Gardens For Goldens

Foxy’s New Reality

“How do we know that the sky is not green and we are all colour-blind?” ~ Author Unknown

Reality can be deceiving – and when it comes to dogs – changing, especially in response to the environment they are in. When she arrived last February, Foxy’s reality was that of a talker. A persistent, incessant, completely annoying and very loud talker. Correction. Barker. TALK. TALK. TALK. BARK. BARK. BARK!

Foxy had things to say and she was going to make darn sure that you heard them. Between her terrible leash skills and her rattling on, she turned away potential adopters faster than you can yell “quiet!”

Time went on. We worked with her on leash skills. She got better.

We wanted her to relate better to people. Not a problem.

But when it came to matchmaking, our perception of her barking reality probably led us to put others before her. Everyone except Lisa.

As is so often the case, the people who are both feeders and walkers notice things that other do not. They spend the most time with the dogs, and see their reactions in different settings and situations. Lisa noticed the change in Foxy. While other dogs came and went, Foxy had turned into a well-behaved, proper-walking pooch with a much more controlled mouth.

The challenge was to prove it to others. With a house already overflowing with dogs, foster was out of the question. The plan: field trips.

Lisa sprang Foxy for trips to the lake, play dates with other dogs, and even the drive-through where Foxy dined on In-And-Out burgers (extra cheese please!). Lisa shared all of Foxy’s adventures until people started to see a new reality that we had been blind to.

A new story was written; a video produced; social media was launched.

https://vimeo.com/192298072

Her post was shared widely and her YouTube video was viewed nearly 1,000 times. But most importantly, our perception of Foxy changed. Getting her home became everyone’s mission. Thus, when one of our placement team members was interviewing a prospective adopter, our transformed Foxy was top of mind. She shared the video and an immediate and heartfelt connection was made.

Lisa arranged to meet the woman and her two eight-year-old Labs at the lake. They hit it off. Foxy started playing with a toy, chewing on a stick, and mimicking the Labs. “I was amazed. It was like she was remembering how to be a carefree dog again,” Lisa told us.

Last weekend, Foxy’s long wait came to a storybook end.

Her new mom takes the dogs to the lake weekly. In the summer, they travel with her to Tahoe for long hikes and swims in cooler waters. And best of all, Foxy’s new home is just a stone’s throw from Lisa’s.

“Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.” ~ Albert Einstein

Welcome to your new reality, Foxy. Happy life, sweet girl.

Wordless Wednesday: Meeting a New Best Friend

Here Comes Santa Claus

Santa paid his annual visit to the rescue this weekend to hear the wishes of our waiting pups, and to celebrate those who have gone home. It always leads to happy reunions.

Some have grown (other have shrunk!) – but the thing that is most noticeable is the change in their faces. You can see the contentment.

Faith and Sophie (formerly Hope) – our Megaesophagus/CNM pups were there. Look how they have grown!

Max and Felix: orphaned brothers now together forever. Their people could not love them more.

Annie – who was Billie – one of this summer’s twelve Giants litter puppies getting all grown up.

Roger – now Buddy – one of dogs rescued from the Korean meat market now living a charmed life.

and Bilos: blind, beloved, and so full of confidence now. His mom has done an amazing job with him.

Most are easily recognizable, but not this one.

When Mary arrived in July of 2015, she was so obese that she could not walk more than a short distance before stopping.

Those little legs just could not support her giant body.

Lucky for Mary, she was spotted by our gardener, Peggy. I wrote about it here. Peggy had a well-earned reputation for turning butterballs into lean machines.

And she has worked her magic again on Mary who – through a combination of diet and exercise – has dropped more pounds than Santa drops presents!

Maintaining a proper weight can be life-extending for any dog. Just look at her canine sibling Ginger – at an unbelievable 14!

I don’t know what they put in the water in Peggy’s house – but pass the pitcher, please!

Thanks to Santa, our photographer Eric Schuman, and all of the happy elves for squeezing our waiting and adopted furry friends in a busy holiday schedule!

Wordless Wednesday: Blowin’ in the Wind

Della is Home

I hinted at a special story buried in my long list of adoption photos last week. We’re feeling optimistic that our very special “going home” girl will stay home – so I will tell you her story if you promise to say a little prayer that our Della has truly found her forever people.

Della came to us two years ago. She must have belonged to someone, as she was previously spayed. But she was found stray, and no one claimed her from a Valley shelter. Fearful of humans, her chances were not good. Our team pulled her and she was transported to our care.

