Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue – Page 15

A Letter To Shasta

Dear Shasta,
This is not the post I hoped to write about you. Please don’t be sad or embarrassed that you are back so soon. And if those other dogs tease you, you let them know it will cost them cookies!

That it didn’t work out with those nice people is not their fault. And it is not yours. It’s ours. As much as we thought we knew about you – we just didn’t know enough.

You have worked so hard to shed years of your too-young-life being a dog of purpose and not of the heart. You did what you were trained to do; you hunted with astonishing speed and dogged focus. Shasta at work is a sight to behold!

But you never learned to play. And you never knew the ways of a loved dog –

until we showed you. We expected more from you, and for you. Eventually, you leaned in and trusted us.

And just when we thought you had finally met your match…you are back. What we didn’t know is how strong that hunting instinct still was in you. And when you tried, in wild pursuit, to find your way to freedom, they knew they could not keep you safe. We hadn’t seen that in you – or we missed the clues. And we forgot to teach you something else about humans (perhaps you already knew): we make mistakes sometimes.

But there’s one more thing we hope you know, girl: we don’t give up. We will not give up on you, sweet Shasta. We will hunt and seek until we find your perfect match. And until we do, you are safe and loved with us.

“But ne’er the rose without the thorn.” ~ Robert Herrick

Thank you, Rob, for use of your wonderful capture of Shasta running.

It’s All About The Dogs

An Indian Summer drifts begrudgingly into autumn, dragging her last lazy rays behind her.

“Nature bestows her own, richest gifts
And, with lavish hands, she works in shifts.” ~ Gertrude Tooley Buckingham

It’s too hot to garden (much less fly!)…

much better to just enjoy the company of dogs.

I’ve written for years about our rescue – Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and Sanctuary. For those who can’t travel to visit us, I thought you might enjoy a video recently completed and donated by our long-time volunteers Bob Murphy and Carolyn Belz. Regular readers might recognize some of the dogs and their stories. It’s a magical place … because “it’s all about the dogs.”
Click here to view. Enjoy!

Big Paws To Fill

When Michele fell in love with Finn, it was with a still-heavy heart.

She had recently lost her beloved Cooper to cancer. They had trained together through our local Lend A Heart Lend A Hand Animal Assisted Therapy organization. Cooper had a very special role at the Yuba City Library reading with children – so much so that they named a special section after him, “Cooper’s Corner.”

Michele’s hope was that Finn would one day be ready to join her and contribute again to this amazing organization. (Note: today, some of the group was at the Butte Fire here in California, lending comfort to those displaced.) I remember her visiting with this fur ball almost daily until he was ready to go home. (This is Finn nearly sleeping through his puppy assessment.)

Sometimes she would wonder aloud if he had the energy or personality to become a therapy dog.

If last week’s class was any indication, I think that question has been answered.

He just needed to grow into his playful self. And he found the perfect match in Summer! Let the games begin!

Big paws to fill? Finn’s got this.

Circle of Life

In rescue, you become accustomed to seeing – and accepting – the circle of life. Sometimes it is hard, and sometimes it is joyous. This weekend was joyous. Attending training class was Sophie (formerly Daisy) – reunited with two of her pups, Finn and Posey.

You may recall this beautiful girl who was surrendered to us with her four newborn puppies last spring.

She looked exhausted and a little lost then. It’s hard enough to raise puppies, but to do so in a new and strange place following a medical emergency must have been overwhelming. Done with her life of mom duties, she changed her name – and her appearance. She looks relaxed, happy, and very much-loved.

Thanks to Sophie, these adorable little fluff balls…

have grown into the rambunctious and happy teenagers – on their way to becoming canine good citizens.

The Memorial Garden gave us another ‘circle of life’ offering…a delightful surprise. About a month ago, I wrote about the Gulf Fritillary butterflies laying eggs in the passion-flower vine. Two weeks ago, the vine was covered with spiny caterpillars.

Emerging from their chrysalis…

the entire garden has come to life with new Fritillary butterflies,

leaving their home base to fly from flower to flower,

sampling each as if to discover “do I like you?”

They quickly settled on the Sage and Lantana –

while the Buckeye said “leave the Rudbeckia to me!”

“Amidst the worldly comings and goings, observe how endings become beginnings.”
– Laozi (Lao Tzu)

Happy new beginning to Sophie,

and drinks are on the house pretty butterflies!

Wordless Wednesday: Full House

Waiting patiently

Summer said ‘hang on…not so fast.’

Golden light, a few fallen leaves, and sweatshirts in the morning convinced us that the relief of Fall was finally upon us. “Fools,” said Mother Nature.

She has prepared one last (we hope!) hurrah –

a farewell blast of week-long century-plus heat as if to torture us and our exhausted garden.

“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” ~ John Steinbeck

The summer heat and rationed water have left the Memorial Garden looking very different in early September than in season’s past.

Missing are the Dahlias, Coneflowers, and Sunflowers. But the Obedience Plant, Asters, and Goldenrod stilled arrived on schedule.

