Rico 13-060

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As of March 17, 2013 the RAGOM Board approved removing the physical fence requirement for adopters of puppy mill dogs. Instead, the foster family will determine whether their foster dog needs a fence to be kept safe.

Rico does NOT need a fence!

Rico still needs another medium-sized dog to give him support, no children under 10 and... a very loving forever family!

 

A portion of Rico's medical care was paid for by a generous grant from the Golden Retriever Foundation's April Fund

 With Love from Debra S.

 

 

February 25, 2013

What does freedom look like for a 9 year old puppy mill stud just 24 hours after rescue? Well, see for yourself - click here !

Rico just arrived in MN late last night by a small team of RAGOM volunteers who dedicated their whole day to rescuing Rico and some of his friends from a commercial breeder in South Dakota.

Although Rico has not spent much time with us, here is what we know for sure:

  • He is a GORGEOUS dark red, purebred golden retriever
  • He's quickly become a VELCRO DOG!
  • He's being treated for an ear infection and taking medication for roundworms
  • He still needs "The Surgery"
  • He is equally receptive to both foster mom & foster dad
  • He has not had any accidents or marking in the house and he even slept outside of his crate last night
  • He is a gentleman to resident (female) GR's, Jayden & Maggie.
  • After arriving at our house, it took less than 2 hours for him to come to us for ear scratches and give KISSES!
  • He needs to lose some weight He's around 80# but should really be around 55 - 60# so we'll be working on that!
  • He is unfazed by vacuum cleaners, dishwasher disposals, microwave beeping, TV's, radio's, door slamming, sewing machines, electronic devices, doorbells, hairdryers, and shower nozzles (he did great in the tub!)
  • Oh, and cats are OK!

Here's what Rico will need in his forever home:

  • No kids under 10 years old (although I think he'd be okay)
  • A fenced in yard (with all the weight he's packing he really can't run right now but having room to roam and plenty of exercise with his foster sisters will put him in running condition in no time!)
  • Another medium to large confident dog to show him the ropes of his new golden life!

If you think Rico could be that Pot O' Gold you've been looking for, contact your placement adviser!

 

At a Glance #13-060

Golden Retriever Born: January 2004
Male 80 lbs

Status: Deceased

Profile

 

As of March 17, 2013 the RAGOM Board approved removing the physical fence requirement for adopters of puppy mill dogs. Instead, the foster family will determine whether their foster dog needs a fence to be kept safe.

Rico does NOT need a fence!

Rico still needs another medium-sized dog to give him support, no children under 10 and... a very loving forever family!

 

A portion of Rico's medical care was paid for by a generous grant from the Golden Retriever Foundation's April Fund

 With Love from Debra S.

 

 

February 25, 2013

What does freedom look like for a 9 year old puppy mill stud just 24 hours after rescue? Well, see for yourself - click here !

Rico just arrived in MN late last night by a small team of RAGOM volunteers who dedicated their whole day to rescuing Rico and some of his friends from a commercial breeder in South Dakota.

Although Rico has not spent much time with us, here is what we know for sure:

  • He is a GORGEOUS dark red, purebred golden retriever
  • He's quickly become a VELCRO DOG!
  • He's being treated for an ear infection and taking medication for roundworms
  • He still needs "The Surgery"
  • He is equally receptive to both foster mom & foster dad
  • He has not had any accidents or marking in the house and he even slept outside of his crate last night
  • He is a gentleman to resident (female) GR's, Jayden & Maggie.
  • After arriving at our house, it took less than 2 hours for him to come to us for ear scratches and give KISSES!
  • He needs to lose some weight He's around 80# but should really be around 55 - 60# so we'll be working on that!
  • He is unfazed by vacuum cleaners, dishwasher disposals, microwave beeping, TV's, radio's, door slamming, sewing machines, electronic devices, doorbells, hairdryers, and shower nozzles (he did great in the tub!)
  • Oh, and cats are OK!

Here's what Rico will need in his forever home:

  • No kids under 10 years old (although I think he'd be okay)
  • A fenced in yard (with all the weight he's packing he really can't run right now but having room to roam and plenty of exercise with his foster sisters will put him in running condition in no time!)
  • Another medium to large confident dog to show him the ropes of his new golden life!

