3/20/24 Update: Matt came into our rescue at 28 lbs and has since gained about 3 lbs. The vets feel a good weight for this sweetie pie would be in the 50 lb range. He is estimated to be about 6 months old. In the pictures we have at the end of the third week, you can see little bits of peach-fuzz fur growing back in!!
One of our volunteers shared this lovely update on our boy: "He’s made progress for sure! I can tell you Matt is absolutely adorable, friendly, and bounces in place when he’s excited to see you. He wags his tail often and loves being petted. Matt knows how to sit which is good since he’s so young. He has gained a little weight, although I’m not sure if he’s going to grow into those paws or not! :-) His fur is kind of reddish - maybe he’s all Golden but we're not sure yet - as more fur comes in, we'll be able to tell. Matt ’s very very sweet and seems to like other dogs and loves people!"
Matt's Story: “Scram!” “Scat!” “Go away, you mangy mutt!” Oh, our hearts ache when we think of how unkind people may have been to sweet Matt in his time of dire need.
In early March, Lisa, our lead volunteer in AL, received a plea from the Mobile County shelter asking for help with a puppy who had been roaming at large. This gentle dog was in horrific shape and in desperate need of veterinary care. He was severely underweight at 28 lbs and was suffering from a dreadful skin condition. This sweet baby had to be in such terrible pain from such tender skin – yet, his tail wagged happily as we took him into our rescue and named him Matt.
Matt needs to stay in the animal hospital for several weeks where he has undergone medical evaluation. It was determined that Matt is severely underweight and is suffering from demodex mange, a parasitic skin disease caused by microscopic mites. When Matt first arrived, he could hardly walk because his feet hurt so badly. We had to wrap him blankets for the first week just to pick him up because he would whimper in pain. He was so malnourished and was very weak. Yet Matt craved human affection and would crawl up onto the laps of his favorite humans at the clinic. He amazed everyone with his friendly demeanor and a wagging tail!
Because Matt was so emaciated, his body hardly had the ability to combat this condition. Matt has since been given high-quality nutrition, medications to eradicate the mites, and medicated baths. Matt has started to turn the corner and his skin has begun to improve. Soon his fur will start growing back in!
The vet staff caring for Matt shared, "In the time Matt has been with us, he has become more comfortable and in less pain. His inner happiness is coming out and he has bursts of energy where he wants to run, jump, and play! In the areas where Matt has fur, it is about 2-3 inches long and is a stunning reddish color with a white blaze on his chest. He has liver-colored lips and hazel eyes. We know he will be quite the looker when he is healed! This is a very sensitive and sweet soul."
If Matt had not been rescued, it is doubtful he would have survived. But treating demodex mange is a long and costly process. Boarding at the vet’s office for over a month and frequent medicated baths are only part of the cost. Skin scrapings should be performed regularly until two negative skin scrapings are obtained, a few weeks apart. Then, treatment should continue for several weeks after the second negative skin scraping. Add into the mix that Matt needed to be neutered and had to be brought up-to-date on vaccinations. $$$ Cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching! $$$ As you can see, Matt still has a way to go and we will continue to post updates and let you know when sweet little Matt will be ready for adoption. If you would like to help sponsor Matt, you can donate via this link or send a check to SGRR, PO Box 247, Port Washington, New York 11050.
We are hopeful that Matt can come north for adoption in early April. If your specialty is TLC and you are approved to adopt through SGRR, contact Donna at:
[email protected] to be considered to adopt this wonderful boy.
If not yet approved for adoption, please visit our website to learn more and to submit an online application: http://sunshinegoldenrescue.com/adoption-info1.html
Rescued dogs come with a range of needs - from behavioral to emotional to medical. When approved applicants adopt such dogs, they agree to become an important, forever part of their life journey by continuing the rehabilitation we have begun.
Please direct any questions regarding your application status to:
[email protected]
Thank you!
ABOUT OUR RESCUE
Before being approved to adopt, all potential adopters will be required to complete our online application and participate in our pre-adoption review process. The process includes the completion of an online application, a reference from the applicants' vet, a phone interview, and a visit to the applicants' home. The application process helps us determine what type of Golden would be best suited for the applicants' life style. In some cases, the specific dog you are interested in may have found a home before this process is complete or further assessment may indicate that this dog is not the right match for your family. We are frequently getting new Goldens in need of a home, so we encourage you to apply and complete the application process so that when the right dog comes along you will be ready.
The information provided on each dog is based on the observations of our vets, volunteers, fosters, and when available, trainers. While we do our best to report any and all issues, SGRR does not make any guarantees as to the health or temperament of any dog. Dogs evolve differently in different environments and we cannot predict with any certainty how the dog you adopt will behave and adapt in your home.
SGRR ADOPTION FEES - Effective May 1, 2020 (subject to change)
$750 Puppy - up to 6 months
$650 Young 6 months - 6 years
$550 Senior 7 - 9 years
$450 Senior 10 years and older
$550 Young Special Needs
$400 Senior 7+ Special Needs
$1000 Young Bonded Pair
$900 Senior 7+ Bonded Pair
A contract is signed on the day of adoption. Under the terms of the contract, all adopters are required to bring their SGRR dog to a vet within 7 business days. All dogs receive basic veterinary care prior to adoption. However, if an adopter's vet identifies an illness that an adopter is not willing to treat, then the dog may be returned and a full refund would be provided.
Most of our dogs are fostered in private homes. We do not have a facility to visit. We are committed to our dogs before, during, and after adoption! To this end, the rescue retains an interest in each dog and our dogs can never be surrendered, re-homed, or sold. Should an adopter no longer be able to keep their SGRR dog, SGRR must be notified so that we can take the dog back into rescue and place it into another home. We reserve the right to remove a dog at any time should we find the adopter is no longer providing proper care. Adopters agree to follow up visits as needed.
Please be a ray of light for this Sunshine dog and make a tax deductible donation toward medical care and other expenses. Every cent of your generosity goes directly toward the care of a Sunshine dog.
Please visit our website at: http://sunshinegoldenrescue.com to learn more about our rescue and to make a Donation to support Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue.
THANK YOU!
