, he and Harry celebrated together......the next day I ran an errand and took Simba in the car.....he sat quietly waiting while I ran in as he could see me the entire time - and he never moved. He isn't good on a leash, pulling to get everywhere, but that's his biggest negative.

I was able to give him a bath and while he was skeptical, he let me and loved being dried off....and after that he was able to sleep upstairs with us.... He found a blankie and made it his own.... laid down on it and didn't more until morning. Every day just got smoother.

Sometime after the first week Harry and Simba tag teamed me.... Harry stole a sneaker and Simba got between us so Harry could run with it.... Simba went to my vet and charmed the office - he went from person to person for attention....and the vet described him as a diamond in the ruff.

I was able to give each of the boy's alone time, and Simba Velcroed himself to me......and it was about this time I was starting to get worried. I had entered fostering believing adoption wasn't an option, and I knew how hard it would be to let him go - just the way he looks at me, with so much love and trust, I didn't want to break his heart.

When Bobbie called with the adoption offer, I hesitated - not for me and Simba.....but for someone waiting - I had been that person......I actually went away for a few days and my dog sitter kept commenting how easy it was - she had stayed with Harry countless times before, and she found the same ease that I had.....on my way home from the airport, I stopped and bought Simba his own bed.

It's been just over 2 months since Simba entered our world and he's settled in at home. When he hears my car in the driveway, I find him looking out the window nose pressed against the glass....he's more vocal than Harry....he talks to us especially when playing.....he'll toss a toy in the air and run and catch it as it comes down....he's a bit more high strung than Harry, but that has tempered.....the boys aren't joined at the hip all day, but there are plenty of times when they sleep either next to each other or touching ......the den couch, formerly Harry's domain is now theirs - the picture shows the space allocated for me. Simba sprints up the stairs for bed at night and waits at the top for me and kisses my nose as I approach the top step. When I'm at the computer for too long, he stands on my leg and kisses me....and if that doesn't work, he lays across my lap. One night, Harry had us up at about 4 am for an emergency trip to the yard and Sim was in a sound sleep until he heard us on the stairs -he followed us down -usually he leads....and dragged his bed down with him!

The boys not only play together, but they also frolic in the yard.... they chase each other, they play tug of war, they cavort......Simba has settled in so well, and the boys have bonded - they get into mischief together and when I see what they've done they both adopt the 'who me?" look but never rat out the other. Simba's fur has grown back, and he only has normal scratching. He's learning the house rules and increasing his working vocabulary. Daily, he and Harry run to the far side of the yard to see the kids and they get a few treats - Simba has such a gentle mouth....and he gives all the kids kisses. He doesn't get tense or upset if one of them cries, in fact sometimes he wants to kiss them and make it better.

In retrospect, the GRRI team knew best what Simba needed.... a full-time companion.... he and Harry are brothers from another mother and our life is golden .... thank you.

My GRRI Experiences

I've been a member of the GRRI-NJ family for about 20 years. My first introduction came when I was ready for another golden, and I wasn't in the position to raise and train a puppy. At my aunt's suggestion, I sent in an application and hoped for the best as I had a specific requirement. My mom had suffered a stroke and while she had recovered many of the skills she had lost, she was also over 80 years old, and the dog was going to be her companion while I was at work. A few weeks later a volunteer called and said they had a dog being fostered with unique needs – she needed a home with an older person. The man who had raised her died at 92 and she was nervous around kids and too much activity. A match made in heaven resulted. Chrissie was almost 7 when she arrived and for the next 7 years she was my mom's constant companion, even coming on vacation with us. When my mom had another stroke and we almost lost her, Chrissie went to visit in the nursing home and for the first time in 3 weeks my mom spoke, and rallied to come home to her girl. When Chrissie passed, my mother uttered a phrase I never heard before – “you need to get a dog” so weeks later, I reached out to GRRI again. And again, a volunteer called one night and said she was fostering a red head named Vicky who had a singular attraction to tennis balls. I put my mom, her wheelchair and her aide in the car and we drove to Ocean City to meet this girl because the foster mom assured me, her behavior changed whenever her mom came to visit.....if a senior citizen was around, she was calm and attentive. I wish this story had a happy ending for my mom and the newly renamed Riley, but later that first night my mom had another stroke and lived the last 8 months of her life in a nursing home. Riley visited a few times a week and greeted everyone she encountered – she was the mayor of the place. When my mom passed, Riley was the one who got me thru being alone for the first time ever....because with Riley, I was never alone. We had another 7+ years together, and she helped me raise Harry from 8 weeks old, until she passed 4 years ago. Last spring, at one of the first post pandemic events I attended, Harry and I attended the annual picnic and he was in his glory, among his people, and I started to think about fostering and getting involved with an organization that brought so much joy to me and my mom. A notice went out last fall asking for volunteers and I signed up.....