If you think Rico could be that Pot O' Gold you've been looking for, contact your placement adviser!

 

Updates

Saturday, July 14, 2018

Greetings to all of our two and four legged friends at RAGOM – and to all those who have loved and have lost their beautiful Goldens.

Because Rico and Cleo had been inseparable BFF’s for the last 5 years and 2 months at the B’s residence in Elk River, as we did with their updates, we decided to complete their Rainbow Bridge memorial together.

When you adopt senior goldens at 9 and 10 years of age, the expectation is that perhaps at most you’ll have a few years with them.  Rico and Cleo both gave us an amazing five years of a home filled with love and life.

We honestly don’t know quite how to say goodbye – maybe we’ll just say farewell for now. All of us who have lost pets know that the more love you put into them, and they into you, the deeper the hurt and loss when they are gone.  And losing Rico and Cleo has been very hard.

We know that we never really owned them even in adoption.  We were brought together by the One who created them, from their wet noses and beautiful deep eyes to their fluffy golden tails. 

It was Father God’s intricate design and oversight of Rico & Cleo, and His plan of rescue and conversion to being pets in a loving home that came to fruition – the One True owner and creator of these beautiful dogs.

And in faith and hope, we believe that if we were brought together once by this amazing Creator God, that like the Rainbow Bridge teaching, someday He can bring us back together again.  We will trust in Him and thank Him for our time with Rico & Cleo.

The fact also that we would never have met Rico & Cleo were it not for the love and effort poured into them by RAGOM to remove them from their labors and cages, heal their bodies and spirits, and foster them to the point of adoption. 

Mr. N. and Mr. & Mrs. E., their foster parents, took them into their homes to love on them and bring them to the point of readiness for their forever home.  We give thanks to you all and also know that you all never lost your love for Rico & Cleo as well.  And we thank you also for the confidence you have had in us to adopt such precious dogs.

They came to be in our home two weeks apart, Rico then Cleo, in April of 2013.  They left us three weeks apart, Rico then Cleo, in May and June of 2018.  From start to finish here in Elk River they were inseparable.  We can imagine Rico turning and waiting for Cleo to cross the Rainbow Bridge to join him.

Rico “Micah” B. (13-060) left us on 05/23/2018. He was 14 years, 4 months, and 7 days in age. He was an independent boy – less often jumped up on the couch or the bed to receive his cuddles. 

The things that we’ll most remember about South Dakota’s “Happy Boy” Rico, he was never without a rubber or plastic ball – and he had a dozen of them.  He would grab one out of his basket of balls and go outside on the patio to lay down and drop it between his paws.  Tiring of that one, he would come back in and grab another ball to take outside. 

Rico was amazingly gentle and sensitive.  He had his favorite little stuffed bear that he would gently carry and nurture – almost as if it were a golden pup. “Big Boy” could let out a growl and a fierce, deep bark in protection of his home in his backyard.  But Rico’s loving eyes and dimpled cheek smiles were so endearing, and he truly was a softie at heart.

Cleo “Hannah” B. (12-113) left us on 06/15/2018. She was 15 years, 0 months, and 5 days in age.  Mrs. B had always wanted a lap dog and Missouri gal Cleo was absolutely her fifty pound lap dog. 

She loved her cuddles on the couch and the bed and somehow we think knew that she was making up for nine years of giving life to pups without love returning to her to an amazing knowing of being absolutely loved.  Such a beautiful golden girl, Cleo (also known as “Cleo Diddles” by Mr. N. her foster Dad) would always reach out with a paw to gain the cuddling and petting she was always after.

Cleo was a digger.  Mr. B always had the shovel ready to fill the incredibly deep holes she would dig. Cleo ran like a racehorse in her fenced yard and at the doggie park.  Even missing a surgically removed toe on one of her rear paws during her healing time with RAGOM – she loved to run – especially after chipmunks which she never really seemed to want to actually catch.

Cleo was always the first to peek over the other side of the dinner table to see if it was their turn for meat scraps.  Rico was more subtle in his approach. 

Now, as we did with our Rico and Cleo updates we’ll let our GB Retrievers (Golden Buddies) tell the rest of the story.  In hard times of loss like this and so many others, let us all have this faith, hope and love for the promises of our Creator God. We can only imagine and smile as the conversation may be going something like this:

Rico: “Good to see you made it across the Rainbow Bridge, Cleo.  What took you so long?  Seemed like an eternity.”

