Gardens For Goldens

Nature Finds A Way

Given that our Memorial Garden was under water just a week ago, I was surprised and amazed to find it beginning to bud and bloom.

It seems impossible that the bulbs, plants and trees survived submersion for so long and still pushed forward to beckon spring.

Mother Nature is nothing if not persistent. She has her limits, mind you, but a plant’s purpose is to go forth and produce the leaves from which it feeds and seeds it sows to ensure its future.

“The greatest oak was once a little nut who held its ground.” ~ Author Unknown

Nature finds a way.

It’s an important reminder. When obstacles block our path and threaten what we believe to be right, fair, and true to our purpose – like nature – we need to adapt until we find our way beyond the barrier.

It means taking collective and personal responsibility, even when the going is tough.

It means standing up for what is right.

Life is full of impediments and hurdles – persistence and personal responsibility are the tools required to clear them.

“You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself.” ~ Jim Rohn

We can find a way.

Wordless Wednesday: Going Home Day

The little girl renamed Moose, the Doodle, Clifford – after the Big Red Dog. 🙂

The Welcome Mat

When our Jackson picked Yogi out for adoption last fall, I sometimes thought our Bella had been reincarnated in him.

The way he cuddles, paws you for pets, refuses to be ignored, hogs the bed, and enjoys gardening with me were wonderfully familiar. But he was definitely his own dog and a bit of a project one at that. On our first few walks, I wondered what I had gotten myself into when he reacted very negatively to select dogs passing by. I’m not kidding. Four paws came off the ground with ferocious barking. It wasn’t aggression. It was insecurity. When he wasn’t doing that – he was hugging my leg for dear life.

Bella was not great with other dogs. As long as we kept our distance, she was OK, but bringing a dog into the house was too much for her. Which meant that fostering – of all but little puppies – was out of the question.

I began working with Yogi immediately. Working on positive association (“look Yogi, nice dog!” / sit / treat) and gradually introducing him to friendly neighbor dogs. When friends came by with dogs unannounced and marched into the house to tail-wagging welcomes, I knew we had made progress. When Rush stayed with us, and Yogi welcomed him so warmly, I knew the progress was good.

Last Sunday night, when concerns at the Oroville Dam about an hour away forced the evacuation of surrounding communities, we made a decision to move the rescue’s friendliest dogs to foster and prepared to evacuate the rest if the call came. So, when my husband and I loaded two five-month-old puppies and two 11-year old Goldens into the car, I admit to saying a little prayer that Yogi would be a good boy. And what a good boy he was.

I knew the puppies would not be a concern; he loved them instantly.

While Jackson just rolled his eyes and moved to the back room, Yogi wanted to jump into their little area and start the play!

Then my husband unloaded Felix and Max, one at a time. Jackson had met them before. In fact, I thought they would be candidates for adoption when we lost Bella. But Jackson was the odd boy out in that threesome, and he selected our young hellion instead. We did introductions on leash in the front yard with Jackson present. Neutral territory. Tails were up, butts were sniffed, and then everyone moved into the house with excitement, but ease.

I kept the big boys separated at first. But after a day, they all decided: enough of that.

And for the rest of the time that Felix and Max stayed with us, everyone was together. Have you ever tried to sleep with four snoring dogs?

Meanwhile, the puppies needed exhausting: Yogi to the rescue!

I’m so proud of this boy. Somewhere along the way, my insecure wildebeest became the kind of dog that would roll out the welcome mat to a dog in need.

We have another big storm bearing down on us and our water-logged levees.
Our emergency plan is tested and ready.
And my houseful of boys has been a lot of work – but an absolute delight.

Puppy Truths

These are the irrefutable truths of puppies in the rainy season.
1. Mud and poo are indistinguishable.

2. The dirtier the puppy, the more aerodynamic.

3. Clean is fleeting.

4. Towels are not for bathing; they are for playing.

5. Puppy adorableness always trumps puppy stinkiness

6. Pockets are for picking.

7. Resistance is futile.

8. And saying goodbye is so very hard to do.

Happy life, Cici! See you at the Reunion Picnic in May!

And Toto Too

We prune to encourage new growth in the spring. It’s an art and a science. And while roses are pretty resilient, you still take great care because, sometimes, you can go too far.

In December, odd couple Cody and Rusty arrived. We nicknamed Rusty, Toto, for his resemblance to Dorothy’s little friend.

Rusty is 7; Cody 10.

Cody portrait graciously loaned by Rob Kessel

Surrendered when the wife developed allergies, they were inseparable. It was easy to know. On the rare occasion that they were briefly apart, Rusty let out blood-curdling screams that sent all of us running to investigate.

We work very hard to keep bonded pairs together. Like our mud-covered friends, Toby and Noel who went home together this weekend.

Still, the odds of finding one home for this mismatched pair were slim – to none? When a family fell in love with little Rusty, we reluctantly gave our OK, knowing that it would dramatically improve Cody’s odds. As it did. He was adopted very shortly after.

