Rescue A Golden of Arizona - Golden Tales June 2016

President's Message - Links of Gold 2016

It is three months until the Links of Gold 2016 - Golf Tournament at the Monument Course at Troon North, that will be followed by a delicious buffet dinner and the famous raffle, when many valuable prizes will be handed out. It is at this annual event that so many of you have in the past participated, whether as golfers, dinner guests, donors or volunteers. I want to thank you for your support in the past and ask that you again start getting actively involved. Links of Gold is not only a fun event, it is an important fundraising opportunity for the organization.

The 2016 Links of Gold committee members are hard at work. The golf tournament will have many of the same features as in previous years, the longest drive for ladies and men, closest to the pin, along with various great prizes for a hole in one, including a possible $10,000 prize. We are adding several new attractions that will include: a free putting and chipping clinic for those who wish to attend; a putting competition and local craft beer tasting. We are also planning a fun, intriguing poker game that will require some luck and skill on the Golden dog-leg hole – more details about that later!

There have been many terrific raffle prizes that have been donated by generous business partners and RAGofAZ members. Below you will see that we have an old friend and supporter of our cause join us again as a corporate sponsor, thank you GenRx. New sponsors will be most welcome and should contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Don't forget to mark your calendar for Saturday, September 10th...in fact, why not click here to sign up on our website now! Your support is much appreciated.

Corporate Sponsors: So far we would like to thank the following sponsors:

Ken & Marilyn Edwards of Tristar Hotel Group

Jackie & Jerry Miles from the J&J Miles Living Trust

Terry Cox of Raymond James - Financial Investment Company 480-837-4590

Sean Lonergan - GenRx Pharmacy

Chris PP Brant
President, RAGofAZ

Why do some dogs get cancer more than others?

Reproduced from Healthy Pets with Dr. Becker

About half of humans over the age of 70 and dogs over age 10 are diagnosed with cancer. In terms of mortality, cancer accounts for about 23 percent of human deaths, and from 10 to 60 percent of dog deaths, depending on breed.

Golden Retrievers in the U.S. have a high rate of cancer compared to many other breeds. The high rate of cancer in Goldens is a relatively recent development. In the late 1980s, the breed wasn’t considered as having a high rate of cancer. But by the late 1990s, cancer was taking the lives of about 60 percent of U.S. Goldens. European-Bred Golden Retrievers develop cancer at a much lower rate (under 40 percent) than U.S. Goldens.

For the rest of this story, click here.

How you can help fight Valley Fever

Researcher are again asking for help from pet owners as they study canine diseases. This time Arizona genetics researchers are asking for dog lovers’ help in fighting Valley Fever, a mysterious, potentially lethal infection that plagues both dog and man.

Fighting Valley Fever by Jodie Snyder is reproduced from an article that first appears in Healthy Living.

For further information on how you can help, click here.

Another Brief History of the Golden Retriever

We reproduced an article about the origins of the Golden Retriever in an earlier edition of Golden Tales about a year ago. After recently browsing the web again I came across the Golden Retriever Club of America and I wanted to share more interesting historical facts about our beloved breed. If you click here it will take you to the GRCA Historical Education site and bring you a Brief History of the Golden Retriever.

Then if you click here you will be able to read an article entitled the Origin of the Yellow Retriever. It is an article first was printed in Country Life Magazine (England), July 25, 1952 and written by The Earl of Iichester...

...and click here to finish up this series of articles from the AKC Gazette, Golden Retrievers Food for Thought.

Vet Care Tip of the Month

A little while ago a group of us were talking about infectious canine illnesses. The discussion moved onto what procedures our transporters should take after discovering that their new rescued Goldens had been suffering from various infectious diseases. With the summer upon us, when you have friends, relatives and their pets visiting, this problem may hit a little closer to home than you might first consider. Judy Smith kindly put together the following as a a guide. It does not address every canine illness but the details still could be a great help if you have a sick animal visiting you. Click here for your Vet Care Tip of the Month.

Cutest Golden Contest

Our 2016 Cutest Golden Contest has concluded and we have named ten lucky winners! You can see a video of all the contestants on our website. The winners will be featured in our 2017 Hearts of Gold calendar. There will be smaller photos of every contestant in the calendar, too.

The contest took in over $4,400, which, as always, will go toward rehoming Golden Retrievers all over Arizona. Thank you to everyone, human and four-legged, who participated. Our calendar is going to press shortly but you still have another month to submit photos for the Rainbow Bridge page and the Working Dog page.

Rainbow Bridge

Gone but never forgotten . . . remember the beloved Goldens who have crossed to the Bridge recently but will live forever in the hearts of those who loved them. CLICK HERE

And CLICK HERE to see a remembrance including those Goldens that have passed over the Rainbow Bridge previously.