Dogs | Gardens For Goldens

Look Up

May 17, 2020 by Ogee

My preference for a packed garden has led to some thuggery. I spent the day cutting back prized but overgrown California fuschias, cerinthe major (honeywort), and even California poppies to allow the verbascum, sea holly, and blazing star see the light of day. It’s a happy garden that grows so vigorously that it needs to be edited in May! Sometimes, gardeners get tunnel vision; all we see are the weeds and work. The same with rescue; the sad stories and […]

Categories: Dog Fostering, Dog Rescue, Dogs, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Pets, Puppies, Rescue • Tags: Dog Fostering, dog rescue, Foster puppies, gardening, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Look Up

Just Set Him Loose

April 12, 2020 by Ogee

Just set him loose. That’s what a local shelter told a woman who was trying to surrender a stray, six-month puppy after failing to find tags, a microchip, or its home after posting for over a week. In the time of COVID-19, if a dog is dangerous, obviously sick, or injured, the shelter will accept – and euthanize it. If it is healthy and safe, and the person is unable to keep it, they (unbelievably) advise setting it loose. In […]

Categories: Dog Rescue, Dogs, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Puppies, Rescue • Tags: dog rescue, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Shelters COVID-19

Perspective

April 5, 2020 by Ogee

A carrier pigeon arrived in the garden in late February. It spent the better part of the day just watching. It was not carrying a written message on its banded leg, but perhaps it foretold what was about to unfold. The ducks and geese mock us now. Public use areas have been closed due to COVID during the remainder of hunting season. The birds have found plenty of places to feast and fly – unmolested. We envy their togetherness. The […]

Categories: Dog Fostering, Dog Rescue, Dogs, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Humanity, Nature • Tags: COVID VIrus, Solitude

In My Dream

March 15, 2020 by Ogee

In my dream, I hear the sounds of thunder. Growling, gnarling, teeth gnashing in a battle to ensure each has their own. Looting and hoarding. Sounds of terror and squeals of alarm. Intimidation and threats. Bodies slammed to the ground. Awakened. The sounds continue; the smell is unbearable. Is this our end? No. It is puppies at play! Ferocious cubs. Testing out their tiny voices and might on the early path to doghood. Four Great Pyrenees puppies to be exact. […]

Categories: Dog Rescue, Dogs, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Puppies, Rescue • Tags: Adele Litter, dog rescue, Foster puppies, Great Pyrenees puppies, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue

Getting Our Feet Under Us

March 8, 2020 by Ogee

Mother Nature has been taunting us. Sending daytime temps soaring, then blowing in a light freeze. To boot – a bone-dry, record-breaking February. Not a drop of rain. As I undertake the annual editing of Asters, I’m glad that I moved summer-blooming perennials in the fall. Apparently, there is an old gardener saying that this helps them get their feet under them. Someone else needed some help getting her feet under her. Her name is Babe. And she stole my […]

Categories: Dog Rescue, Dogs, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Rescue • Tags: China Dogs, Dog Meat Farm, Dog Meat Market, dog rescue

My Little Man

February 16, 2020 by Ogee

He is my sugar-faced little man. It seems like just yesterday, he was my little boy. Serious and uncomfortable with the camera, it all melts away for Daddy. Our Bella picked him out as a puppy and raised him right. They were inseparable. There has never been a human or animal he did not befriend. In his grief at her passing, he chose a wild child named Yogi. He does his best to keep our hooligan in line. No matter […]

Categories: Dog Rescue, Dogs, golden retriever rescue, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, My Pups • Tags: Golden Retriever, Jackson, Senior Dogs

Spring Will Come: Red-y or Not

January 26, 2020 by Ogee

I am trying desperately to keep up with the advancing spring…in January! Crocuses, hyacinth, narcissus…even ceanothus and mid-season tulips are pressing up. We only had two days of mild frost this “winter.” The roses were still blooming when we did our annual pruning. There is no stopping the youthful march of spring now – either in the garden or in the dogs’ Senior Yard. Affectionately referred to as Sugar Shack Acres, this is where dogs that are unable or unlikely […]

Categories: Dog Rescue, Dogs, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Homeward Bound Memorial Garden • Tags: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Homeward Bound Memorial Garden, hydrocephalus in dogs, Sanctuary Dogs, Senior Dogs, Spring blooms

Camp Yogi: Temporary Closure

September 15, 2019 by Ogee

This is Yogi taking a forced break from puppy fostering. It has been nonstop since the beginning of July. GiGi’s litter: Garrett, Gabe, Griffin and Gracie. Beau Dude and Conway. Before them, Rose, Ty, and Nutmeg, Anna, Sara, Lily, and Noah. Fourteen puppies in eight months. No wonder Yogi is exhausted! He’s such a great sport and expert puppy raiser, entertaining them, teaching them boundaries, watching over them, and generally allowing them to torture him. It’s that later part that […]

Categories: Dog Fostering, Dog Rescue, Dogs, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Puppies, Rescue • Tags: dog rescue, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Puppy Fostering, Yogi

Holding On To The Things You Love

May 19, 2019 by Ogee

Somewhere between work, volunteering, and changes to how WordPress manages the Reader and sharing, I ran out of blogging steam. Or maybe just words. Fresh inspiration abounds, but not everyone wants to read the stories I might share. The self-imposed push for happy stories feels less authentic and gradually, probably less relevant to readers, as well. Blogs are time-consuming beasts, and when you feel like no one is listening, it is easy to become discouraged. Along the way, I also […]

Categories: Dog Rescue, Dogs, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue • Tags: Blogging inspiration, Dog Loss, Dog Photography