Sissy Belle - Charlie/Sasha 2020

Dearest Rhonda and Stephanie (and Todd and all the rest of you wonderful Snitkers)

This is a long overdue report on Sissy Belle (left) and Lily Grace (right) and their handsome big brother Dickens (middle)

We “accidentally” found Snitker Goldens a little more than 4 1/2 years ago after our old blue heeler Sadie crossed the Rainbow Bridge. We still had two Red Golden girls that we had rescued when they were young but my husband had decided he really wanted an English cream golden and he wanted a puppy. We had never “bought” a puppy or used a breeder. We lived in the country and always had extra strays and rescues. Anyway, I started an internet search. There are many breeders out there for English Creams. Some professional and some back yard breeders. Some seemed very good and credible and others not at all. We have homes in Texas and in NC so I tried to focus in those areas for convenience. However, I kept being “drawn” back to a page that compelled me to them. Nothing said they were Christians. Nothing bragged about themselves or touted their accomplishments. But they did tell about their policies and practices. There were photos of the family and the farm and the dogs. Even the dogs were smiling. 🥰 But mostly it was the tug in my heart. Finally, I sent an email. I filled out the application and asked, “Do you happen to have a male puppy available?”  Quickly the answer came back by phone call, we have ONE! I asked the price. Having never purchased a dog or worked without a breeder I told Stephanie I would need to talk to my husband and call her back. I was sure he would say no. He said YES!  The rest is a wonderful happy history!!!  One of our employees asked, did they run out of dogs in Texas????  No. I truly believe that God Himself led us straight to Iowa to Snitker Goldens.

Dickens was our first.

To say he is the best dog ever is an understatement. He is stunningly beautiful. He is one of the most loving and loyal creatures anyone could ever want. He was almost house trained from the moment we picked him up. He has grown into everyone’s best friend including our friends. He took care of our two red girls as they were dying from cancer and loved them to the end.

3 1/2 years later, we added a Carlie/Goose girl to our pack—Lily Grace was absolutely perfect from the day I picked her up. She fit us to a tee. She and Dickens meshed and fell in love. She became best buddies with my close friend’s lab puppy nearly the same age. She’s very sensitive to all of our needs and comes to give love if she thinks we need anything at all. If she thinks we are sick, she runs to help. She’s quiet and gentle and elegant. She’s perfect.

We loved the Charlie factor so much that we begged Rhonda to make an exception and allow us the privilege of having one of her special pairing—Charlie/Sasha.  It was a hard decision for her but we feel so honored that she agreed and we added Sissy Belle in May of this year—2020. She’s only 9 months younger than her half sister Lily Grace so they frolic and play and are quite the pair. She’s bright and intelligent and absolutely gorgeous. She is sweet and loving and coming into her own in such lovely ways. She’s learning come and stay and heel. All of the other basics she had mastered almost immediately. She too is perfect.

I realize this is long but what I hope to convey with is that Snitker Goldens are different. I’ve seen many Goldens everywhere in the world. Of course they’re all lovely and sweet. But there is a real difference in these and I know it for a fact. It’s the imprinting and the daily, almost hourly love and attention these pups are given literally from the moment they are born. I’ve watched videos of Rhonda, exhausted but still sitting on the floor with 12 little pups crawling all over her, massaging each one’s ears and bellies, teaching hem gently and sweetly but firmly at the same time, what is good behavior and what is not. No one else does this. She is truly gifted like no other. Her heart is for raising pure and good dogs that will be gifts from God to the families or individuals who need them forever.

I will always sing the praises of Snitker Goldens.

With So Much Love and Gratitude

Carol Anne (and Billie) Hanks
Sissy Belle, Dickens and Lily Grace