Dog Rescue – Page 13 – Gardens For Goldens

Roots and Wings

Roots are more than an anchor to keep a plant in place. They provide a lifeline – pulling in all that the plant needs to grow from the soil –

sending it up through the leaves so the plant can reach for the sky.

A plant’s seeds are its wings – transporting it to new places.

Good soil provides the underpinning that nurtures the growth and flight.

At Homeward Bound, we give our dogs roots and wings, as well. For dogs that need extra help, we try to lay a strong foundation of trust, training, and understanding to make the best match possible.

For some, this takes no time at all (Gracie girl!).

Those with greater needs might be with us for weeks, months – and in rare cases – years (Red, feral dog).

This groundwork gives them wings, enabling them to fly away – a sometimes bittersweet joy.

But the roots we provide are permanent – an invisible lifeline. In a perfect world, a “forever home” means just that. But the world is not perfect, and unforeseen things happen. If for any reason, and at any point in the dog’s life, it can no longer stay in its home – the dog returns to us.

Winter came back not long after she went home: she decided she liked her new sibling, but not sharing. While all the dogs are tested and spend time with their potential dog mates, sometimes casual play in a neutral space is one thing but sharing a home is another. This weekend, she was matched, instead, to a human who needs but one canine love.

Finnean was home much longer. He’s a special needs boy who arrived emaciated and with a sparse coat.

He found love and success in quiet, calm, and watchful care.

When his dad became ill and could no longer look after him, Finnean came back to us, looking like a different dog. It is in cases like this when that lifetime commitment provides much-needed comfort to both the dog and the adopter. And thanks to the foundation laid by his dad, we know exactly what Finnean needs to fly home again.

Roots and wings. How we find our way to “home.”

Double Dog Dare You

Some said we could never tame this once-wild acre of thistle and weeds into a garden.

Apparently, we like a challenge.

Some things are their own reward.

But when the gauntlet is thrown down, and the impossible is achieved – victory is that much more gratifying.

So it was this week with some of our “Going Homes.” Jet (now Jasper) had a file as thick as an encyclopedia. He had been bounced around like a ping-pong ball for his one failing: he leaked. And not pee!

They said it was impossible, but our Doc proved otherwise. He’ll be on a strict diet for the rest of his life, but treats are easy to forgo when you exchange them for love and a forever home. Saturday, his foster mom joined our “Failed Foster Club” and made it official.

Myra celebrated Mother’s Day by adopting her own human “mom” (and dad!).

She is one of our dogs rescued from the South Korea dog meat market (I wrote about it here). What a journey they have had. Rescued by the Humane Society International, and brought to us by their partner in the effort, the San Francisco SPCA, she was part of a group of four with emotional and behavioral needs so extreme that they needed lots of TLC to be adoptable. This was Myra shortly after her arrival.

So fearful were they, that they were transported directly from crate to kennel when they first arrived. Sunday, Myra – now Kono – departed with her new humans,

just as Tag (now Max) did a couple weeks ago.

And – if you can keep a secret for a day – Roger, too. He went home as foster-to-adopt…adopt being the operative word!

That leaves only Lena, who still needs a little more support.

But she has found a confidence-building playmate in Cooper who is helping her come out of her shell.

And this week, we received two new puppies (my little man, Beau, packed his bags and headed for home). Both have Megaesophagus – or expansion of the esophagus. In their case, likely hereditary.

Dogs with Megaesophagus will suddenly start regurgitating undigested food soon after eating. As they lose weight, they are at risk. So I will hope that, once again, we can do the impossible.

“The difference between the difficult and the impossible is that the impossible takes a little longer time.” ~Lady Aberdeen

I double dog dare you to tell us we can’t.

Puppyhood: Nature vs. Nuture

“Whatcha in for, little man?”
“Being a puppy,” says Beau.

It’s a familiar story: people purchase a puppy expecting the adult characteristics of a dog in the canine version of a human toddler – only with super sharp teeth and without diapers!

Too many dogs are relinquished to shelters because someone took home an adorable furball that grew and grew into a holy terror. Beau is lucky. His humans recognized early on that this was too much for them. And while it is no doubt a very difficult decision to surrender him to us, they did him a great service my doing it sooner rather than later. At only three months of age, Beau is still impressionable, but the timing of our work with him is critical.

In a garden, two identical plants – even side by side – can grow at dissimilar rates and bloom differently. Is it nature? Or nurture? Maybe a little of both.

The soil may be slightly different; surrounding plants may throw just a touch more shade or shelter creating a tiny micro-climate. Or an unruly tree root may be creating competition for one’s growth.

