Hi, all watchers. It has been some time since our last update, as Foster Mom had a few dogs, along with all work this year, and with age creeping up, it doesn't help either.

Rusty is his same old self except for the weakness in his back legs. He now doesn't play with other dogs, as he ends up going down if he tries turning. It does not stop him from playing with toys in the house on the rug, and I have included a couple of pictures. Sometimes he will play with his toy for almost 10 minutes non-stop, shaking it and resting and shaking it some more. It not only makes him happy, but I have to chuckle at his play too and the antics that go along with it. I also included one of Halloween with other foster next to our scarecrow witch.

Rusty is still very treat- and food-oriented, and gets along with the present foster dog that Foster Mom is working with and helping to train. He can still go upstairs at night to his bed and stays close to me. He still very much enjoys car rides, but since he is starting to lose his vision, he will now growl at people that come up to the open window, so I have to be careful with him. He is fine with people if he is outside of the car. I think it may be the tinted windows, and with blurred eyesight, he can't make out who they are when they look inside. Rusty does not jump into the vehicle anymore, but does put his feet up and gets a boost in to go along. He still jumps out on his own so far.

Rusty likes to eat snow when we have any. It's almost gone in the yard as of today. He eats it and then he gets the shivers afterward, but still wants to eat his snow and of course rolls in it too.

The breathing problem he had earlier in the year has diminished somewhat, unless he gets really excited, which is good.

Happy Holidays to all of Rusty's friends and supporters who keep watching.

Rusty has been enjoying the cooler weather. He is so glad for the pool and the company of another new foster, Ignatius. Rusty loves to chew on ice cubes in hot weather to cool off.

Rusty cooling off after getting wet in the pool in hot weather

Ignatius may soon be leaving already as has a potential adopter. Rusty and Ignatius look a lot alike, except Ignatius is only 6 years old and at least 20 pounds heavier.

Rusty and Ignatius

Rusty still enjoys car rides whenever I go anyplace. He has weakness in his back legs, but can still set a pretty good pace on his walks. Rusty has not had any setbacks for a while and seems to be doing really well. He does get a little more snippy once in a while with other dogs, as he is getting older, and they just stay away.

I know Rusty is waiting for tomatoes to get ripe and waits to see if I bring any out of the garden. He took it on himself one day to try to get one, but he came out with a yellow squash instead, and after a bite, just left it. Yesterday, he got his first tomato, and he will be waiting to get more. Next, it will apples as they get ripe. He sure loves his veggies and fruit.

Thanks to all that watch and help support Rusty while he is in hospice.

Hi, all. Rusty has been doing well and at times, he is even a little frisky with the cold weather. He still is sometimes weak in his back legs and has some swelling in his lymph nodes, but if he goes down or gets stuck in the snow, he pauses a bit and then gets up and keeps going, just like the Energizer bunny. I am including some pictures of this still handsome senior for all to see. He loves to go for rides and will even put his feet up to get in before you're ready to give a boost into the vehicle. One of the pictures shows how he looked in that cold wind, just like he was saying, "Brrrr!" Some days after coming in from the cold, he will be energized and get a toy and just swing it around or back and forth while spinning around in the living room. He is such a happy dog and so grateful for all RAGOM has done for him.

He also wants to thank Laura and Mike Kreun for the gift on his behalf at the end of January. I guess you have to keep watching, as Rusty is a dog that just won't give up and he loves receiving all the help from his watchers, too.

Rusty would like to thank Jim for his monthly sponsorship.

Rusty sat by the stove last night waiting for the new batch of peanut butter dog biscuits to come out of the oven and get a sample. Of course, he had to wait until they cooled to get one. Attached is a picture of a nice shake to get his treats and for everyone watching his progress. Rusty will go on Thursday to the dog sitter in Annandale so his foster mom can visit the grandchildren. He will be returning back to Olivia on Saturday if weather permits travel.

From Goldzilla 2015:

"Best wishes." -Anonymous

"From RAGOM boy, Murphy." -Clarence B

"Welcome to the Golden Life." -Kathy and Hailie W

"Hugs from Sandie." -Karin S

  Have a wonderful Easter! Love CJ

 Happy Spring to the Golden Seniors from Anonymous

 Big Kiss to the Golden Seniors----Anonymous

 From Laura K

 Merry Christmas from Santa to the Golden Seniors!