And that brings us to Simba. I answered a call from Bobbie Greco to see if I was still interested and I said yes....and a few weeks later, I met with the owner who was surrendering him. In minutes, the paperwork was signed, his belongings were in my trunk and he jumped into the back seat, never looking back and not even saying goodbye. Simba was in rough shape that first day - he had scratched himself and pulled out fur until he was bleeding, and you could see skin. He smelled having spent much of his time alone in the basement because he and the little boy in the house ‘triggered' one another. The introductions with Harry were slow and I was worried I had made a mistake.... what if something went wrong and I was between the two of them? There were a few times where they skirmished and established boundaries, but after a bath and spending time with both, separately and together, things were ok....and 1 day, Harry decided to steal one of my sneakers that I left on the floor and I went to get it and Simba got in the middle, distracting me so Harry could get away! They tag teamed me! The rescue ladies, Bobbie and Ann were in constant touch checking our progress, and they tag teamed me too. Just as I was about to call to check on the progress in finding Simba a new home, because the thought of giving him up was getting harder and harder, I got a call I never expected. Would it be possible for Simba to stay? I hesitated and asked for time to think, not because having 2 goldens was much more involved than having 1, but because I knew what it felt like waiting for that call that a dog was available, and I didn't want to deny anyone the joy of being a golden parent. I asked why I was being considered, and these fairy godmothers answered because they felt it was in Simba's best interest to not be an only dog. He and Harry had bonded, they play together, they sleep together and they ignore me together.....

That's my story with GRRI... it's not about me.... it's about the dog, and finding them the right home......

My GRRI Experiences

I've been a member of the GRRI-NJ family for about 20 years. My first introduction came when I was ready for another golden, and I wasn't in the position to raise and train a puppy. At my aunt's suggestion, I sent in an application and hoped for the best as I had a specific requirement. My mom had suffered a stroke and while she had recovered many of the skills she had lost, she was also over 80 years old, and the dog was going to be her companion while I was at work. A few weeks later a volunteer called and said they had a dog being fostered with unique needs – she needed a home with an older person. The man who had raised her died at 92 and she was nervous around kids and too much activity. A match made in heaven resulted. Chrissie was almost 7 when she arrived and for the next 7 years she was my mom's constant companion, even coming on vacation with us. When my mom had another stroke and we almost lost her, Chrissie went to visit in the nursing home and for the first time in 3 weeks my mom spoke, and rallied to come home to her girl. When Chrissie passed, my mother uttered a phrase I never heard before – “you need to get a dog” so weeks later, I reached out to GRRI again. And again, a volunteer called one night and said she was fostering a red head named Vicky who had a singular attraction to tennis balls. I put my mom, her wheelchair and her aide in the car and we drove to Ocean City to meet this girl because the foster mom assured me, her behavior changed whenever her mom came to visit.....if a senior citizen was around, she was calm and attentive. I wish this story had a happy ending for my mom and the newly renamed Riley, but later that first night my mom had another stroke and lived the last 8 months of her life in a nursing home. Riley visited a few times a week and greeted everyone she encountered – she was the mayor of the place. When my mom passed, Riley was the one who got me thru being alone for the first time ever....because with Riley, I was never alone. We had another 7+ years together, and she helped me raise Harry from 8 weeks old, until she passed 4 years ago. Last spring, at one of the first post pandemic events I attended, Harry and I attended the annual picnic and he was in his glory, among his people, and I started to think about fostering and getting involved with an organization that brought so much joy to me and my mom. A notice went out last fall asking for volunteers and I signed up.....