We soldier on…taking our example from our lioness, Ginger.

At eight years old, this only-dog-child was displaced when a tiny human child came along. She lost her family and at the same time, her hips gave way to severe hip dysplasia. Surrendered to us, she had bilateral FHO hip surgery to restore her mobility and relieve her pain.

It has been a long, difficult summer – and she is ready and anxious for a new season to begin.

With this sweet face and soulful eyes, we’re pretty sure it is just around the corner…

Waiting patiently with our Fall.

Thanks to Rob Kessel for his beautiful Ginger portrait.

Wordless Wednesday: Pre-Season Take Down

Happiness alights

The garden is aflutter with butterflies. The Monarchs…the White Cabbage…and Fiery Skipper…

and the Gulf fritillary or passion butterfly.

Usually these Gulf Frits can be found gorging on the Lantana and verbena…

but this weekend, it’s all about the passion-flower.

This is where they will lay their eggs – because their larva feeds exclusively on the passion-flower vine that covers our arbor.

Before long, there will be spiny caterpillars covering the arbor…the beginning of the transformation from larva to winged beauty.

But more than butterfly transformations are underway here.

Abigale was picked up as a stray on the 4th of July. No one ever claimed her from the shelter, which may have been just as well. Overweight, covered in mats with a brewing infection on her underside, she was likely a neglected outdoor dog.

So frightened was she by her ordeal, we couldn’t even go near her to put on a collar. For her first week, she stayed outside in a covered yard refusing to allow anyone near her.

Gradually, our volunteers made their way to her side, and gradually, she came to trust them. Which is how we learned that she loved balls, and water, and kids, and other dogs. This weekend, Abigale found her way to her forever home…a family that could always be counted on to come looking for her if she ever got lost.

But the most dramatic transformation was in the fortunes of Caitlyn.

Her cauliflower ear and these words in her file: “removed from her home for her own safety” – say it all. She was checked out of the shelter as a boy. But a thorough exam and bath later, we discovered their error. Thus the name Caitlyn.

This malnourished, teddy-bear-faced GIRL had obviously been through a lot. Amazingly, her disposition remained forgiving and loving.

She went home this week as a foster with one of our long-time volunteers.

By all accounts, things are going wonderfully and we are crossing our paws that she will be reclassified soon as a “foster-failure.”

Neither Abigale nor Caitlyn probably ever knew that their new-found happiness was possible.

“Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.” ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

What a joy for us to be a tiny part of it.

“Beautiful and graceful, varied and enchanting, small but approachable, butterflies lead you to the sunny side of life. And everyone deserves a little sunshine.” ~ Jeffrey Glassberg

Happy sunshine, Abigale and Caitlyn.

Thanks to photographer, Rob Kessel for lending some photos of Abigale and Caitlyn.

Fruits of our Labor

First they stole our blueberries…

Then our apricots…

And finally, our feathered friends feasted on the entire grape crop.

Thankfully, they are not fans of apples – which we have in abundance. Patience and attention have paid off, and our little orchard is finally producing. This year’s crop was worth all the effort.

It even produced a surprise on our tiny orange tree: grapefruits!

We had another surprise last weekend – the best kind. I shared with you that Nigel, one of our favorite “Not-A-Golden” pups went home. What I didn’t quite relay is why his day was so special to us.

This guy, who is just three years old now, came to us about nine months ago. Cute little puppies grow into big dogs – and all puppies and young dogs need lots of exercise, training and attention to become their best selves.

Nigel had been crated all day and not allowed in the house. His family realized he deserved better and surrendered him to us. His file read like any young boy’s: “Full of energy, enthusiasm, and athleticism. He craves human attention and affection.”

That excited craving for human attention – coupled with his pure strength – made just getting him out of his kennel a long-sleeved adventure. Once out, we learned that his strength and energy were matched by a genuine desire to please. He was trainable.

We sent him to foster so he could learn the ways of a house dog and he made progress. We learned that his favorite time of day was couch time when he could snuggle with his head in your lap and snore himself to sleep. But his energy had to be matched to a human or family that could help wear him down. We also discovered that being in the company of other dogs providing reassurance. Nigel needed to know that he wasn’t being left again.

Like blossoms on our apple trees in spring, we knew there was great potential.

When an active family with two dogs took him home last weekend, we were delighted.

But this update from our volunteer put us over the moon: “I ran into Nigel and his family on a walk last night. They told me they felt like they hit the lotto with him!”

It took time and a lot of patience for Nigel to find his perfect people. To learn that he is the apple of their eye…well that’s like hitting the lotto for us!

Happy life, boy. You so deserve it!

Nigel photos courtesy of Rob Kessel.

More to Love

Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly, and Peggy’s got to take home a senior tub-o-love.

Peggy – one of the Homeward Bound Memorial Garden volunteers – was out last weekend. She is an excellent gardener, and a long-time member of our rescue family. She also has a well-earned reputation for working miracles with the senior dogs that have either been loved or neglected into obesity.

