Hudson was picked up as a stray in Massachusetts. This sweet, unneutered boy was brought to the shelter where he waited patiently for his family to claim him. Sadly, no one did. Since Hudson had an estimated age of 10+ years and was also found to be heartworm positive, the shelter called YGRR for assistance.

Hudson was admitted right away and given a complete senior workup. He was very thin and was too debilitated to immediately begin Immiticide to treat his heartworm or to have surgery to remove several masses and be neutered. Hudson was made comfortable in our Senior and Special Needs Center, where he had a soft bed, toys, and nutritious meals to help this boy gain some badly needed weight! He was begun on a course of medications designed to help slowly reduce the number of adult heartworms until he could begin the Immiticide treatment.

As Hudson regained his strength, he was neutered and his masses were removed. Every growth turned out to be benign. Then he began the formal treatment to cure his heartworm, which, if left to run its course, would be fatal. Heartworm treatment requires that the dog be kept absolutely quiet for eight weeks so that as the worms die off and enter the dog’s bloodstream he does not have a deadly pulmonary embolism. This is why it is so much easier to use the monthly chewables designed to prevent this lethal infestation in the first place!

Hudson came through with flying colors. After five months at Riverview, he was taken to his forever home by wonderful repeat adopters who were looking for another special dog to share their lives with. Now Hudson goes for nature walks everyday with his owners and friends and is a very spoiled boy! He is never far from his owners’ side. Hudson loves to take his toys outside and hide them, but then he becomes concerned that they will be discovered and he must stash them somewhere else. His favorite toy is a giant stuffed monkey that he brings everywhere with him and uses as a pillow when he naps. Nothing but sweet dreams now for this special and lucky boy!

Cosmo found his way to YGRR when the children in his family went off to college and no one was home enough to give him attention. This eight-year-old boy was found to be very loyal, gentle, and docile. Although he could be timid in new situations, Cosmo also had the playful personality of Goldens in general. According to his original owner, Cosmo loved to go for car rides and walks. Car rides and walks could not hold a candle to his absolute favorite activity during his stay at Riverview, however - swimming in the inground pool! We decided this boy might be part Golden, part fish!

Repeat adopters were called who were looking for a dog that would get along with their 12-year-old Golden and their two cats. Cosmo fit the bill, as his unassuming personality ensured he would not be overwhelming to his new four-legged siblings. His adopters have reported that Cosmo is a sweetheart and he gets along well with his Golden sister and the kitties. He is still timid when meeting someone new, but once he gets to know them, he is a leaner. In his new home, Cosmo will spend very little time alone. Most importantly to Cosmo, in addition to daily walks year-round, he will get to swim in either a pond or the ocean when the weather permits. It is impossible to say who is happier, Cosmo or his new family!

Four-and-a-half year old Biscuit already had two homes in her short life when she found herself at Rescue, just in the nick of time. Biscuit belonged to a boarder who promised to come back for Biscuit once she was settled in her new place. Sadly, that day never came.

Meanwhile, the owners of the home did not care for Biscuit and claimed that Biscuit would not stay in the house. Eventually, they conceded to only allowing her to spend time in the house with them for about ½ hour a day, and not even on a daily basis. Biscuit basically lived on the unheated porch with a door barely attached to its hinges. Oh, and by the way, there was a good chance she was pregnant!

Those final words made Biscuit our top priority. We arranged to pick her up immediately. When our kennel manager arrived, Biscuit seemed to sense that this was her ticket out. Reportedly shy, Biscuit jumped on Sue (getting yelled at by the family for this), who quickly snapped on a fresh pink collar and prepared to make an escape from the chaos surrounding Biscuit’s departure. Despite assurances from the family that Biscuit would never get into the crate in the Rescue van, Biscuit trotted willingly out the door with Sue and jumped right in without a backward glance. As Sue prepared to drive away, the family stated that, although they never really bonded with Biscuit, they might be interested in one of her puppies!

After a rather pungent ride that testified to the ongoing lack of care Biscuit had received, Biscuit arrived at our vet. X-rays confirmed that Biscuit was indeed expecting, so she came back to Riverview and the whelping box was set up in the house. On a crisp November night, Biscuit went into labor. In the morning, arriving staff were greeted by an exhausted Biscuit and Sue, as well as nine beautiful pups with not a glimmer of gold to be found on any of them!

Biscuit was an incredible mom, always very patient and attentive to her puppies. She gave them a great start in life. All the puppies were adopted into loving homes, and they all inherited Biscuit’s sweet disposition. Biscuit was spayed, and then it was her turn to find a new home where she could find out what it was like to be a cherished member of a family – not a neglected one.

Biscuit was matched with an incredible family who had owned many dogs over the years and was willing to give Biscuit the same patient and attentive care that she had given her pups. When they met her, they could not understand why no one had ever really loved this sweet girl. Biscuit, now “Nellie,” is blossoming in her new home. She is her family’s sunny shadow, and she especially loves children. Between walks on the beach and sleeping on her comfy bed right next to her adopters, there are no more lonely days and nights for Biscuit!