And that brings us to Simba. I answered a call from Bobbie Greco to see if I was still interested and I said yes....and a few weeks later, I met with the owner who was surrendering him. In minutes, the paperwork was signed, his belongings were in my trunk and he jumped into the back seat, never looking back and not even saying goodbye. Simba was in rough shape that first day - he had scratched himself and pulled out fur until he was bleeding, and you could see skin. He smelled having spent much of his time alone in the basement because he and the little boy in the house ‘triggered' one another. The introductions with Harry were slow and I was worried I had made a mistake.... what if something went wrong and I was between the two of them? There were a few times where they skirmished and established boundaries, but after a bath and spending time with both, separately and together, things were ok....and 1 day, Harry decided to steal one of my sneakers that I left on the floor and I went to get it and Simba got in the middle, distracting me so Harry could get away! They tag teamed me! The rescue ladies, Bobbie and Ann were in constant touch checking our progress, and they tag teamed me too. Just as I was about to call to check on the progress in finding Simba a new home, because the thought of giving him up was getting harder and harder, I got a call I never expected. Would it be possible for Simba to stay? I hesitated and asked for time to think, not because having 2 goldens was much more involved than having 1, but because I knew what it felt like waiting for that call that a dog was available, and I didn't want to deny anyone the joy of being a golden parent. I asked why I was being considered, and these fairy godmothers answered because they felt it was in Simba's best interest to not be an only dog. He and Harry had bonded, they play together, they sleep together and they ignore me together.....

That's my story with GRRI... it's not about me.... it's about the dog, and finding them the right home......

My GRRI Experiences

I've been a member of the GRRI-NJ family for about 20 years. My first introduction came when I was ready for another golden, and I wasn't in the position to raise and train a puppy. At my aunt's suggestion, I sent in an application and hoped for the best as I had a specific requirement. My mom had suffered a stroke and while she had recovered many of the skills she had lost, she was also over 80 years old, and the dog was going to be her companion while I was at work. A few weeks later a volunteer called and said they had a dog being fostered with unique needs – she needed a home with an older person. The man who had raised her died at 92 and she was nervous around kids and too much activity. A match made in heaven resulted. Chrissie was almost 7 when she arrived and for the next 7 years she was my mom's constant companion, even coming on vacation with us. When my mom had another stroke and we almost lost her, Chrissie went to visit in the nursing home and for the first time in 3 weeks my mom spoke, and rallied to come home to her girl. When Chrissie passed, my mother uttered a phrase I never heard before – “you need to get a dog” so weeks later, I reached out to GRRI again. And again, a volunteer called one night and said she was fostering a red head named Vicky who had a singular attraction to tennis balls. I put my mom, her wheelchair and her aide in the car and we drove to Ocean City to meet this girl because the foster mom assured me, her behavior changed whenever her mom came to visit.....if a senior citizen was around, she was calm and attentive. I wish this story had a happy ending for my mom and the newly renamed Riley, but later that first night my mom had another stroke and lived the last 8 months of her life in a nursing home. Riley visited a few times a week and greeted everyone she encountered – she was the mayor of the place. When my mom passed, Riley was the one who got me thru being alone for the first time ever....because with Riley, I was never alone. We had another 7+ years together, and she helped me raise Harry from 8 weeks old, until she passed 4 years ago. Last spring, at one of the first post pandemic events I attended, Harry and I attended the annual picnic and he was in his glory, among his people, and I started to think about fostering and getting involved with an organization that brought so much joy to me and my mom. A notice went out last fall asking for volunteers and I signed up.....

And that brings us to Simba. I answered a call from Bobbie Greco to see if I was still interested and I said yes....and a few weeks later, I met with the owner who was surrendering him. In minutes, the paperwork was signed, his belongings were in my trunk and he jumped into the back seat, never looking back and not even saying goodbye. Simba was in rough shape that first day - he had scratched himself and pulled out fur until he was bleeding, and you could see skin. He smelled having spent much of his time alone in the basement because he and the little boy in the house ‘triggered' one another. The introductions with Harry were slow and I was worried I had made a mistake.... what if something went wrong and I was between the two of them? There were a few times where they skirmished and established boundaries, but after a bath and spending time with both, separately and together, things were ok....and 1 day, Harry decided to steal one of my sneakers that I left on the floor and I went to get it and Simba got in the middle, distracting me so Harry could get away! They tag teamed me! The rescue ladies, Bobbie and Ann were in constant touch checking our progress, and they tag teamed me too. Just as I was about to call to check on the progress in finding Simba a new home, because the thought of giving him up was getting harder and harder, I got a call I never expected. Would it be possible for Simba to stay? I hesitated and asked for time to think, not because having 2 goldens was much more involved than having 1, but because I knew what it felt like waiting for that call that a dog was available, and I didn't want to deny anyone the joy of being a golden parent. I asked why I was being considered, and these fairy godmothers answered because they felt it was in Simba's best interest to not be an only dog. He and Harry had bonded, they play together, they sleep together and they ignore me together.....