Cleo: “It was only a few weeks Rico.  But yep, you got the eternity part right as that’s what we’re going to experience on this side of the bridge.”

Rico: “Do you remember how Mr. and Mrs. B. always told us that ‘everything that has breath should praise The Lord’ and that we should too?” (Ps 150:6)

Cleo: “Sure do.  We breathe don’t we Rico? Most two leggers don’t recognize that while us four leggers don’t have the same flesh and fur as two leggers, that you can’t praise The Lord without recognizing Him and having the spirits that he designed and imparted into us to do so.  And just think Rico, all of us creatures will be praising him forever and ever” (Ps 145:9)!

Rico: “Well, being on this Heavenly side of the bridge sure brings clarity to that Cleo girl!  And it is true that our Creator God has always and will always look on us four leggers, and two leggers, and praising bunnies and cats, wolves and lions, mountains and oceans, lakes, pines and loons – all that He has created – with His promises and loving care.” (Ps 145:13,17)

Cleo: “I know!  And how Mr. B used to tell us how all of Creation, that includes us, has been waiting on the children of God to be revealed, so that all of Creation can be brought into glorious freedom.  What a promise!” (Rom 8:19-21)

Rico: “So let’s go Cleo!  Let’s get on with it and join the others. In this realm across the Rainbow Bridge, Kingdom of the Bright Morning Star, I’m hearing a new song.  And all of the creatures in Heaven and on the earth are singing! How wondrous to be a part of that.  Let’s fire up our vocals!” (Rev 5:13, 21:16)

Rico and Cleo: “Before we go, we want to repeat our Happy Ending sign offs because it is so important. When the people at RAGOM rescued us from our former puppy mill lives and fostered us to show us what it was like to live a different life, it allowed us to become what we were meant to be, pets.

We hope for all Goldens what we had.  We’d been adopted into a home with two leggers who loved us.  A home that was every day peaceful, secure, restful and allowed us to be what Golden Retrievers are – natural and loving family dogs!

Thank you RAGOM and keep it up!”

Love, Rico Micah B. & Cleo Hannah B. (and Mr. and Mrs. B)

Saturday, September 23, 2017

Greetings to all of our two and four legged friends at RAGOM! 

Because Rico and Cleo have been inseparable BFF’s for the last 4 years and 3 months at the B’s residence in Elk River, we decided to update them together. It has been a couple of years since their last update.

Rico “Micah” B. is 13 years and 8 months old, weighing in at 63 lbs (adopted weight 67 lbs). He was a South Dakota boy. He has slowed down quite a bit but can still go for short walks, climb a flight of stairs (especially if you promise him a carrot at the top J).  He gets good sleep and still eats well. Rico’s diet is NutriSource Senior Chicken & Rice, carrots, biscuit treats, and steak-burger-chicken meat scraps when we cook out.

Cleo “Hannah” B. is 14 years and 3 months old, weighing in at 52 lbs (adopted weight 51 lbs). She was a Missouri gal. She is amazing in that at her age she still runs like a racehorse and loves to dig (she can burrow a deep hole in a hurry).  She also gets good sleep (on the bed!) and eats well. Cleo’s diet is Fromme’s Game Bird Grain Free, carrots, biscuit treats, and steak-burger-chicken meat scraps when we cook out.

They are both in pretty good health for their ages.  A few bumps.  But their last physical in April was very good. We have been so blessed to have them in our home for all this time and to have them so happy, healthy and loving for all of these years, amazing for as old as they are.  Here they are in August of 2016:

Now, we’ll let our GB Retrievers (Golden Buddies) tell the rest of the story:

Rico: “Cleo and I are best buddies for sure.  We’ve never gotten angry with each other and we often cuddle up, especially when there is thunder or fireworks in the area.”

Cleo: “Yep, but it sure seems to me like Rico gets more attention from the B’s.  But what I do is climb over him to get in position for the head and ear scratches.”

Rico: “Mrs. B takes good care of us with all of the grooming, combing, and ear cleaning.”

Cleo: “And we go to Rin Tin Inn Kennels, north of Elk River, for our nail trims, and Rogers Pet Clinic for our physicals and medical-preventive supplies.”                       

