You can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but there’s no reason you can’t give one a loving home.
For the past seven years, Peter and Susan LaBatt, residents of Oxford Village since 1972, have opened their home and hearts to Golden Retrievers, young and old, sick and healthy.
‘Of all the things I do, this, to me, is the most rewarding,? Susan said. ‘They make you feel so loved and they’ve got so much love to give.?
In October 2000, the couple began adopting and fostering dogs through Golden Retriever Rescue of Michigan (GRRoM), an all-volunteer organization dedicated to finding suitable adoptive homes for unwanted or homeless Golden Retrievers.
Since 1991, GRRoM has rescued more than 2,400 Goldens from area shelters, humane societies and owners who give up their dogs for a variety of reasons. The group provides shelter, food, companionship and medical care to all the dogs it rescues.
It was Peter who first developed a fondness for Goldens back in fall 1998 when he and his wife were still teaching at Birmingham Groves High School.
‘It all started with a dog named Kelsey,? Susan said.
Susan, then a drama teacher, was putting on a production of the ‘The Miracle Worker,? a play about Helen Keller’s life, and she needed a dog for the performance.
A fellow faculty member volunteered the services of a Golden by the name of Kelsey, who loved the stage.
Peter, a biology teacher at the time, helped his wife by driving Kelsey to and from rehearsals, and playing ball with the dog in between. Along the way, the two ‘bonded? and Peter ‘fell in love? with Goldens.
When the couple retired from teaching in June 2000 after 34 In years, the faculty all chipped in and gave Peter enough money to buy his own Golden Retriever.
Not liking what they saw from breeders, the LaBatts settled on adopting a nine-month-old rescue they named Kibo after the Kibo Peak on Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa, where Peter spent two years in his youth.
‘He was golden like the sun coming over the peak,? Peter said.
Soon after adopting Kibo, the LaBatts began fostering Goldens. First, there was six-year-old Luke, a ‘big red, barrel-chested male,? who found an adoptive home in Dearborn.
‘It was very hard even though I knew he was going to a great home,? Susan said. ‘When they leave the door and they don’t even look back at you, you know you made such a good match.?
Next, came Corey, who was 12 years old and lived with the LaBatts until passing away just shy of her 15th birthday.
‘We were really happy with her,? Susan said. ‘With seniors, people don’t know how much longer they have, so they’re kind of not adoptable.
Nina was the last Golden the LaBatts fostered. She passed away very quickly from cancer.
Currently, the couple has two Goldens, Belle and Barkley, both of which call 3 Crawford Street their permanent home.
‘They adopted us,? Susan said.
‘Of all the dogs we’ve had these two are the most compatible together,? Peter said. ‘It’s like they’ve always been together.
Belle, who’s about nine years old, came to live with the LaBatts in July 2006, three days before Kibo was killed by a car.
‘She has taught me love and that it’s okay that things come and go in our lives,? Susan said. ‘She is the greatest puppy. She’s a squirrel hunter.?
Belle, who’s well-behaved, gentle and loves attention, spent her life as a brood dog. ‘We think she had her last puppies and they just turned her in,? Susan said.
The LaBatts got Barkley, who’s about seven-years-old, from a Detroit shelter in October 2006. He was found tied to a veterinarian’s door with a note reading, ‘I can’t take care of my dog anymore. Please take care of him.?
When they first brought him home, Barkley was a skinny 73 pounds. Now, he weighs about 105 pounds. ‘He started to eat and he hasn’t stopped,? Susan said.
Despite his large size, Barkley is a ‘snuggle-bug? and has ‘perfect manners? with one notable exception.
‘If you leave food on that counter, he inhales it,? Susan said. ‘He’s very talented that way.?
In some ways, the dogs behave like an old married couple. Susan said Belle tends to be a ‘little bossy? at times, which is just fine with Barkley.
‘She directs traffic and he obeys,? Peter said.
Belle and Barkley also get along with the LaBatts? three cats, all of which are rescues.
‘The cats let them know it’s their house,? Susan said.
The LaBatts are hoping their story will spark an interest in others to rescue Golden Retrievers.
‘There are so many dogs out there right now,? Peter said.
‘We need people to adopt and we need people to foster,? Susan said.
Both the dogs and people who wish to adopt or foster them are carefully screened by GRRoM.
‘By the time you get a dog, it’s been spayed (or) neutered, had all the shots, all that stuff is done,? Susan said.
Each dog gets interviewed by three or four different people in order to determine if the dog has any problems or fears.
Prospective foster or adoptive parents are also thoroughly interviewed to make sure each dog gets the best home possible.
‘The rescue is really strict about who the dogs go to,? Susan said. ‘Not everybody can foster because they check people out very carefully. They really try hard to match them up with the right people.?
Whether someone wishes to foster or adopt, the LaBatts said either way, it’s definitely worth it.
‘They’re great companions,? Peter said. ‘They’re the second most popular breed in the United States.?
‘You’re doing something for a living creature,? Susan said. ‘I just find it very rewarding and I think other people would too.?
For more information about Golden Retriever Rescue of Michigan call (248) 988-0154 or visit their website www.grrom.com.