Adoptable Georgia Dogs for August 5, 2013

On August 4, 1958, a mule-drawn wagon left Dahlonega carrying 20 ounces of gold to be donated to the State of Georgia to clad the dome on the Capitol. Currently, the value of that gold would be $26,258. Since 1958, the gold has been replaced twice.

In honor of these days in 1958, we’re featuring Golden Retrievers and Golden Retriever mix dogs, and even maybe a dog or two who could be described simply as Golden in color.

This old soul looks to me like a Golden Retriever mix; he’s eight years old and available for adoption from Gwinnett County Animal Shelter in Lawrenceville, Ga. Having spent most of the last 20 years in the company of aging Golden Retrievers, I can tell you there’s nothing better in this world than the love of an experienced dog.

Pen 119 in the Gwinnett County Animal Shelter houses this young male Golden Retriever mix, approximately 2 years old.

I’d call this a Lemon Basset Hound, and she makes the cut because she’s kind of golden-colored on a white coat; this youngster is available from Gwinnett County Animal Shelter.

Brandie is a 4-year old female approximately 20 pounds, who was turned in by her owner to the Walton County Animal Shelter in Monroe, Ga., where she awaits a loving home. She’s already spayed and gets along well with people, kids, and other pets. Monroe County Animal Control sets the gold standard for animal photography, and I believe that this helps more animals find homes.

Heidi is a nine-month old Shepherd mix female, who is available for adoption from the Walton County Animal Shelter.

Duke is a year-old male Black-and-Tan Coonhound without a drop of Golden Retriever in his heritage; I just love big goofy hound dogs. He was also an owner-surrender, which have no mandatory hold time and can be euthanized at any time when space is required. He gets along with people and other dogs, and would be an excellent hunting dog, or couch dog. Hounds do really well with athletic or active families, especially runners.

Dixie Dog Rescue in Vidalia, Ga needs some help to feed the nearly twenty dogs that they care for. You can donate online via Paypal or mail a check or money order to:

Dixie Dog Rescue
3224 Old Normantown Rd.
Vidalia, GA, 30474

Or here’s a fun way to donate: you can visit their Wal-Mart wish list and shop online to choose items starting at just $3.67. When you checkout, have the items sent to the Vidalia, Ga Wal-Mart (zip code 30474) and designate Carrie Beasley as the pickup person. Dixie Dog Rescue also has an Amazon Wish List.

We chipped-in this weekend and sent Dixie Dog Rescue a couple bags of dog food.

A Douglasville woman was driving a Suburban loaded with 14 dogs headed to a Maine rescue group, when the vehicle overturned and three dogs got loose.

But there’s a storybook ending — one where a little town comes together to assist complete strangers and 14 defenseless animals, everyone is OK, and the dogs all make it safely to their destination after the rescue workers, vet staffers and others who adopted some of the dogs pose for a heartwarming picture in front of a big red fire truck.

“It was just amazing how that city just rallied and helped our dogs,” said Kim Meek, a volunteer at the Douglas County Animal Shelter who arranged the trip to save the dogs, many of whom were on the kill list.

The Lebanon Borough Fire Company and the Clinton rescue squad arrived on the scene shortly after the accident. Craig had to be extricated by firefighters using the Jaws of Life. She was taken to a local hospital where she had to have 19 staples to close a gash in her head.

The dogs also had to be taken out of the SUV, which rolled once and landed right-side-up. Eleven of the 14 dogs were inside the Suburban, and three were running loose. Dom Fanelli of Newnan, Craig’s passenger, found a Chihuahua named Harley close by and brought him to Craig before EMTs arrived and took her to the hospital.