Gold Ribbon Rescue Adoptables

Tag is a big boned old blonde guy who is as friendly as can be. He comes to us at approximately age 12 from the shelter after no owners claimed him. He was probably a rowdy boy when young. He is thrilled & stunned to be a housedog again. He is housetrained and trustworthy loose in the house. He is great with other dogs but probably a cat chaser. His is quite friendly & happy.

From: Margo Biba

Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2005 4:33 PM

Subject: GRR #02-05 Tag Biba, sad news

We have sad news today...this morning we found our old boy, Tag age 15 1/2, weak & unable to stand. The pancreatic & stomach cancer, diagnosed last July, finally caught up with him. We put Tag to sleep & now our big blondie is up in Heaven, romping with all his pals.

We rescued Tag in January of 2002, a stray from Town Lake Animal Center in Austin. He was in rotten shape -- filthy & full of fleas & matts & intestinal parasites. He was crippled with Elbow Dysplasia & had low thyroid & lots of skin & alllergy issues. We absolutely suspect that Tag was always an outdoor dog that without much attention or training...a clueless fellow who was stunned & thrilled to finally be a housedog with a family.

Tag had a bull-in-a-china-shop personality. He knocked other dogs over, rammed into things, blasted through doorways and generally muscled his way through life. When thunderstorms cracked, Tag flung his gigantic front paws onto my chest, knocking the wind out of me as I slept. Tennis balls were his passion -- retrieving 3 or 4 times until his elbows stopped him -- carrying balls in his mouth -- taking them to bed with him -- even taking one along today when he died.

Tag loved car rides & was always game to ride anywhere...promptly falling asleep as soon as the Explorer was in motion. ;-) Toward the end of his life, Tag's personality softened. He played tug of war with puppies 1/8 of his weight, pretending that they were stronger than him. He was considerate of fragile old foster dogs like Ginger & Abby. He licked my hand this morning at the vet's, after I poured him a bowl of fresh water.

When Tag's cancer was diagnosed in July, Gary was the optimist who didn't give up on his old pal. Instead of a few weeks more of life, Gary predicted that Tag would live at least until September...and then October...and then longer. Gary held the vision of Tag as survivor, and Tag believed it. He lived a good life these last 3 years, and he learned & grew emotionally...Tag Victorious.