(An update has been added below Jeni's Golden Angel Story.)
Hello, I’m a little one-year-old Golden girl named Jeni. For such a young girl I sure do have a big story to tell. It all started when my family purchased me from a breeder. I’m as beautiful as they come with my curly red coat and blonde highlights. I’m very sweet and just love to pass out the kisses. I looked like the perfect Golden when they met me. I fell madly in love with them and had such a wonderful home. But sadly I wasn’t as perfect as I looked. One day they noticed I was limping. They rushed me to see a specialist who determined that both of my hips – yup, both of them – were bad and I needed immediate surgery. Because of my age, he said I was a good candidate for a double osteotomy instead of total hip replacement. Without the surgery I would become severely crippled. The pain was already getting very hard to take. Playtime wasn’t fun anymore and my favorite thing in the world -- chasing a tennis ball – was becoming nearly impossible.
I was feeling okay about having the surgery knowing I’d get all better. But then I overheard my family talking to the doctor. Even though they loved me dearly, they weren’t going to be able to afford the $5,000 it would cost to fix my hips. They soon realized the best thing they could do would be to surrender me to GRRR. If they did that the Golden Angel Fund would make it possible for me to live a healthy, active life free of pain. That’s when the reality set in. I couldn’t believe it! I was going to have to leave my wonderful family and the children I dearly loved. How could my perfect world fall apart like this? It was a very tearful goodbye for my family, but we all knew it was for the best. I’m usually a very upbeat little gal, but I actually cried when no one was watching.
I moved to a foster home with some wonderful people who wanted to help me through my surgery and recovery. They had just lost their own beloved Golden, and I was more than happy to help cheer them up. First I had one hip done (I was very brave) and the recovery when pretty well. Then a few weeks later I had the second hip done. That was much more traumatic because I had a really hard time getting around. Of course, I had to stay off my paws as much as possible, and for a playful, fun loving girl like me that wasn’t easy. My foster family really hung in there with me and gave me all the TLC I could have ever hoped for. That’s when I realized that as much as I was missing my family, it would be possible for me to love again.
I’ve made a lot of friends at GRRR, including lots of Goldens like me. There are all kinds of us with medical challenges who have found ourselves in need of help. Buying an expensive puppy from a breeder or a pet store doesn’t insure we’ll be healthy or perfect. I’m sad to say I’m proof of that. My friends and I hope you’ll consider a rescued Golden for your next best friend. Trust me when I say I know how lucky I am to have found GRRR. Because of the Golden Angel Fund and all your loving donations, many of us will go on to live happy lives in the best of care. If you come to the GRRR picnic this summer, I plan to run right up to you and thank you in person, something I never could have done without your help.
EMILY'S (FORMERLY JENI) UPDATE FROM PATTY BURR
Our sweet angel girl, Emily (formerly Jeni), is now completely healed after a double osteotomy to correct hip displaysia on both hips. She acts like a fun-loving Golden puppy again and has no signs of hip problems!
Dr Peterson at Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital performed both surgeries (the first hip one week and the other hip the next week), and although we were a little worried after the second surgery, she healed very well. Many thanks to Dr. Peterson and the fine and caring staff at Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital. It looks like all of the exercising and walking we did with her to get the muscles back into shape worked well! Emily is very lovable. She wants to be loved and she loves us. As she started to feel better, her playful personality came blossoming out. She’s so full of love, just like a Golden puppy should be!
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Golden Angel Fund so Emily could experience the happy, healthy puppy hood that every dog deserves.
