Gardens For Goldens

My husband donated his truck and his back to help me cover the garden bed at Homeward Bound with redwood bark, tucking it in for the winter months. This will keep the weeds at bay while my garden buddy, Deb and I work out the plan for spring planting.

The progress is amazing in the Memorial Garden, which is actually looking now like a garden, instead of overgrown weeds and tangles of hoses. Give passionate people a project and they’ll make you proud. Nothing, however, compares to the passion of the volunteers who work with the dogs waiting for adoption each week.

Today I met Bones. Aptly named at this point, but that is changing.  He is as gentle and sweet as can be, but completely deaf – the result of untreated infections in his ears. He is in better hands now, and ready for someone to fall in love with him. Also met a family meeting their potential four-legged addition for the first time. Pictures were flying to Dad who could not be there. Rose, may be more than just ‘golden’, but she is a total sweetie in need of an active family that will devote some love and attention to her training.  I hope she found her home today.

Just a few short weeks after the new volunteer gardeners began there is much progress at the Memorial Gardens of Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and Sanctuary. With a little patience and attention, this…

  has already become this…

 

Just as patience leads to progress in the garden, the same is true of the rescued dogs who find their way to Homeward Bound in search of permanent homes. Today I met Delores, a volunteer working with a beautiful, lab/retriever mix, Jack. He desperately needs to put on weight, and while he is very human friendly, he is learning how to be comfortable with other dogs. Amazingly, she devotes five days a week to his recovery, both physical and emotional. She brings him special meals to supplement his diet, proudly noting his weight gain. And she walks him in, out and through the huge compound running pens, providing an opportunity for gradual exposure to other dogs. Patience, and progress. For our garden, and for Jack.