8/23/05 UPDATE- Our adoption coordinator traveled to Anchorage and visited with Sampson and Barbara.  Barbara had emailed and phoned often and updated us with Sampson great recovery.  Now he was being ADOPTED!!   Everything has worked out very well and he fits in with her dog Buddy and her cats have now accepted Sampson into the home.  He is a very lucky dog to have found such a loving and wonderful lady as Barbara.  To help us with his vet bills, Barbara and her friend are making beautiful wall quilts to be sold at our Christmas Bazaars.  We would like to thank all the folks who helped get Sam here with all the generosity bestowed on him.  Sampson is now home, growing into a gorgeous, happy, playful and pain free Golden.

6/22/05 UPDATE  Sampson got a ride to Anchorage June 3rd to see Dr. Edwards at Veterinary Specialist of Alaska vet clinic and had more x-rays and examined.  Dr. Edwards suggested that he do a TPO (Triple Pelvis Ostectomy) on the right hip but the left hip already has some arthritis forming since the last radiographs.  The window of opportunity for a TPO is usually less that 10 months to a one year of age.  With the right hip done he hopes that will give Sam some extra stability and he may never need his left hip done or if later in life he is sore and showing signs of discomfort, a FHO (Femoral Head Ostectomy- removal of the femoral head) can be done on that one for about $1000.  Susan and Sean took Sam to meet his potential new home on friday night and he had a great time.  Barbara was thrilled to meet Sam and she has a very kind lab/golden cross about the same age as Sam from the Seward Animal Shelter.  Sam and Buddy got along very well and are two peas in a pod.  Both are very easy going, non-hyper gentle boys.  Sam stayed at the Comfort Inn with Susan, her son Sean and Ben their golden.  Saturday, Sam thoroughly enjoyed himself at the Golden Retriever Fun Day.  He came in second in the hard boiled egg carry!!  Barbara came to visit with him and at the end of the day she took him home for a trial.   Barbara checked in the next day to say all was going very well and Sam was respecting the cats.  Barbara took Sam to his surgery appointment on June 13th.  Everything went very well and after a nights stay at the vet's office, he went home with Barbara for post op care.  Barbara sends emails with all the latest news on Sam.  Dr. Edward's did a fantastic job on Sam and he is recovering very well.  Dr. Edward's also gave a generous $250 discount as well.  I can't say enough wonderful things about Dr. Edwards!!  Sam's total was $2700 plus $560 for the pre-exam and x-rays.  We have raised $2200 so far and we really want to thank all those generous folks that gave in Sam's name.  We all thank you very very much!!!!!!  This is a very special boy and we will continue to update his recovery.   

6/1/05 UPDATE   Sampson has had his eye rechecked with Dr. Cho here in Fairbanks two weeks ago and all is well for now.  She suggested his new owner keep up with rechecks to make sure his eye does not get worse.   Otherwise, it is something that can wait to repair.  She said she would like to see his eye repaired within a years time.  Still that buys us time to fix his hips.  Our adoption coordinator is traveling with Sampson to Anchorage tomorrow for an early appointment on Thurs. with Dr. Edwards for an exam of his hips.  We have sent his x-rays ahead for a consult for a TPO surgery.  If Sampson is a candidate then he has many admirers in Anchorage that are willing to baby sit him and get him to his surgery next week.  Also, he is going to be shown to a family on Friday that has shown great interest in him.  He will be at the Midnight Sun Golden Retriever Club's third annual Golden Retriever Fun Day on Sat. June 4th from noon to 4:00.  Come and see Sampson and have a great time with all the games and events.