Date: Fri 12-Mar-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Yankee-Golden-Retriever-Rescue

Full Text:

Rescue Organization Finds Homes For Neglected Dogs

BY STEVE BIGHAM

More than a decade ago, Casey was a neglected little dog. Unloved and

unwanted, the golden retriever yearned to have some connection with humans.

His life in the mud room of a Long Island home was not the kind of existence

conducive to his particular breed.

Today, Casey is nearly 16 years old and living in a Newtown home where he is

truly loved and cared for. It all came about thanks to a program called Yankee

Golden Retriever Rescue, an organization that literally "rescues" dogs from

unhappy homes and places them in new ones.

David Kendall of Hanover Road was the ideal candidate to take Casey in. He had

just lost a two-year-old golden retriever to leukemia and was looking for a

new best friend.

"Fortunately, we were able to take the dog out of that negative environment.

It wasn't a harmful environment, but she didn't love him. Casey was never

allowed in the house," Mr Kendall explained. "She was actually fixin' to put

him down."

Golden Retrievers are very human oriented, according to Mr Kendall. They are

more than just friendly and obliging, they relate to people as if they have

some understanding of what people want.

Dorita Uratta of Waterbury heads the Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue and was

instrumental in bringing Casey to Mr Kendall.

"We have rescued more than 4000 dogs over the years," she explained. "People

turn them in for different reasons."

In many cases, Mrs Uratta's group will remove a dog from a home and ensure the

dog is spayed or neutered.

"Otherwise we'll be rescuing many more dogs," she said.

Rescued dogs are also given all the necessary shots and are tested for heart

worms.

"After Christmas we get the puppies. We get them from mommies who don't know

they're getting them," Mrs Uratta said. "It's not fair to give a puppy as a

gift when the people don't know it's coming."

Like other rescue organizations, such as boxer rescue in Bridgewater, Mrs

Uratta is very careful about choosing a new home for a dog.

"We do home visits and we go to the house that wants to adopt," she said.

This is important because those wanting to adopt a golden retriever might not

realize the nature of these loving dogs. Rescue tries to place dogs in homes

where owners - like Dave Kendall - know what they're getting.

"Those houses with white carpeting do not like golden retrievers. They like to

run in the mud and often track their muddy paw prints through the house," she

said. Their tails are dangerous weapons for nice ornamental furniture."

Drs Martin and Micheline Williams of Newtown rescued a greyhound two years

ago. Greyhounds spend their early years at the racetrack, but need homes once

those days are over.

"Henrietta's owner was a patient of mine. He had lung cancer and I promised to

take care of his dog when he passed away," Micheline said. "We got her

straight from my patient, but we did have support from the rescue group."

Now 11, Henrietta suffered from anxiety and a bit of a nasty nature when the

Williams first brought her into their home. Today, the greyhound is as happy

as can be -- all because someone wanted to give her a good home.

"I feel we can give dogs a very good family. I would never buy a dog that has

been bred. There are just too many dogs around that need a home," she said.

Dave Kendall believes owners often have a closer bond with a dog they have

rescued.

"You're not just taking the dog in for your sake. You're also doing it for the

animal's sake."