Why do some puppies thrive, and others turn “terrible?” Between three and seven weeks, puppies learn the difference between canine and human ways. The critical human socialization period is between seven and 12 weeks of age. It overlaps with a “fear impact age” somewhere between eight and 12 weeks where negative interactions can lead to permanent associations. Positive human socialization and avoidance of fear-inducing experiences can shape an adult dog’s temperament and behaviors for life.

So there are certain facts about a dog’s nature and development, but they can be very much influenced by proper nurturing.

Beau is quick with his teeth. He jumps up. He has all the traits of a Lab: energetic, busy, chewing, and expressive when he does not get his way.

It can be off-putting to someone who is not used to the ways of puppies whose energy has to be expended before the cuddle bug can come out.

We found the perfect way to expend Beau’s energy: her name is Daphne. She is hanging out with us until she is old enough to have cataract surgery to restore her sight.

And lest you think that Beau has one up on our sightless little girl…

think again!

Daphne is schooling Beau in dog manners –

While we work on his people ones.

There is a cuddle bug in there.

Just as the bloom is in that plant.
You just have to put in a little extra effort and wait for it.

Wordless Wednesday: Love at First Hug

What’s Blossoming

What’s blossoming in the garden? Everything!

A brief and rare April shower brought cooler temperatures and blossoms everywhere.

My wayward gardeners returned, but only one of them to work! Ina tried to hide behind the towering roses,

but she was found and made to toil and tame her rowdy beds.

Maria stopped by – but only for a scheduled playdate between Yule and Scrappy.

Socialization time is (almost) as important for Yule as weeding.

Socialization was the plan for Desta and Cooper as well.

Desta and Cooper are the under-sized Goldens that I wrote about recently. Desta was captured stray, malnourished, and frightened. Cooper was unsocialized and terrified of his own shadow. They have been nursed back to physical health, and found emotional comfort in each other’s company.

But expanding their world is what is needed to get them home, so off to puppy school they went!

They kept their distance from the wildest of the bunch,

But gradually inched forward to meet other dogs and humans.

In the safety of puppy class, they can learn about dog body language,

And people kindness.

Flowers aren’t the only things blossoming this weekend at Homeward Bound.

Wait for her

Some people would ask: “Who takes a 16-year-old dog home knowing that heartbreak is just around the corner?”

Anna asks: “Who would not want to share the best year of a 16-year-old dog’s life?”

Here’s to Anna. For loving Royce.

Farewell, sweet boy. Wait for her at the bridge.

Happiness on Parade

Spring flowers – unfolding one by one – produce little pings of joy, but there is nothing like the thrill of the roses’ first bloom.

Rain showers, followed by brief blast of summer heat, set off a parade of color and scent over the course of a few days.

Magnificent against a still bright green landscape, our old friends returned looking fresh and rejuvenated.

The bare roots that were removed and gifted last spring from a Napa Valley home, survived their dusty, thirsty road to us and are finally flaunting their stuff in a glorious display.

But the parade of roses was only the first act this weekend.

“Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature.” ~ Gerard de Nerval

The dogs that arrived by the van loads over the past few weeks have blossomed as well. And this weekend, quite a few of them marched out in a parade of happy tears!

Sunny and Shadow were a package deal that found a ready-made family!

Carma had good Karma, and found a wonderful new mom.

Charlie Valentine will finish his heartworm treatment under the watchful care of his new humans. Home is where he will find the quiet and rest he needs for many days of wild play ahead!

Both Ruby and Dixie were looking for active, adventuresome families. Perfect fits!

And the last of our two precious puppies got adopted – on the same day! Let there be no puppy left behind!

Now that’s a parade of happiness that rivals even first bloom!

Wordless Wednesday: Pooped Puppies

Desta’s Week

A lot can happen here in a week. The roses can come into bloom,

Bees can find heaven in lavender again,

Grape leaves sprout from dormant canes,

And dogwoods –

and dogs – can blossom.

Desta was a stray found gorging on cat food left outdoors. A Good Samaritan captured and brought the clearly emaciated “puppy” to Homeward Bound’s vet. The “puppy” turned out to be a one-year-old, growth-stunted Golden who had clearly had an encounter with something unfriendly – most likely of the moving vehicle type.

Her skull is concave in spots as a result, and her limbs were pencil thin when found. Her tummy was engorged – the result of eating all that cat food. The tasty treats can wreak havoc on even a healthy dog. Desta required immediate care.

There’s no way to know how long she was out there on her own, but it had to be a while. Our Doc fixed her up and called us. She arrived last weekend, weak and terrified.

We bathed her and began loving on her, but had to carry her to the garden. She was too terrified to walk on a leash.

We put her within eyeshot of Cooper, an 11-month old that had been surrendered to a shelter for exhibiting some of the fears you usually see in feral dogs. He too could be a runner.