 From: Your Boxer Friend, Chance

To all the RAGOM fans out there…

Goldzilla is almost here, September 14th, and we just want to let you know about something very special happening the day of the event. There will be a large board (near the baseball backstop) with all the pictures of available dogs. You can help by purchasing a foster paw print sticker at the merchandising tent in increments of $10, $25, $50, and $100. Once purchased, you will place the paw print sticker next to the picture of the dog you’d like to support. You will also have the opportunity to write that particular dog a note, which will be posted the dog’s page after the event. This is a great way to show support for RAGOM and a particular dog that may be pulling at your heartstrings. Please consider stopping by the merchandise tent to purchase a Foster Fan Board paw print while at Goldzilla.

Rusty misses Callie, his playmate, as she was adopted. He now has another male dog to learn to play with, as I have another foster by the name of Diver 14-220. He is larger than Rusty and doesn't play a lot yet with other dogs. I am enclosing a picture of Diver for you to see. He loves to go in the water, just like Rusty. Rusty is still doing really well and enjoying the outdoors.

Rusty had another 6-week check on his lymph nodes and they are fine again. He is doing so well and is enjoying life and food. Rusty wants everyone to know he is very grateful for those that sponsor him to keep him happy during his remission for lymphoma. He may be sponsored or given gifts by contacting RAGOM.

He played in the snow this last winter and was so dirty he needed a bath. My snow was covered with dirt from early strong winds and it just stuck to him. He doesn't mind having showers, so it's okay once in a while to roll in things, and I have included a picture to show how dirty both dogs got from rolling in it.

He also gets to visit and play with other dogs and have included a picture of them. He prefers playing with the older dogs and will growl at young one and move away.

Rusty is very smart and will go to get Callie to bring her inside if she is afraid. He is such a great teacher and this can be attributed from his previous family, before having to be surrendered to RAGOM due to unforeseen circumstances. They gave Rusty lots of love and a great home. They still keep in touch to see how he is doing and read his updates too.

Rusty also had his heartworm test done and Frontline put on for tick season is here!

Rusty is enjoying his new role as a teacher for Callie 13-440. He is teaching her how to play with toys and to wrestle. I am including pictures. He taught her how to eat snow outside too. He is teaching her people are okay and she now wants more attention from her foster without laying down all the time.

Rusty is still very energetic, and will take commands to go back and bring Callie into the house if she wants to stay out and play too long. Rusty listens very well when I need help with Callie, when she hides in her kennel upstairs because she is frightened. He will go up and bring her down for me.

Keep watching for updates, or if you would like to sponsor Rusty, contact RAGOM.

Rusty had a very good Christmas. He not only had presents, but his past family Ryan and Rebecca came to visit with Rusty. They also brought presents and he was so happy to see them, and he may get to see them again during the New Year. I also enjoyed meeting them for the first time and learning new things about Rusty, like he can take a treat off his nose. I am glad they have relatives in Redwood Falls and can see Rusty occasionally.

Before the holiday, I contacted Sarah F, his oncologist, at the U of M and found out Rusty has passed his 6-month period since his chemo and would be best to have his lymph nodes checked every 4-6 weeks now. Dogs with lymphoma don't usually shows signs of being sick and it can come back at any time.

Rusty wanted to share a couple pictures of his treat and new toy Ducky in the background. He loves toys that squeak and always wants the new ones.

Anyone who would like to help out with expenses for Rusty can contact RAGOM with a donation. Rusty wants to thank all that are following his life after treatment for lymphoma.

Here is picture I promised of Rusty with one of his toys from his birthday. It was really hard to get a picture as Rusty likes to swing it back and forth really fast when playing with it.

I also want to let you know that I received his vet records finally and going through them, it said that treatment for lymphoma he went through in May only lasted a year from starting treatment, and that was in October of last year. He did start a new treatment after the October one, as the first one did not put him in remission. They also sent Rusty's current rabies tag, so that has been updated also.

Rusty had his vet visit last week. Checkup and lab results were all in the normal range and no sign of swollen lymph nodes.

I am currently working on a coat for Rusty as he gets chilled when going outside and hope to have a picture in future for all to see.

Rusty got to visit with Cosmos, his friend at my sister's home, over Thanksgiving. He enjoyed being around people beside me all the time. Rusty was ready to leave for home for a rest after the Thanksgiving fun.

If you would like to sponsor Rusty or give donations on his behalf, please contact RAGOM.