Thumper's Web Page
November 10, 2003
Hello, my name is Thumper......I am a Golden Retriever who was rescued by a good samaritan. I was 10 years old when a nice woman found me by the side of the road in eastern Tennessee. She took me home and tried to find my owner but no luck. The nice lady couldn't keep me so she contacted Heartland Golden Retriever rescue and they brought me into their Adoptables program. I am blind and partially deaf but that doesn't matter at all in my new home!! They have another blind dog just like me!! (except I think he's a Jack Russell - whatever that is!!)
Heartland GRR is located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. However, they have volunteers all over the place. They called my new mom, who lives all the way out in Washington state, to see if she might consider letting me come live with her. See, she already has five other dogs and one of them is blind too. They knew that she would know how to train and handle a blind dog like me! (Besides, I hear she is a sucker for us "old" guys!!). Anyhow, pretty soon, I was on a big airplane headed west! It was quite a trip. I got to take a plane from Nashville to Atlanta and then all the way from Atlanta to Portland, OR. Everyone along the way was very nice to me, especially Lore and Nannette from Heartland. They helped me get to the airport to catch the plane.
Here I am in my new home! So far, the place is ok!! They have great chow here and lots of treats! We have a nice big grassy backyard and plenty of places to curl up for a nap. In fact, here is a picture of me with the other blind dog on my first night at my new home. His name is Sammy and he was trying to hog the blanket that night!
Well, I think this place is going to work out pretty well!! I am learning to go up and down the steps and in and out of the dog door. The other dogs are treating me pretty good too! However, they move so fast that I can't keep up with them! Mom gives me lots of hugs and tells me how special I am. We are going to see a doggie opthamalogist (eye doctor) next week in case there is anything that she can do to help me see! I hear she is very nice and has lots of treats with Cheez Whiz on them!
I better sign off now, but if you would like to see some of the other dogs where I live, you can access their web page by clicking on the link below!
Updated pictures of Thumper:
Thumper has been with us a year now and is doing fabulously. I have included some updated pictures of him to include his "Christmas Photo" from Christmas 2003.
Here's a pix of Thumper and Sammy Snuggled up together in October 2003
Update on
Thumper Christmas 2006: Well, Thumper has been with us over three years
now!! That makes him 13 years old and he is doing great! He still
loves to go to the farm and sniffs around for the barn cats - his mortal
enemy!! While he can't see them, he can smell them and it gives him great
pleasure when he is tracking them down!! His other favorite hobby is meal
time. Here is a picture of him lying by the pantry saying, "Won't
someboy take pity on me and feed me?" Of course, this picture was
taken right after everyone had just been feed!!
Update: May 2007 – Well very, very sadly, Thumper left us quickly on May 4, 2007. The most likely reason was a rupture of an unknown hemangiasarcoma in his abdomen. I was so sad because one day he was wagging his tail and being his sweet, happy self and the next day he was gone. I can only assume that God had some very important work for Thumper to do in heaven and needed him back there quickly. I love you my Thumper – you were a truly wonderful, special gentleman.
To visit the Heartland Golden Retreiver Rescue webpage, click on
Heartland Golden Retriever Rescue
If you have any comments or suggestions about my web page, please email me at RVinson307@aol.com
http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/old/184/index.html