My name is Truman!

Sometimes rescue stories do not have the happy ending that we all wish for. This update on Truman is difficult to share with those of you who have been pulling for our gentle old guy and who have been helping him with your generous contributions. Sadly, his bloodwork revealed that Truman has cancer in his liver that has most likely spread to other areas of his body. His doctors agree that it is not advisable to put him through heartworm treatment or neutering. Instead, Truman will be staying with his selfless and loving foster family to live out his days in peace and love.

Many people feel they cannot foster a dog because they don't think they can take care of the dog, love it, and then give it up. Truman's altruistic foster Mom & Dad, Cheryl & Paul, will be providing hospice care for Truman, knowing that he will not be moving on to a family, but that he will spend his limited time on Earth in their loving care. They are the epitome of selflessness and they are truly "rescue angels."

And as for Truman and everyone who helped him - from the day he came to rescue terrified until now as he rolls in the grass and sniffs the air – your efforts have not been in vein. With Cheryl & Paul, he has found his forever home where he will know nothing but LOVE.

All of us at Sunshine thank you for following Truman's story and for the heartfelt contributions to help our sweet, gentle soul.
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Truman’s story is a true rescue story. It’s a story of a dog who survived on trash and fearfully eluded humans. Read about Truman and about the progress this fellow is making!
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A pitiful senior Golden/Lab mix was seen running loose near a hospital in Mobile, Alabama. He was very leery of humans and the local Animal Control Officer could not catch him. After more than two months of surviving on garbage from dumpsters, he was taken into custody and ended up at the Mobile, AL city shelter. That's where Sunshine Golden Rescue comes in.....we were called and asked if we could help this poor emaciated fellow who was so terrified he would not come out of his shelter run.

When one of Sunshine's lead volunteers went to meet him at the shelter and coax him out of his corner, she saw a dignified senior soul in the eyes that watched her. Hence, was given the name Truman. He is, of course, heartworm positive so will undergo treatment. Truman is thin from scavenging for food and his coat reflects his poor diet from months on the streets. We would love to see his coat start to shine and his eyes start to sparkle again as he recovers from his ordeal. Truman is house trained, so he must have belonged to someone. He is a gentle, submissive dog. Even as frightened as he was when cornered in the shelter kennel, he did not growl or show any aggression at all, but allowed himself to be pulled from his corner so we could help him. Now, he needs a place to lay his head each night and know he is safe and loved.

We are posting Truman's picture and story before he is ready for adoption, because we need your help. Truman's care is going to be very expensive, so we are asking for donations to help pay his medical bills. Truman has already been at our clinic for a while, and he needs to get healthier before he can begin his heartworm treatment. No contribution is too small, and any help is SO appreciated.

We could not turn Truman away because he deserves a chance at a better life. Please consider a donation to help pay for his care, and watch for updates as he regains his health and his trust in people.

Progress Update - June: Gentle Truman is making slow progress physically and emotionally. He seems to know he will have something to eat now and he will leave his dog run by himself without being coaxed outside. These are huge steps for this boy who was so terrified when we first knew him. The new pictures just taken reveal a dog that is still shy, preferring a corner for security. He is still painfully thin but is gaining weight. He still has to pack on a few pounds before he can be neutered and then begin his heartworm treatment.

For some reason Truman is fearful of a leash. We have learned that he does OK if you attach his lead, then turn and walk away from him without confronting him, and he will go right out with you. This poor soul has stories to tell and they are most likely sad ones, so we are determined to keep him moving in the right direction to get him healthy and happy -- we know there is a smile in those eyes! We are still hoping to find him a foster in the South to help him through his heartworm treatment; meanwhile, please consider making a donation toward Truman's vet bills--he and everyone at Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue will be so grateful. HELP TRUMAN

Progress Update - Good News! - July: Truman is making great progress in his foster home and he is starting to act more like a normal dog! He enjoys rolling in the grass now and his foster mom has even witnessed him doing a happy prance! She also watched him stop to lift his head and sniff the air and simply enjoy being alive...how nice is that! He walks slowly on a leash and does not pull - and he prefers to poop in the woods...good boy!!! A harness or slip lead collar is best for walking Truman, because he tries to back out of a flat buckle type of collar if frightened. Inside, he has very nice house manners, except for being a counter surfer. This is no surprise for a dog that depended on dumpsters for dinner, but it is a behavior that can be corrected fairly easily. Truman sleeps through the night in his room, does fine when left alone. He shows no fear of thunderstorms. He was groomed this week and as he gains much-needed weight, he is becoming a very handsome dog.

Now he begins his Heartworm treatment at the vet clinic and then will be neutered. These will be a difficult few weeks for Truman, after which he will return to his Foster Mom to complete his heartworm treatment and continue his emotional healing. PLEASE keep Truman in your thoughts and prayers. Heartworm treatment has its risks and we greatly want Truman to get his chance at having a loving home. A special thanks to those special angels who have contributed to Truman's care and treatment. He still has a way to go so donations are appreciated and go directly to helping this Southern gentleman.

PLEASE APPLY for Truman by submitting an application: APPLY ON-LINE TO ADOPT.

Direct questions regarding an application's status to: SunshineGoldens@gmail.com


About Our Rescue
Before being approved to adopt, all potential adopters need 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 find that this dog is not the right match for your family. We are regularly getting new Goldens in need of a home, so we encourage you to apply and get approved so that when the right dog comes along you will be ready.

A contract is signed the day of adoption. Under the terms of the contract, all adopters are required to bring the rescue to a vet within 7 business days. The dogs receive basic veterinary care prior to adoption. If your vet identifies an illness that an adopter is not willing to treat, then the dog is returned and a full refund is provided.

The information provided on each dog is based on 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 act in your home.

Many of our dogs are fostered in private homes and we do not have a facility to visit. We are committed to our dogs before, during, and after adoption! The rescue retains title to the dog and can never be released or sold. Should the adopters no longer be able to keep the 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 caring for their Golden in a way we see fit. Adopters then have to agree to follow up visits as needed.

Be a ray of light for this Sunshine dog - make a tax deductible donation toward medical and other expenses. Every cent of your generosity goes directly toward the care of a Sunshine dog.

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