23-002 Dexter , age 7 years, had been a loved family member since he was 7 weeks old, so this surrender was a difficult one. The owner was movingout of the country for school and was going to be out of the US longer than any friend or relative was willing to keep the dog . At 100 pounds,  Dexter  was not much overweight, just a BIG Golden! He had some habits that  weren’t particularly desirable – reportedly he liked to chew on shoes and socks, and he would bark if someone rang the doorbell, if he heard a loud noise outside (car door slamming, motorcycle, voices) or when he saw another dog or a stranger. He would also rip up soft toys, so we were cautioned that he should only be given hard balls and bones. In January 2023 after he was in  AGR’s  hands, he had the bordetella and leptospirosis vaccines done, as well as tests for valley fever and heartworm, both of which were negative. When he had the follow-up vaccines in February, the vet noticed a wart-like growth, which bled easily, near his ear. So at finalization, we issued an addendum for the growth to be removed if it remained an issue within the next three months.  Dexter  was placed with an adoptive family in Anthem . They said: 

Dexter  is a perfect fit for our family! From Day 1, he and our  9-year-old dog,  JoJo , got along well;  Dexter’s  presence has ‘cured’  Jo’s  nervousness- especially when the humans leave the house. We used to have to kennel  JoJo  when we left because she would have accidents in the house and was even destructive, chewing on the door frame, etc . But now that she has her big buddy,  Dexter , we often return home to the two of them just lounging about...they don’t even greet us at the door!  Dexter  is the per fect mix of ‘calm and quiet’ and ‘fun and energetic’! He enjoys his daily morning walk with  Jo  to earn his breakfast (he REALLY enjoys food!) and playing short stints of fetch with the tennis ball. He moves fast for his large 90# frame! He lets us know when he’s done playing – usually after 5-6 throws – by lying down with the ball under his chin! He does have an occasional stubborn streak, but they are luckily few and far between.  Dex  doesn’t like storms or even strong, noisy wind and needs a little extra love and reassurance during those times. Those (rare) events are the only time  Dexter  will jump onto the bed to snuggle up close for a feeling of security. All and all,  Dexter  is an immensely loved member of our family - we feel blessed and lucky to have him in our lives!