Rico: “Well, the big news for me is that the B’s bought me a 4x4 wagon.  It’s green with yellow wheels.  I can walk a bit, and then climb in for a ride.  Actually, Mr. B sets me in there, but the sides fold down for easy exit. It’s big enough so that on our trail walks I can haul the supplies.  Here I am in my off road vehicle at Woodland trails”:

Cleo: “The 4x4 is nice but I’m not ready for that yet.  I can still walk the whole distance. The B’s call me a ‘prancer’ because I lift my front legs like a thoroughbred in a horse show – they call it a happy girl walk.”

Cleo: “Still, the wagon is great because then for break time on the hike, we unload the much need water jug!’”

Rico: “The B’s still never let us off of our Easy Walk harnesses.  I think they like the secure feeling of keeping us close by.  Not that I would get very far, but Cleo can still run pretty fast. We get over to Lake Orono from time to time to the doggie park there – but not as much as we use to, and also do short neighborhood walks.”

Cleo: “It was funny once, because the B.’s wrap the harness leashes around their wrists. Once when Mr. B was sitting in a lawn chair up in Voyageurs National Park, we saw a chipmunk and took off running – pulled wrist-wrapped Mr. B right off of his chair and down to the ground!”

Rico: “We also like to take country drives in the family crew cab truck.  The B’s think we are a couple of the best crew cab riders there ever were, great travel dogs, because we just lay in the back quietly and enjoy the rides!”

Cleo: “And Mr. B is right.  I still love to dig.  One of my favorite things is chipmunk hunting.  I’ve never caught one but I love the chase.  They get under the backyard fence to the wood pile, but that’s when I go to work to dig under the fence to try and catch them”:

Rico: “I tell Cleo, keep digging, and we’ll be out of here in no time!  The great escape!  But wouldn’t you know it, Mr. B. fills the hole back in with a shovel…….”

Cleo: “It had been a few years since we had our last family vacation, but just last week we headed up to a resort on Blackwater Lake, south of Longville, MN.”

Rico: “For the trip we got a couple of camo shirts.  I don’t think anyone can see us when we have them on”:

Cleo: “Here we are on the beach at Blackwater Lake. Unlike my last Happy Ending update, this time I remembered to keep my eyes open for the photo, while Rico closed his!”:

Cleo: “And what is a vacation trip and a beach without a healthy supply of snacks, or is that a supply of healthy snacks?”:

Rico: “On our vacation, the B’s left my 4x4 wagon behind, but the 2-leggers at the resort had a red 4x4 that they let me use to ride along the road by the lake”:

Cleo: “And when Mr. and Mrs. B. wanted to play yard games with their 2-legged BFF’s from Wisconsin, they put us in our portable fencing so we could watch them – by the look on Rico’s face, I think he was interested in chasing one of the Kubb sticks they were throwing!”:

Rico: “You got that right, Cleo. Our vacation was so much fun – and so long since the last one – that Mrs. B. is thinking maybe we’ll squeeze one more in this year to catch some more autumn like color around the water somewhere.”

Cleo: “For Rico and I, as the years pass in our senior lives; while the walks and rides, the food and snacks, and vacations are all nice, this for us is what it is all about”:

Rico: “Yep, security and love, peaceful rest from our labors, cuddles and petting, being family with the B’s.”

Rico and Cleo: “Well, we’d best go for now.  But we want to repeat our last Happy Ending sign off because it is so important. When the people at RAGOM rescued us from our former puppy mill lives and fostered us to show us what it was like to live a different life, it allowed us to become what we were meant to be, pets.

We hope for all Golden’s what we have.  We’ve been adopted into a home with 2-leggers who love us.  A home that is every day peaceful, secure, restful and allows us to be what Golden Retrievers are – natural family dogs!

Thank you RAGOM and keep it up!!”

Love, Rico Micah B. & Cleo Hannah B. (and Mr. and Mrs. B )

Monday, March 2, 2015

Hi everyone!  Rico here (13-060).  Wow, time has passed so quickly since being adopted by Mr. and Mrs. B. up here in Elk River way back in April of 2013.  I definitely feel more like this is a Happy Beginning rather than a Happy Ending.  I’m so grateful for my foster Mom and Dad who prepped me for being a full-time full-fledged pet for Mr. and Mrs. B.  Actually, I’m pretty good at it.