But then Rusty came back. He was miserable without his buddy and screeching for him incessantly. When a call was placed to Cody’s new family to inquire – might they, would they, could they be interested in adopting Rusty, too? – the response was “actually, we’re not sure Cody is such a great fit, either. Maybe they should be together.”

Cody was returned Saturday morning – rejoined with his beloved Rusty to squeals of joy. We had pruned too far.

Nature knows what is needed. You just have to use care and have faith. Which is why, not a half hour after Cody was returned, a wonderful couple arrived in search of a pair; a Golden, and a lap dog. What are the odds? They said ‘yes’ to Cody…and Toto, too!

While their new family grew larger, our roses grew smaller.

Six gardeners with clippers and one relentless man with a wheelbarrow managed to prune over 100 roses in the Memorial Garden.

And just in the nick of time. The Daffodils, Hyacinth, Narcissus and Rosemary signal: spring is near.

But Cody and Rusty could have told you that. Their new season has already arrived. Happy lives, you two!

Wordless Wednesday: Squish Buddy

Fighting for Light

Hope is what fuels our ability to achieve the unachievable.

Light is where we blossom once more.

Kindness is what transforms even the most broken.

Darkness leads to isolation, fear, despair, uncaring, and malevolence.

We choose, each day, in each tiny act, whether to see and act in this life with light or darkness.

That choice shapes who we are and who we become.

It’s time to fight for the light.

Lest we lose ourselves to darkness.

Wordless Wednesday: Playing in the Puddles

A Rescue Tale

This story has been embargoed for what seems like forever. I could not wait to report the full happily ever after.

It began in mid-December, when someone who has long been connected to our rescue saw something out of the corner of his eye as he drove down the road. Instead of continuing on, he stopped. He found two dogs, a German Shepherd and a German Pointer, tied to each other in the mud. The weather had been alternating between rain and freezing. Their only shelter was a dilapidated fruit crate. With only three feet of chain between them – only one dog could raise itself above the muck.

Our rescuer spoke to the owners. They claimed the dogs had been dumped, separately, in the surrounding country and they took them “in.” The story took twists and turns as they spoke, but the bottom line was that they would give them up. That was all he needed to know.

He and his wife set about contacting rescues. Relying on foster care, their inns were full so close to Christmas. They worried about bringing the dogs to a shelter given the Shepherd’s age. Given their breeds, they didn’t automatically think of Homeward Bound, but when our president got wind of it, she said “we’ll take them.” They were quickly transported to safety.

The Shepherd, Sadie, had a microchip; the owner on record did not return our call.

Gage had no identification. Our vet put Sadie at 13, and Gage at 6. We had been told that Gage had been joined with Sadie about a year ago.

The dogs had bonded through adversity despite the difference in their ages. Still, their needs were very different. Once freed, Sadie worked hard at keeping up with Gage who ran like the wind. At 13, a leisurely walk was more her speed.

Whenever we can, we keep bonded pairs together. But in this case, we felt that potential adopters would be looking for two very different kinds of dogs and that could significantly reduce their chances. On Christmas Eve, Sadie went home with former adopters who had been searching for a special, older dog to pair with their senior Golden. They fell instantly in love with her.

Gage was temporarily lost without her. I had taken him for a walk while Sadie was being adopted. To watch him search for her when we returned was heartbreaking. But he got extra loving and lots of play time from our volunteers who discovered that – after expending his energy – this adorable boy wanted nothing more than to climb in your lap and cuddle. Gage’s rescuers visiting with him:

We also learned that Gage didn’t have a single hunting instinct in him, which is probably why he was dumped. He walked right by bunnies and kitties, and the sound of gunfire from nearby hunters sent him running for safety.

Over New Year’s, one of our volunteers brought her neighbors out to meet Gage. This special family was already involved with Pointer rescue, and were the adoptive parents of two beautiful (human) girls. They had recently lost one of their Pointers. While they weren’t sure if they were ready, they found Gage’s story compelling.

Hiding in the adjacent yard so he wouldn’t see me, I watched and listened, hopeful, as Gage chased the girls around the Park. The family had a vacation planned and could not take him immediately. We crossed our paws, and they returned last week with their dog, Toby, for an introduction. Toby is a big Pointer mix without a care in the world. His boundless energy put Gage a little on guard. We sent them home for a trial week to make sure all would be well. And after a few days of figuring each other out – it was.

Gage was officially adopted this week. He and Toby are now playmates, and sleeping mates – in the bed, of course!

What a life Sadie and Gage will have now – because someone stopped and asked instead of driving by. It’s a small thing that can turn anyone into a rescuer and give a gift that makes a world of difference in the life of a dog – and quite possibly, yours, too.

Wordless Wednesday: The Pickings are Fine

Stir Crazy

“The sun did not shine.
It was too wet to play.
So we sat in the house.
All that cold, cold, wet day.”
~ Dr. Seuss

After almost a week of rain, we’re all a little bit stir crazy. So when the clouds broke a bit and the sun shone for oh so short a time, heels kicked up –