Wooo Hoooo! Golden Boy Rookie turned 15 today!

It is an amazing day today, as our shining star Rookie is celebrating his 15th birthday. This is the special message that I received from his mom, Carolyn:

Today is Rookie’s 15th birthday! We will be celebrating all day and hope you will join the party. : )

This morning has been filled with birthday hugs and kisses and I am smiling ear to ear feeling extremely grateful as you can imagine.

Some of you may know that Rookie had some health issues surface this year. However despite the overwhelming odds Rookie has triumphed over each with his amazing attitude and love of life. He has taught me so many lessons over the years but probably the most important lesson he has taught me this year has been to live in the moment as he does. Without this lesson my days would have been much darker filled with worry and fear of what the future held for us. Instead I have been able to focus and enjoy every single moment we have together to the fullest. From the moment Rookie greets me in the morning with his smiling face and tail wagging to each time he is lying at my side and glances up at me. : ) It doesn’t get much better then this. : )

Thank you all for your messages of support and prayers through the last few months. Each message has brought me comfort and a feeling that I am not alone.

I hope you all will all take a moment to give your pups lots of hugs and celebrate life today with Rookie and I. — Carolyn Scott & Rookie

For those folks who do not know about this incredible wonder, please visit our Gotta Dance page at the foundation site. There are many videos to enjoy of Rookie’s active freestyling years.

And, enjoy this wonderful video Best of Friends that shows off the special bond that Carolyn and Rookie have.

Best of Friends

We’re the best of friends, heart and soul, head to head, toe to toe
I’m not letting go

We’re the best of friends, I thought you knew, that the best I am, is beside you
We’re a couple of comfy shoes

Oh together we’re a pipe dream, all lit up and smoking,
‘Bout all the things we’ll do
Oh together we are wishes, my aren’t we delicious, Coming true

We’re the best of friends, are we wise, thinning hair, fuzzy eyes
Your face is my best surprise

We’re the best of friends, I’m here to say, it was me and you
The whole darn way, thanks for the chance to play

Oh together we are magic, together we are mystery, I think we may have soul
Oh together the world is brighter, Lovers fools and fighters, on a roll

We’re the best of friends, the drift the sway, the give the take
The day to day, a bit in each others way

And when it’s time, to let you go, at the last we’ll always know
That it started long ago, with a simple quick hello
Hello we’re the best of friends

Advertisement

Golden Retriever Hunter’s Stem Cell Life

Fellow Golden Sam (photo by Geoff Hendrickson)

Hunter has severe arthritis in his left hip but has shown quick improvement after being injected with his own stem cells.

“His leg, it’s almost like it’s lifeless and it’ll drift back,” Linda said, referring to Hunter’s tendency to favor his right leg.

X-rays show that Hunter has hip dysplasia, a common ailment in purebred dogs that causes the ball of the leg bone to loosen from its socket, causing painful wearing on the joint. “You can see that the edges of the bone are very worn away. They’re not nearly as smooth,” said veterinarian Jerry Bausman.

Facing the possibility of a shortened life for Hunter, the Rihas were considering a $10,000 hip replacement, when the doctors offered something new, different, and much cheaper. For only about $2,500 they could treat Hunter with his own stem cells, the healing and regenerative cells that live in both humans and animals. …

“We’re kind of reverting the body back to a younger age or a younger stage when we were more of a regenerative stage,” said Bausman. In a fairly easy procedure, Hunter’s stem cells will be recovered from his body fat, isolated in a laboratory, and re-injected into his hip in greater concentration than his own body could accomplish.

Hospice Golden Retriever Annie

This is Annie working with trainer Jo Brosius. A Golden who was rescued after being dumped on a farm, she will live at a new Hospice as their resident therapy dog.

It is an incredible tale of a dog who needed much help, both physically and behaviorally, but who is now, such a lady and ready to continue on her special mission. Click here to learn the story.