Pet rescue group hoping for a golden match

Bubba is friendly, but he has sad eyes.

Maybe it's because he still has a cast on his right front leg. Or perhaps his eyes are saying, "Please take me home."

Bubba was with two other golden retrievers Saturday at Petco in North Aurora as part of a meet and greet sponsored by Golden Retriever Rescue of Northern Illinois. The event is held to raise funds and awareness with the goal of helping dogs like Bubba.

"He has seen six dogs come and go while he's been with us," said Jeff Bryant of Batavia. "He was rescued in New Orleans and brought to Illinois. We think that his mother had him after Katrina hit. We're still looking for a permanent home for him. His cast comes off Monday and he's good to go."

Bryant and his wife, Becky, are volunteers with the rescue organization, called "As Good as Gold."

They have provided a foster home for Bubba the last year and nursed him through two surgeries to correct a bone growth defect that resulted in his paws turning outward.

The Bryants are also caring for Max, a 4-year-old who eagerly greeted each new person who stopped to pet him Saturday.

"His owner took him to the humane society downtown, took him off the leash, and walked out the door," Bryant said.

Volunteers like the Byrants seek to turn the sad stories of dogs like Max and Bubba into happy endings.

It was a happy ending for Finley, a 13-month-old female who stopped to say hello with Tim and Wendy Hill of Oswego, who adopted her from "As Good as Gold" in October.

"We had to have our ten-year-old golden retriever put to sleep in mid-September and the house was empty," said Wendy.

"Finley is amazing," Tim said. "Her behavior and temperament are great. They did a wonderful job in pairing us up. We wanted a female about a year or two old. When they found Finley, they called us and said 'we have a dog who may fit your lifestyle.'"

"As Good as Gold" provides rescue, care and adoption of abandoned, mistreated or unwanted golden retrievers.

For information, call (630) 588-0115 or visit www.asgoodasgold.org.