Arizona Golden Rescue

Sweedy/Sophie is another dog who was found as a stray. In October 2021, she showed up on the doorstep of a home in Prescott that was at the end of a long dirt road. She had bloody paws and was dragging a chain that was wrapped around her neck so tightly the finder’s vet had to cut it off with a bolt cutter. The finder checked for a micro-chip (none), posted flyers, checked lost and found sites, and talked to Yavapai County Sheriff Animal Control to see if anyone had reported a lost dog – no one had. The finder was kind enough to bring the dog down to one of our partner veterinarians and surrendered her to our AGR President, who met her there. When she gave us the dog’s name, she pronounced it “Sweetie” but spelled it Sweedy on the Surrender form, so that’s what it became.

Sweedy is a very pretty dog, most likely a Great Pyrenees who may have a little Golden Retriever in her. She is estimated to be 2-4 years old and had not been spayed (she is now). Sweedy was a favorite at the veterinarian office. She bonded quickly with anyone who would pay her some attention. She was fostered by several families and each gave us valuable input into her behavior and personality. She played well with other dogs, until she didn’t – when she got overly excited, she would attack; she was food aggressive; she has serious separation anxiety and chronic, compulsive licking. Both of the latter problems have been handled by a low daily dose of floxitine. One foster learned she is an escape artist – she can open crates, French door handles, kennels (at the vet) and can get over baby gates; she would probably bolt out of the front door given the opportunity.

We knew the right home for this lovely girl was out there somewhere. Connie prepared a nice ad for our Facebook site; the ad was also posted on our Petfinder and Adopt-a-pet sites. A lady who’d just lost her German Shepherd Dog to cancer saw the ad. She then found we would have a booth at the PACC911 Adopt-a-thon in Anthem that day, January 16th, and showed up there hoping to meet Sweedy. We rarely bring available dogs to adopt-a-thons because it’s highly likely for such dogs to have been placed before the interested party would get through the adoption process. So, Sweedy was not there, but the lady talked to us about her, then went home and immediately filled out our application and paid the application fee. As soon as we got these, we alerted Home Evaluations that we needed a home visit done ASAP. As she had fostered Sweedy for a few days and knew more about her than any of the rest of the home evaluators, Connie did the home visit on Monday, approved the family for adoption, Placement then approved the family for Sweedy in particular, and Connie took her to an adoptive couple in north Glendale on Tuesday. Just after Connie delivered Sweedy, the man took her for a walk around the block. He was barefoot and it was starting to rain a little, but he didn’t care – he was just so happy to have her! The next day when asked how the evening had gone, the woman related:  Perfectly! She slept in the room with us. She is doing great, such a precious pup! We give her lots of petting and love.

After a couple weeks, the adopters commented: All is well! She seems to be settling down some, not so anxious when someone leaves the house. If she goes towards the door the person just exited, we just say “no Sophie” and she turns around. She is going into the crate more often and really likes her rope toy. She does very well around other dogs and other people on her walks.

Whew, the process does not usually happen so quickly, but everything fell into place for Sweedy, who has been renamed Sophie, and she is now loved and cared for in her forever home.