“All we ever get are the old and fat ones,” says her husband, Steve. (Excuse me?!)

Not exactly correct. Rumor has it that all Peggy picks are the old and ~~fat~~ plump ones. Just more to love.

A week ago, a parade of svelte, fresh arrivals paraded past Peggy as she worked in the garden. Nothing.

Then Mary came waddling through, and from across the adjacent yard where Peggy had moved to prune the roses we heard: “Hey, who’s that?” Peggy has an eye for our butterballs like our dogs have sniffers for cookies! (Did someone say ‘cookies?’)

So guess who returned this weekend to bring Mary home to foster? You guessed it…

with Steve issuing his pretend protests all the while. You can’t take that man seriously…unless you happen to be a tree that needs to be removed. Then watch out!

Mary was one of seven dogs that went home this weekend. Happy life as well to Buffy…

Max and Libby (a twofer!)

Tabby, now Annie – another foster failure we hope!(You rename ’em…you keep ’em!)

Stella…

And our favorite “Not-a-Golden”, Nigel!

Dogs going home…time in the garden…

Makes Monday almost bearable.

Paid in Smiles

My sister, Debra, is involved in rescue of the feline sort. She is part of a group with a well-earned reputation for its effective trap, neuter and release (TNR) program to reduce the feral cat population in her town back East. A much better writer, she blogs about her work with this all-volunteer community effort, and the joy of living and working with animals in general. (Stealing one of her images…I’m pretty sure she’ll forgive me).

Her program had a tough week – the kind where you find the limits of what you can and cannot accomplish or cure.

Every couple of weeks, we put new recruits through a volunteer orientation.

The long-term “stick-around” rate is in the low double digits because they encounter the kind of realities my sister faced this week. Hard work – this rescue stuff. It takes a giant heart that you have to be willing to leave open – while simultaneously protecting, knowing that the work makes an important difference as it did for our Kobe, here.

“Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace.” ~ Victor Hugo

I am in awe of the people who remain committed to difficult efforts despite the emotional risk. When I look at these faces, I am so grateful for the humans who return – week after week – to ours. Meet Mary, 12:

And Libby, also 12:

“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.” ~ Edward Everett Hale

I nearly forgot to update you … sweet Emma, my first surrender intake, went home just two weeks after she arrived. From fear and trepidation…

to happy and excited to begin her new life – you would not recognize her as the same dog.

“Volunteers are paid in six figures…S-M-I-L-E-S.” ~ Gayla LeMaire

Kasey…all 14 years of him. 🙂 Payment made.

Wanted: Dognapper

Height: 5’5”; Eyes: Blue; Distinguishing Marks: Pretty. Bright smile. Infectious laugh. Frequently covered in garden dirt.
Modus operandi: Lurks around rescue office, the temporary home of the sweetest old or rehabbing dogs. Lies in wait. Lures pups to her with baby talk and treats. Snatches them up to add to her growing collection. Known to target any dog liked by our Treasurer.
Criminal Record: Sought in the disappearance of Jenni, Snowy, Ginger and Royce.
Caution: Should be considered armed (with cookies) and dangerous (to office dog lovers).

Meet Anna. The most recent addition to the volunteer gardeners – a front, we’re sure. As a long-time Homeward Bound supporter and well-known dognapper, I suspect she was just looking for a cover.

Before I met Anna, she was already legend for stealing Jenni from president’s office – striking before anyone could even list Jenni as available. You want to be careful not to make off with the president’s favorites too often. By the time I met Anna, she had switched her tactics. In the Fall of 2013, she targeted Summer, a recuperating office dog and a favorite of our treasurer, Judy.

Anna changed her name to Snowy thinking that would mask the evidence, and invited her home with Jenni.

Judy thought Ginger was safe, tucked away in the corner of her office. Not so!

Anna swooped in and stole her right from under her nose less than a year later. Ginger joined Jenni and Snowy and off they went.

Now, she’s done it again. To obscure her true motives, she arrives in the early morning under the guise of gardening. Shortly after her arrival in the garden, Anna sneaks away and quietly prowls the office looking for her next mark.

16-year-old Royce – yet another of Judy’s favorites – did not stand a chance! Having spent his life as a service dog, he is remarkably still full of life and pep. Upon his arrival, Judy quickly nabbed him to be her new office dog. Big mistake. He may not hear or see well, but there’s nothing wrong with his sniffer. With a pocket full of cookies – and clearly, limited loyalty – it didn’t take much for Anna to win him over.

Judy never saw it coming. A couple of weeks ago, Royce went home with Anna, Jenni and Snowy. Ginger is with them in spirit, if not in body.

This weekend, she disguised Royce as a gardening dog – flagrantly parading him under Judy’s nose.

Why is this known dog thief allowed to continue in her misdeeds? Ask any of her spoiled rotten dogs. They’ll vouch for her.

Judy surrenders.