September 5, 2004: There are 4 dogs coming from the Matsu Shelter in Wasilla on Tuesday September 7th.  These golden retriever crosses look like mini goldens and come from the same family.  Last summer GRRF got 9 relatives of these 4 dogs from the Matsu shelter.  These 4 dogs are the last of the dogs to be taken from an elderly couple who were "Animal Collectors" (see article, "Kindness Gone Bad" and the web site, "The Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium") but the husband died of cancer.  The Matsu folks have informed us that these 4 are not as shy as last year's dogs, as there was only 5 dogs left with the family.  The shelter left the wife with one dog.

All the dogs from last year were incredibly beautiful, shy-- but very sweet natured.  All the ones from last year were from 8 months to 4 yrs of age.  GRRF has stayed in contact with the Matsu Shelter folks since last summer to keep them up on how the adopted 9 dogs have progressed through the year in their new homes.  So, when the Matsu shelter recently got the call about the remaining dogs, they called us again.  The dogs are not currently in the Matsu Shelter's viewing area and the shelter volunteers are working on getting them used to a leash and such. The Matsu Shelter tells us that these 4 dogs are 3 girls and 1 boy.  Two or three are 1 year-olds and the other one is young, too. 

GRRF will get all of them vet exams, spayed, neutered, hips x-rayed and evaluated on Wednesday September 8th.  After Wednesday, GRRF will have time to fully evaluate each dog and will know more.  Before shipping them to Fairbanks, the  Matsu shelter is vaccinating and microchipping them for us and will send all of the paperwork they have (then we will know better their ages). 

IN CASE YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ALL THE HARD WORK AND COORDINATION INVOLVED IN THIS CROSS-STATE RESCUE, KEEP READING:

GRRF's Anchorage contingent, Erin Meyers and Marina Jarvis, are helping getting the four dogs to the airport.  Anita Rosa from Frontier Flying has arranged everything for us and she will actually be on that flight and can check on the dogs.  Sarah Armstrong from Golden Days Dog Grooming is holding the kennels for us and is now going to store kennels in her shop for us for future flights.  Sarah Armstrong helped so much last year with these guys and single-handedly got 4 to the airport herself and boarded the other 4 overnight at her business so we could get them on their flights.  We are lucky to have such great help over there.  The Matsu shelter is only charging $15.00 each for the dogs with vaccinations and microchips. 

Once the dogs make it to Fairbanks, enough foster families have to be ready to pick them up.  Susan Sampson has made LOTS of phone calls and the foster situation should work out fine.  Thanks gals and guys, keep your fingers crossed