That's my story with GRRI... it's not about me.... it's about the dog, and finding them the right home......

My GRRI Experiences

I've been a member of the GRRI-NJ family for about 20 years. My first introduction came when I was ready for another golden, and I wasn't in the position to raise and train a puppy. At my aunt's suggestion, I sent in an application and hoped for the best as I had a specific requirement. My mom had suffered a stroke and while she had recovered many of the skills she had lost, she was also over 80 years old, and the dog was going to be her companion while I was at work. A few weeks later a volunteer called and said they had a dog being fostered with unique needs – she needed a home with an older person. The man who had raised her died at 92 and she was nervous around kids and too much activity. A match made in heaven resulted. Chrissie was almost 7 when she arrived and for the next 7 years she was my mom's constant companion, even coming on vacation with us. When my mom had another stroke and we almost lost her, Chrissie went to visit in the nursing home and for the first time in 3 weeks my mom spoke, and rallied to come home to her girl. When Chrissie passed, my mother uttered a phrase I never heard before – “you need to get a dog” so weeks later, I reached out to GRRI again. And again, a volunteer called one night and said she was fostering a red head named Vicky who had a singular attraction to tennis balls. I put my mom, her wheelchair and her aide in the car and we drove to Ocean City to meet this girl because the foster mom assured me, her behavior changed whenever her mom came to visit.....if a senior citizen was around, she was calm and attentive. I wish this story had a happy ending for my mom and the newly renamed Riley, but later that first night my mom had another stroke and lived the last 8 months of her life in a nursing home. Riley visited a few times a week and greeted everyone she encountered – she was the mayor of the place. When my mom passed, Riley was the one who got me thru being alone for the first time ever....because with Riley, I was never alone. We had another 7+ years together, and she helped me raise Harry from 8 weeks old, until she passed 4 years ago. Last spring, at one of the first post pandemic events I attended, Harry and I attended the annual picnic and he was in his glory, among his people, and I started to think about fostering and getting involved with an organization that brought so much joy to me and my mom. A notice went out last fall asking for volunteers and I signed up.....

And that brings us to Simba. I answered a call from Bobbie Greco to see if I was still interested and I said yes....and a few weeks later, I met with the owner who was surrendering him. In minutes, the paperwork was signed, his belongings were in my trunk and he jumped into the back seat, never looking back and not even saying goodbye. Simba was in rough shape that first day - he had scratched himself and pulled out fur until he was bleeding, and you could see skin. He smelled having spent much of his time alone in the basement because he and the little boy in the house ‘triggered' one another. The introductions with Harry were slow and I was worried I had made a mistake.... what if something went wrong and I was between the two of them? There were a few times where they skirmished and established boundaries, but after a bath and spending time with both, separately and together, things were ok....and 1 day, Harry decided to steal one of my sneakers that I left on the floor and I went to get it and Simba got in the middle, distracting me so Harry could get away! They tag teamed me! The rescue ladies, Bobbie and Ann were in constant touch checking our progress, and they tag teamed me too. Just as I was about to call to check on the progress in finding Simba a new home, because the thought of giving him up was getting harder and harder, I got a call I never expected. Would it be possible for Simba to stay? I hesitated and asked for time to think, not because having 2 goldens was much more involved than having 1, but because I knew what it felt like waiting for that call that a dog was available, and I didn't want to deny anyone the joy of being a golden parent. I asked why I was being considered, and these fairy godmothers answered because they felt it was in Simba's best interest to not be an only dog. He and Harry had bonded, they play together, they sleep together and they ignore me together.....

That's my story with GRRI... it's not about me.... it's about the dog, and finding them the right home......