At the same time I was adopted, the B’s adopted my new sister Cleo (12-113).  Being that Cleo is from Missouri and I’m from South Dakota, we had lots to catch up on in our previous adventures.  Here I am with my little sister Cleo:

It’s been a great almost two years so far with the B’s.  I’m 11 years and 1 month old now, but still feel and look like a pup.  Just got back from the Vet this morning for a checkup and I’m in prime shape.  Most days I just hang out at home with Cleo, often with Mrs. B when she’s not out on ministry, and play in the backyard.  I’m never without a ball.  I have about a dozen of all colors.  I love to lay in the snow in the backyard even when it’s really cold.  They keep calling me in before I’m ready – they think I’m going to freeze or something:

As you can see, I’m in really good shape and still have my handsome coat.  But I can’t walk as far as I used to.  Mr. and Mrs. B are saying that they might buy a wagon to pull me in for the longer hikes for when I get too tired and just lay down in the middle of the walk.  The Doc said today that I’m at 65 lbs, just a couple pounds under my adopted weight.  Mr. and Mrs. B feed us Fromms Game Bird grain free food.  Really yummy and really good for us dogs.  Mr. B will grill a steak or hamburgers every now and then and we’ll have leftover niblets for a few days.  My eyes are great too as one other treat that Cleo and I like are carrots!

Mrs. B keeps us very well groomed, trimmed and brushed.  We go over to Chuck & Don’s up here in Elk River for our nail trims, as well as to get our bags of food and treats. Mr. and Mrs. B think that I must have been a nurturer of puppies back in my puppy mill days. I guess it’s because I’m very gentle with stuffies, especially my favorite teddie that I carefully watch over:

We’ve had lots of adventures and travels during these last couple of years.  One thing I should say is that wherever we go, Mr. and Mrs. B keep us hooked up in our Easy Walk harnesses.  I guess they don’t want to lose us!  We enjoy our walks at the local trails and over by Lake Orono.  By the lake, there is a doggie park.  Fenced in as it is, Mrs. B unhooks me and Cleo and we both take off running.  After we run a bit, we all go sit by the lake:  

We saw everybody at Goldzilla 2013.  There I am with Cleo.  I’m the one who knows to leave his eyes open when a picture is being taken, unlike my sister: 

Another thing we like to do as a family is to day-trip picnic up on Wahkon or Isle Bay on Mille Lacs lake.  I do get my feet wet in the water but haven’t been coaxed in to the opportunity to swim yet – not that I’d take that opportunity anyway:

We took a couple of long road trips last year to northern Minnesota and northern Wisconsin.  The first one was over the fourth of July to Rainy Lake, up by International Falls.  Mr. B built a carpeted doggie step to help me and Cleo get in and out of the truck:

We do feel like the “crew” in the crew cab:

We’re such good travelers with the B’s and tend to nod off to sleep under “cruise control”.

At Rainy Lake, I sure got used to the cabin life, I knew enough to hang out by the grill:

Mr. and Mrs. B said we were going to see Smokey Bear when we went to the park named after him, but as you can see, Cleo looked one way and I looked the other, but we never saw him:

While up at Rainy Lake we walked Voyager National Park trails that I’m sure no one has ever been on it, well except maybe for those who cleared it and put the gravel down:

Well, I’d best go for now.  But just so you know, when the people at RAGOM rescued me and Cleo from our former puppy mill life and fostered us to show us what it was like to live a different life, it allowed us to become what we were meant to be, pets.

I hope for all golden’s what we have.  We’ve been adopted in a home with people who love us.  A home that is every day peaceful, secure, restful and allows us to be what golden retrievers are – natural family dogs! We have ample couch cuddle time and we all sleep on the family bed together!

Thank you RAGOM and keep it up!!

Love, Rico Micah B.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Don't you just love happy endings? So does Rico.

Rico went to his forever home yesterday where he will be loved and spoiled for the rest of his life. He will have his very own mom and dad eager to give him anything and everything that he needs, wants and deserves. They will even give him a sweet new sister in the near future.

When we arrived at Rico's new home, his mom and dad had this banner hanging on the front porch...