As it turns out, they were each others’ best medicine.

Alone, they were frightened little pups that would probably bolt at the first opportunity. Together, they could be brave.

We let them play together in the sunshine until they both collapse from exhaustion.

Part of that play includes socializing them to humans and just look at the progress in just a few days!

A lot can happen in a week.

What the Easter Bunny Delivered

These little guys and girls – surrendered on Easter weekend – have kept us hopping! They don’t look much like Golden Retrievers, do they? Thankfully, they were raised well and will be ready to go after a trip to the vet. Anxious families await!

Surrendering, For Love

“I feel like a grief counselor,” she said. ‘She’ is our rescue President, Jody, speaking to me about handling surrenders.

As I explained in a previous blog, surrender was the part of our effort I abhorred. I was judgmental toward the people and sad for the dogs they left behind. I came to understand that things happen beyond our control and that a second chapter is often in the dog’s best interest, long-term. But my concern was for the dog, and – except in rare circumstances – not really for the human.

Sophie’s surrender changed that for me.

“Hello. I was just wondering if you had a golden female named Sophie there as of yesterday??? We are her family and had to give her up for adoption a few days ago.”

I manage social media for the rescue – increasingly, this is how people communicate with us. She went on to explain that she was in the middle of a difficult divorce. With five children, life was changing dramatically along with their home. Sophie would no longer have a yard, much less her beloved pool. “I felt it was in Sophie’s best interest that we gave her a chance to find a loving family that would give her what we could not at this time. Our family is seriously hurting, and we miss her so much. All I am asking is if we could be notified when she finds her new family so we can be more at ease. Thank you so much.”

Over the next couple of weeks, we communicated often. I reassured her that Sophie had arrived safely, that she had seen our vet, and that our team was taking great care of her.

Sophie was a model visitor. She adapted quickly, was absolutely no trouble, and had clearly been raised well. But she always had a searching look in her eyes. I did not share that part. Sophie waited, patiently.

“Are you able to let me know when she is adopted so we can be more at peace? As you can see, we have had her since she was born, so it’s very hard for us right now,” she wrote, attaching photos of Sophie as a puppy. “A loving family, that’s all I want.”

As I suspected, our president hand-picked Sophie’s new family. One with kids, security, stability, lots of love – and a pool. The new family was beyond generous, sending photos and an update for me to relay to Sophie’s original family. They shared her enthusiasm for swimming with all the kids, and a special relationship that was blossoming for both: “My daughter and Sophie have really bonded and snuggled all day Monday and slept together on the floor. She is settling in great.”

“So happy to hear,” her first mom wrote back. “Homeward Bound was a great idea. I am glad I made the right decision.”

You can approach rescue from anger or pity, but neither contributes meaningfully to creating change. Action, empathy, and education matter. When Jody speaks to someone who is surrendering their dog with a sincere heart, she absorbs their grief and guilt and lets them know that – someday – they will be in a position to make a life-changing difference for another dog. She’s been at this long enough to see them return and do exactly that.

Certainly, there are clueless people you wish you could prevent from ever having another animal. But most are simply in a difficult and unplanned circumstance. That they have sought out a rescue instead of dumping a dog at a shelter, should be commended, not scorned.

I don’t think that dogs forget – but they can move on. Sophie lost her searching look. She found a perfect friend to help her begin a new life chapter. And a family found peace with their difficult decision.

Rescue changes us. Consider me a grief counselor – in training.

From Korea, To Love

Last week, our rescue, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, received a call from the San Francisco SPCA asking if we could support a very special needs boy. Talgi was one of a group of 64 dogs rescued by the Humane Society International from a South Korean dog meat “farm” in February, 2016. There have been a series of these rescues. The Humane Society contracts with the farmer to shut them down and transition them to a more humane livelihood. Sadly, their work has only begun.

When we said we would happily accept Talgi and explained our facility, they asked if we could take another…and another…and another. We, of course, said ‘yes’ to all four.

I wrote this story for our rescue. Since many involved with our effort have seen it, I will simply provide a link to it below and invite you to read it. Nothing graphic is shared, but I will say that it makes me very proud to be able to play the tiniest role.

Those on the front lines are credited in the story. And there is a devoted team here at Homeward Bound responsible for helping them complete their journey.

Before you read, watch this video of Roger – the pup – and Tag, the one year old. When you view the first photos in the story, you will be amazed at how far he has come in just a few short days.

Here is the link to the full story: From Korea, To Love

And before I close, a special thank you to my friend, Alys at Gardening Nirvana for her lovely note…

And her generous gift for the pups of Homeward Bound through our Amazon Wish List!

Thank you, Alys! And thanks to all involved in this thing we call rescue.