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Drake was abandoned at some time in 1999 on the north side of Oklahoma City. The Sooner Golden Retriever Rescue Association found him and took him in. He was thin, covered in ticks and fleas, and was suffering from heartworm.
They cleaned him up, cured him of heartworm, altered him and tattooed him with his permanent mark of SGRR#383, which guarantees him a home for life. They have since added a microchip identity injection, too. We applied to adopt one of the SGRR dogs in April of 1999. We were cleared for ownership, since we had a nice new home and a fenced-in yard, and promised to never leave our dog outside alone for extended periods of time (no dogs as 'lawn ornaments'). Our first meeting with Drake was instant love on both sides. He came to us and sat down, looking up with gentle eyes and walking quietly along side me when I moved to the fence.
He was brought to us the next day and moved in to his own personal crate until he proved to be fully house-broken (already was), and safe alone without supervision (within a week). Because of his heartworm treatment, he was never fond of his crate, though he would obediently go into it any time he was told to 'kennel.' After a month or so, we dismantled it, and he has the run of the house.
Drake in 2007 was about twelve years old, and became a very mellow senior citizen with occasional youthful outbursts; especially when teasing Gander. Late in 2007, Drake began losing muscle mass and slowed down quite a bit, but he was still happy and a wonderful companion to us and to his little brother. The last week of May 2008, he lost interest in his food and the vet thought perhaps Drake had Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and we began aggressive treatment. Unfortunately he continued to decline and on the 7th of June 2008, Drake wagged his tail one last time and went to play tennis ball with God. His ashes have come home to stay and he will be buried with his beloved tennis ball under a forsythia to remind us each spring of our golden treasure which graced our lives for nine years.
Drake with his 'Dad' and late'Grand-dog' in 1999
He is the perfect mail artist dog: he loves delivery people, and enjoys snuffling the mail and licking artistamps.
Chuck and Drake (and the ever-present tennis ball)
Drake and Rabbit in 2001
Drake at home in 2003
In 2006, Chuck and I rescued a golden pup from the side of the road in Moore, Oklahoma, but before we could bring him home from the shelter, his owner reclaimed him. So we decided it was time to get Drake a little brother. Gander was a stray on the streets of Tulsa, Oklahoma and had pneumonia when he was rescued. He is not a 24 carat golden, as he has amber eyes and a liver-colored nose, but his personality is 100% golden.
He isn't interested in tennis balls, but he loves little kids and playing tug of war and chase games.
Drake and Gander played together regularly and loved exploring the yard together. 
Are you interested in rescuing a Golden Retriever yourself? You can get information here:
Sooner Golden Retriever Rescue
All pages copyright 2007 Janice Bryant/RubberRabbit. All rights reserved.