Apparently Rico can read because it took him only seconds to hop up to the porch and walk through the front door and right into his new mom's arms.

Right before I left I bent down, took Rico's smushy face in my hands and whispered to him, "you're home, sweet boy", and kissed him on the head. He looked right back at me and his eyes said, "I know". He didn't move even an inch as I got up and walked away.

Congratulations to Rico and the "B" family!

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Hello everyone, thanks so much for visiting my page...since you're here, did you see the heart with wings? Debra S. decorated my page and I must say, it sure looks pretty - THANK YOU Debra S.!

I am doing GReat in foster care and I'm really excited to find my forever family! I just KNOW they are out there, somewhere. I've been a REALLY easy boy to foster - at least that's what I'm told by foster mom and foster dad. I am 100% housebroken, I have free roam for up to 5 hours but I'm also just fine hanging out in my crate for up to 7 hours. Since becoming a RAGOM boy, I've lost 8 pounds! Take a look at me now...I'm getting a waist!

I still have about 5 - 7 more pounds to go but I will surely lose them fast because I love to run and spring is here!

Just a reminder of what I'll need in my forever home:

  • No children under 10 (unless they are extremely calm and mellow;-))
  • Another dog in the house - I love ALL dogs! I got to meet a Corgi named Harley today and I was a perfect gentleman.

That's it! I initially required a fence but I love my humans so much, there's no reason for me to run so I do not need a fence!

If you're not doing anything this Saturday, you should come out to the RAGOM event at Petco in Coon Rapids between 1 - 3pm...I'll be there along with some other RAGOM guys and gals, also looking for their forever homes.

Until next time, here's a GReat big smile to brighten your day!

Ciao,
Rico

Sunday, March 17, 2013

EASIEST. FOSTER. EVER!!!

Yes, I'm referring to the one and only Mr. Rico. He's been in foster care for 3 weeks now and boy did we luck out with this gem! Most puppy mill dogs come into RAGOM with deep emotional and even physical wounds. The emotional wounds are hard to remedy as these dogs have never had positive human contact and it takes a long time for them to trust us two-leggers. This is NOT the case for Rico. Here are some more GReat qualities that Rico exhibits:

  • Velcro dog extraordinaire! I mentioned this in his initial bio but this quality has unleashed, two-fold! Even if the resident dogs are napping in other areas of the house, Rico will accompany you to the bathroom, to the laundry room, to the kitchen, etc., loneliness is not an option if Rico is your pal.
  • 100% housebroken! He had one loose stool accident the third night he was here...we suspect it may have had something to do with the round worm medication he was on.
  • Crate? Sure! No crate? Sure! Although Rico has free roam 90% of the time, he has no problem just hanging out in his crate. If we're both gone for more then 3 hours, Rico gets crated. We're pretty sure he'd be just fine but we'll work him slowly into 100% free roam.
  • He is VERY cooperative with ear cleaning, nail clipping, brushing...pretty much anything you want to do, he's happy to oblige.
  • He has GReat recall and knows his name is Rico...might be due to the fact that we say his name numerous times a day, especially while we're giving him ear scratches and belly rubs...two of his favorite things.
  • We can take ANYTHING away from him. A treat, a high-value chew, a toy, a ball (his all time favorite) - anything!
  • He walks well on a flat leash. Not GReat but he's still learning all the new sounds of city life.
  • Rico is very trusting. I think the biggest accomplishment we've made with him is that we've earned his trust. The sky is the limit when a puppy mill doggie trusts you.

Now for the medical update:

  • "The surgery" was a GReat success! He is healing nicely from his neuter AND his teeth (3 teeth) extractions!
  • No more worms!
  • All vaccinations are up to date!
  • His cyst is healing beautifully! (He came to us with a golf-ball size cyst between his shoulder blades - last week, it ruptured and drained...no more lump and a beautiful scab is protecting the aperture)
  • He has lost 4 pounds! He first weighed in at 74 pounds and is down to 70. He is eating well but we think his lack of exercise (and possible poor nutrition) in his former life was the cause of weight gain. He only has 8 - 10 more pounds to go!

I could go on and on about this young senior (he just turned 9 in January) but maybe the pictures will give you an idea of how much he is enjoying this new GOLDEN life!




If you are interested in Rico and would like to meet him, please contact your placement adviser!