From the start, Della was distrustful, standoffish, and skittish when approached. We’ll never know if she became fearful as a stray – or became a stray because she had something to fear.

With tail tucked and head bowed, she was submissive but stubborn.

Still, she never struck out. She would just pull away, or lock up her legs and refuse to move until a treat was produced. That girl is no dummy.

She reigned over her coveted Yard 3 which she decided was her safe place. On warm days, her preference was to be there – alone – for as many hours as we would allow. When she thought no one was looking, you could catch glimpses of a different dog in there.

More typically, though, sadness was written all over her face. More than one volunteer made her their special project – including Rob of Rob & Dog, whose pictures are shared here.

She was even adopted. But she was soon returned because she just would not connect.

We don’t give up easily, but we were all becoming resigned to the thought that Della would be with us forever. Until last week.

A couple had come to meet another of our long term residents, wanting to help a dog that was truly in need. That pup turned out to be not a good match. As they waited in the yard for another candidate, Della – returning from her walk, pressed her nose against the fence, and sought their petting. What?! Joining them in the yard, she went to them. Della?? Who was this girl?

In her “going home” photo she did something we very rarely saw: she smiled.

For all of our time, patience, and efforts, it appears that Della was just waiting for her right people. She picked them out herself, and that won their hearts.

Tonight, Della is home. She has a safe corner and crate to seek safety when she wants it,

and the report is that she is adapting – if slowly. So say a little prayer that she continues to keep opening up her heart to the people who opened theirs to her. Because “Della is home” just makes our hearts happy.

Sepcial thanks to Rob Kessel for sharing his photos of Della.

Drinking up the Garden

The garden is overflowing with petals produced by the rain, and the little creatures who feast on them.

Wordless Wednesday: Bear

After the Rain

After the rain…

and before the deluge…

moments of beauty –

the company of dogs,

filthy, muddy play,

and a banner weekend for getting dogs home.

There were absolutely no appointments on the board when I arrived early Saturday morning, and then they came, one by one.

Thankfully, we had a full complement of adoption counselors on hand because – by the end of the day –

eight dogs had found their forever families.

In this mix is a very special story; an unexpected little miracle. Our volunteers will recognize it, but the rest of you will have to wait a bit – just to make sure it sticks. Keep those paws crossed and I will bring it to you soon.

Until then, keep bailing –

And thank the heavens for rain in California.

Wordless Wednesday: Grizzley’s Going Home Day

A Poppy Blooms

Iceland poppies are a cool season favorite – but they are not the only poppies blooming in our garden.

Poppy is a tiny seven-month-old Golden girl. She was the timid but loved dog of a young man who went off to college. Unfortunately, she spent most of her most impressionable first year puppy months outdoors with her two canine siblings. With him gone, and his mother coping with the remaining house full of kids, Poppy had little human time. The mother decided that placing them up for adoption would be in the best long-term interest of the dogs. She turned to Homeward Bound. When Poppy lost her human, and then her two siblings were adopted, Poppy’s fragile world collapsed – and with it, what remained of her confidence.

Terrified of her new surroundings, and separated from her pack, she worried away her calories and hid from humans.

To help win her trust, we gave her frequent play time with other dogs. She was included in our weekly puppy class and even had a play date with my Yogi and Jackson. Jody, our president, thought that Yogi could bring Poppy out of her shell. Instead, he was instantly smitten and chased her all over the yard with dishonorable intentions!

Not to worry; Poppy can hold her own.

And while they arranged a truce, Yogi’s keen interest was clearly not reciprocated.

Thankfully, a newcomer – Max – was a perfect companion. We shamelessly used him as bait to get her to go on walks and interact. The progress was slow.

For several weeks, a woman and her beautiful Bernese Mountain Dog, Trinity, had been visiting in hopes of adopting. Some people come wanting to find a perfect dog. She, on the other hand, wanted a perfect project; someone who needed her as much as she needed them.

I watched as she tried to coax Poppy out on a walk. When Poppy hugged the ground, the woman just sat and waited.

I don’t know what she was whispering, but ten minutes later, Poppy was in her lap. The tail was still tucked – but there is no denying the smile on that face.

With Trinity providing reassurance that that a canine friend was nearby,

Poppy was up and walking. And then, the walk turned into a ride. A ride home.

We can’t wait to see the transformation that is sure to follow. I’m betting that by the time the Iceland Poppies are fading – a brand new Poppy will have bloomed.