Find out how your donation makes a difference for one of our rescued Golden Retrievers!

2010 RAGOM Calendars are sold out!

Thank you to everyone who supported RAGOM by purchasing one! Look for 2011 calendars next fall.

Littilin is a sweet young man who just loves his toys, especially balls, and is a world champion toy destuffer! He knows how to sit, lay down and shake, and walks nicely on a leash.
In his past life, Littilin was known to climb chain link fences, so he really needs a fence to keep him safe and a family that is committed to obedience training, to work on his recall so that he doesn't follow his nose into trouble
Littilin would do best with another dog who loves to play and wrestle, and would be a great running buddy. He loves dogs, cats and kids and this diamond in the rough just needs a little polish to really shine!

Check me out!

You're invited to the Girl Scout's Dog Wash for RAGOM on Saturday, February 13^th at the Centennial Fire Department/Station in Lino Lakes, MN.

For more details, please visit our Calendar which is a great place to find information on all of RAGOM's upcoming events. Check out the event flyer for information on how to reserve a bath time and other activities taking place during the event. And — to see which foster dogs will be there, check our available dogs pages throughout the week.

So, bring your family and furkids for a fun day of activities for the whole family! We hope to see you there!

Heart Healthy and Fit for Life

February is American Heart Health month, which means this is the perfect time to talk about why it is important to keep your pet active and heart healthy throughout its life. Here are some great tips:

Go for daily walks! Exercising for at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week helps dogs and humans keep their hearts and bodies healthy! Regular exercise helps keep pets slim and trim, which is very important when talking about heart health. Carrying around extra pounds means your dog's body (and heart!) has to work much harder to do normal activities. If your dog is overweight, please talk to your vet and together decide on a plan of action to help your dog lose weight and get healthy!

You are what you eat...the same is true for dogs! Dogs need food that provides them with good nutrients that will make their bodies strong and healthy. Choosing a high quality dog food can mean the same as a human going from an all candy diet, to a diet consisting of meat, vegetables and other nutritious foods. A good diet will provide your dog's body with nutrients, and help keep them at the perfect weight!

Regular vet check ups are a must! Most dogs go to the vet at least once a year and get a check up at that time. But as we all know, dogs age more quickly than humans, seven times more quickly in fact! So if your dog only gets a wellness exam from their vet once a year, it's the equivalent of a human only going to the doctor once every seven years! Your veterinarian is a crucial component in your fight against canine heart disease. Regular exams will help your vet monitor your dog's health, and early detection could mean a longer life for your furry companion.

RAGOM needs YOU.

We are all about rescuing and rehoming Goldens but we need YOU to help us! RAGOM rehomed hundreds of Golden Retrievers in 2009 and now, with 2010 starting off busy as ever, there has never been a better time to adopt your special friend.

Currently, we have more than 60 beautiful dogs awaiting their forever homes and more coming in almost every day. But, they can't find that special family without meeting YOU. And, they can't meet you if you don't apply. Won't you please consider filling out an application and becoming the next proud owner of a special Golden from RAGOM. The dogs need YOU now!

Arrooo! Happy New Year!

RAGOM, courtesy of Spokesperson...err..dog...Shane, also has a top 10 list of resolutions just for you!

10. Get off the couch and go for a walk with your Golden, every single day.

9. Research different dog foods and determine if there is a healthier alternative from your current brand for your Golden. A good diet with high-quality ingredients can stave off obesity and related illnesses (hmm, sounds familiar, doesn’t it?) and will keep their coats shiny, their joints limber and a smile on their faces!

8. Learn new tricks! Why not check out a new dog-related activity like agility, freestyle or obedience? It will strengthen the bond between you and your Golden friend. There are several obedience, agility and other dog-related activities in the upper Midwest.

7. Spend time grooming your dog every day. Goldens are a high-shedding breed and just 10 minutes of brushing helps reduce hair tumbleweeds—and strengthens the bond between you and your friend. And learn how to brush your Golden’s teeth. Good dental hygiene is important to their overall health. You can also give your Golden raw bones (never cooked—they splinter and can cause intestinal problems) and watch them enjoy gnawing on nature’s best toothbrush!

6. Talk to your friends, neighbors, coworkers and family members about RAGOM. Spread the word! Share our Web site. RAGOM rescued more than 500 Goldens in 2009. Every person that knows about RAGOM and shares our story helps increase the number of new forever homes available to our rescued dogs.

5. Continue to use Good Search as your online search tool. Every hit on the search engine brings donations to RAGOM. Also, continue to use Good Shop for your online purchases and online coupons. Every purchase you make, donations come back to RAGOM. And great offers abound by retailers!
Did you know that you can look to see how much money has been donated to RAGOM from your searches and purchases? Check this out! I’d love to watch that number go up.

4. Be an advocate for rescued animals. Encourage those around you to consider adopting a shelter or rescued animal before buying a new pet from a store, breeder or online. Encourage those around you to spay and neuter their pets to help prevent unwanted litters.

3. Visit us at RAGOM events! Check out the RAGOM calendar and come see us! Meet our wonderful volunteers and pet some gorgeous dogs. We love seeing you, even if you’re not in a position to adopt.

2. Give of your time, talent and resources. Volunteer! with RAGOM. We have many volunteer positions available, from taking phone calls to fostering to transport to behind-the-scenes jobs. We need people like you, full of energy, creativity and time! If you don’t have the time or talent, donate your resources—become a sponsor to one of our many dogs!

1. Adopt! one of our many beautiful available Goldens! RAGOM has some beautiful distinguished seniors who will make themselves right at home. Or adopt one of our many other dogs who would love to call you their forever home.