by Rue Chagoll       

If there were such a thing as heaven on earth for Golden 
Retriever lovers, especially RESCUED Golden lovers - 
Goldstock would have to be it.

Imagine:  400-plus wagging Golden tails in one location.
Imagine:  A weekend with your dog in a beautiful mountain 
setting, complete with grassy expanses for tennis-ball-chasing, 
and a crystal clear lake with sandy beach for swimming.
Imagine:  More Golden goodies than your credit card limit
will allow you to buy. More than 400 people dedicated  
to rescue, to befriend and share experiences with.

That's Goldstock. Interested?

But wait, here's the kicker. 

Imagine:  A single event which raises more than $80,000 in 
ONE  weekend... ALL to benefit Golden rescue.  It happens 
every Labor Day weekend, just a couple hours drive from 
central New York. Nestled in the rolling wooded hills of 
northeastern Pennsylvania, just a stoneıs throw from the New 
York border, is a place called Camp Weequahic, a popular 
childrenıs summer camp. 

It's a classy place, where kids are housed in dormitory-like
cabins. Facilities include dining hall, recreation centers,
gymnasium, outdoor playing fields, tennis and basketball 
courts, swimming pool, big lake for swimming and boatingŠyou 
name it and Weequahic has it.

Then for Labor Day weekend, Golden Retrievers and their
owners move in. Goldens live in the cabins, swim at the beach,
play on the fields, and browse the recreation hall 
(transformed into a Golden Goodie mini mall).

The four-day agenda is mind boggling. A mixture of
educational seminars, games & contests, canine demonstrations
& certification tests, and numerous recognition and memorial
events - offer more to do than would seem humanly possible.

Here's what was on tap this year: Doggie Costume Contest,
Karaoke Night, Canine Good Citizen Testing, Therapy Dog
International Testing, Canine Carnival, Behavioral Seminar,
Grooming & Conformation Seminar, Recognition of Senior
Goldens, Parade of Rescued Goldens, Live Auction, Golden
Olympics (with events such as Fastest Swimmer, Best 
Dock-Diver, Fastest Runner, Champion Catcher and Best Sassy 
Walk), Silent Auction, Canine Freestyle Demonstration, Canine 
Search & Rescue Presentation, Field Demonstration, 
Consultations with an Animal Communicator, Memorial Candle 
Ceremony,Meeting with National Rescue Committee, Golden
Merchandise Mall. 

This year, more than 25 Golden rescue organizations from all 
around the United States were represented.

Questel (Tom was heartbroken at having to miss this year due
to his work schedule), Carol Allen, Sallie Lennox, Debbie
Wood, Haley and Rue Chagoll. We all shared space in a single
cabin. Oh yeah, eight Goldens ³bunked in² with us, too. Janice
Brown and Robert Miller visited one day to assist with
merchandise sales, and Sylvia and Lisa Mitchell also 
day-tripped to shop and socialize with their Goldens.

We'll always remember Goldstock 2002 for the financial return
GRRCNY realized. A pair of signed photographs of a search
and rescue Golden at the World Trade Center netted better
than $4,000 in the auction, and merchandise sales and
donations totaled near an additional $2,000 . 

We'll also remember Carol & Sallie's "Joshua" in the Rescue 
Parade - sadly to be his last, and "Ben" Chagoll/Wood in the 
senior recognition. 

On the lighter side we'll not forget having to interrupt 
Debbie and Sallie's late night storytelling and giggling fest, 
and order the pair of them to bed - just like when we were 
kids (except we weren't permitted to sit on the porch 
sipping adult beverages at the camp I went to).

Goldstock is the cooperative effort of a handful of dedicated
volunteers. These golden souls spend much of the intervening
months in preparation - in addition to everyday involvement
in their own local rescues. But events of this magnitude
generally come into being as the vision of an individual, and
Goldstock is no exception. 

It is the heaven-sent miracle for rescue that it is, solely 
because of a benefactress named Gail Lustig who adopted a 
Golden a few years ago and wanted then to give back. Gail happens 
to be a second generation owner of Camp Weequahic. Her gift has 
been to open the camp each year for an entire four-day weekend 
without taking so much as a dime's recompense. She houses, feeds 
and cleans up after a campload of people and Goldens - all to 
benefit rescue. 

Gail is the enabler that resulted this year in $83,680 being 
raised for participating rescues! As if this weren't enough, 
she also announced the creation this year of a new 501(c) 3 
charity to support financially strapped rescues, "The Goldstock 
Fund."

If you have time to make the trip next year, you should.
Consider this your invitation to help with merchandise sales,
and participate in the many educational and entertaining 
events.Contact Carol Allen if you're interested. 

Read more about Goldstock and view dozens of great photos at the 
official web site: Goldstock Online