Goldstock

NRGRR participated in Goldstock again this year. Goldstock is a weekend camp in Pennsylvania for Golden Retrievers and the people who love them. Many Golden rescue organizations from around the country participated.

5 NRGRR volunteers and 5 dogs piled into a 10 passenger van for the 10 hour drive.

We shared a cabin with about 10 other people (and there were too many dogs to count).

On Saturday, there was a doggie carnival. They had fun games for the dogs to play. Some were more interested than others. Riley wasn’t thinking about pulling the rawhide out of the board, so his mom had to do it for him. Alex thought long and hard about which one she wanted to pick.

Fargo almost won the musical chairs competition, but was called out on the last round. Riley just wanted to take a nap.

Fargo is thinking, “This game isn’t much fun, mom.” But, he actually did a good job having his paw prints made.

On Saturday night they held a live auction, full of donated Golden items. The first items up for bid were large framed photographs of the famous World Trade Center rescue dog, Riley. Riley isn’t just a rescue dog, but he is a Golden Retriever, too. To our surprise, Riley and his family attended Goldstock! Riley’s dad is also his trainer and handler, and they were both on the scene at the World Trade Center site.

The money from the auction went to different rescue organizations. NRGRR had 3 items in the auction – a wooden sculpture of a Golden head, a sketch done by a local teenage artist, and a hand made wooden stool with a stained-glass Golden on it. We were surprised to see that the winner of the stool was Riley’s mom! He was sitting pretty with his new stool.

They had a room for rescue organizations to set up their booths. We sold t-shirts, note cards, dog toys, leashes, hand made stools and wooden dog bones.

The best thing about Goldstock, according to the dogs, was the lake! It was amazing to see that many Goldens in one place.

Fargo went for his very first swim! Sam went for a very long swim, so we had to call Golden Baywatch out on him. (He is the little orange dot out there in the water!)

Riley took some time out to dig a hole (and bark at his hole!)

Abbey thought it would be more fun to play in the mud. She turned herself into a black lab!