Atticus
Atticus has been adopted. Click here for pictures.
"Atticus said to Jem one day, 'I'd rather you shoot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you'll go after birds. Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mocking bird.'
That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it.
'Your father's right,' she said. 'Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up peoples gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.'"

From the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee


Want a dog that smiles and brings you smiles?

 Atticus was scheduled to be put down by Naples Animal Services because he was heartworm positive and considered unadoptable. Fortunately a volunteer there recognized that he was worth saving so she bought him some time. Because of a lot of hard work by a number of people Atticus was able to make it out. He came so close to being euthanised and that is the SHAME of it all. Why should we as a society have to even consider putting down such a nice animal?



 Atticus was treated for heartworms on 7/18/01. He was given all his shots and micro-chipped also. He won't be neutered until he goes for his second treatment in a month.Our vet puts Atticus's age at about 1 year. He weighs 75 lbs (he probably weighed 80 before we removed all the ticks on him). Atticus is your typical 1 year old Golden Retriever, full of energy. He will definitely have to go to a home with a SIX foot fence. This guy can jump 4 feet from a stand! From what we have observed so far he seems to be house broke and he has a temperament to die for. Very sweet. He does well in a crate, which is a good thing since he has to be confined to one for the next two weeks because of the heartworm treatment. Atticus won't be ready for adoption until about the first of September. If I were you I would get my application in now. He's a really great guy and good looking to boot! For an application click HERE.



Atticus...cat friendly!

 Too bad my cat isn't a little more "dog friendly" in this photo. Clancy is
always batting and hissing at Atticus. She finds it great fun! Clancy is a smart
girl and has figured out that "ol" Atticus is harmless and therefore, "fair game"!
What is really cool is that when Clancy is done showing her 'superiority" she will
rub herself all over Atticus. He loves it!


 I'll post some better pictures of Atticus soon (the shaved spot is where the heartworm medication was given) and let you know more about him as we
have more time to evaluate him. We've only had him a short time and he's proving to be
a real "trooper".I'd like to thank Janet, our Naples volunteer, for pulling Atticus and transporting him to us. Cyndi of Tropical Dawg Rescue for being so insistent that someone save this guy. GRRMF for taking him in and paying all his medical bills. And all of the people who have already sent money to help finance Atticus's vet bills. Speaking of which, yup, here it comes, folks we are running out of funds. Last month we spent WAY MORE than we took in on vet and boarding fees. A good example of this is Atticus. If I had to pay my vet "retail" this is what it would cost to treat him. Heartworm treatment: $300, neuter: $120, annual vaccinations and tests $90, micro-chip $65, fee to Naples Animal Services $35. Grand total: $610! WOW! We will only ask for a $200 donation from whomever adopts Atticus.As you can see it doesn't take long to get in the "red". HELP! If you can't foster maybe you could help out by sponsoring one of our great dogs. Any donation, no matter how small, helps. To make a donation and help save a life click HERE. Thank you.


You can write to Atticus at
atticus@goldenrescue.net


Return to GRRMF

A Note From Me
 Just because Atticus was scheduled to be put down by Naples Animal Services does not mean they are a bad organization. On the contrary, without their cooperation Aticcus would surely be dead now. GRRMF has a good working relationship with a number of 'Animal Controls" and Humane Societies across the state. Unfortunately these people have to make some very hard decisions every day. A very real lack of funds and lack of space dictate who lives and who dies. So sad. I encourage all of you to get involved! Save a life. Whether it be for GRRMF, your local County agency, or your local Humane Society.

John


Sam and Lindsey say:
"please help others like Atticus"
"geez, how does he jump that high"?