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Many older Golden Retrievers are turned into rescue each year. These dogs, while often model citizens, can be hard to place. One reason they are hard to place is because potential adoptive families fear that the near future may hold health issues that can be expensive to address. The Uncle Sherman Fund was established to help alleviate this fear by providing a funding source for the veterinary needs of older, rescued Goldens. |
In December of 1991, Anne Livingston and Teri Vigars established GRROWLS-NY (Golden Retriever Rescue Operated With Love-Statewide). They started visiting the local SPCA to let folks know that GRROWLS was available to take any Goldens with which the SPCA needed help. On one of their first visits, they discovered an older male Golden who was a stray picked up January 7, 1992. The SPCA was not yet ready to turn him over to rescue and said they had a man who wanted to adopt this dog who they had named “Handsome”.
After a few more visits, the old guy was still there but was now getting sick. So, the SPCA turned him over to GRROWLS on 1/26/92. He was GRROWLS dog #4 and was immediately taken to their vet. Upon examination, the vet diagnosed kennel cough, whipworms and the “worst case of hookworms he had ever seen”. The poor old guy then had to be left in isolation at the vet’s while he was treated. Then he had to be neutered. The best guess of his age was somewhere between 7 and 9 years.
That year, Anne and Teri had purchased holiday cards from the Guiding Eyes Association. The cover was decorated with a black-and-white drawing of a very handsome Golden. The back of the card stated his name was Sherman. The old guy they had just taken in looked so much like the dog on the card that they named him Sherman.
In April of 1992, Sherman began to limp. X-rays showed he had severe hip dysplasia. Since GRROWLS had no operating budget at all, Anne and Teri adopted him so that they could pay for the surgery he needed. They had two young Goldens at the time, so Sherman became their “Uncle Sherman”.
Eventually, Uncle Sherman was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, cataracts, sebhorrhetic skin disorder, and chronic cystitis. He was sent to the Rainbow Bridge 9/4/04 after a diagnosis of cancer.
Uncle Sherman taught Teri and Anne that older rescued Goldens may not be with their new families long, but they make wonderful companions. Most of their time is spent in just giving love to those that rescue them. However, one of the difficulties for those considering adoption of an older dog is the possibility of unexpected medical expenses like those incurred by Uncle Sherman.
To make it easier for folks to adopt an older Golden and to honor Uncle Sherman, Anne established the Uncle Sherman Fund. It was designated as medical funding help for older Goldens adopted from GRROWLS-NY. For many years, she contributed $1,000 per year to this fund and helped owners, who adopted older Goldens, with their medical expenses. Now, Anne has retired and the fund is expanding.
In December, 2005 Anne Livingston, Teri Vigars and Jennifer Pivovar incorporated The Uncle Sherman Fund, Inc. as a separate 501(c)3 corporation. The mission is still to make it easier for folks to adopt an older Golden and to honor Uncle Sherman. But now the Fund is available to anyone in New York State who adopts an older Golden retriever from ANY recognized rescue or humane society, and is also available to anyone outside NY who has adopted an older Golden from a NY rescue.