Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue – Page 19

Wordless Wednesday: Special Bond

A little rain must fall

“Dark clouds become heaven’s flowers when kissed by light.” ~ Rabindranath Tagore

We were blessed to wake to rain early Saturday morning.

We are grateful for every drop during this long drought. Rain meant a day of dogs instead of gardening. Time with the pups; another blessing.

Sunday, then, brought twice the load of garden chores; fall is such a busy time in the garden – second only to spring. The day also began with a beautiful fog blanketing all of Homeward Bound including our Memorial Garden.

The soft light captured the fall colors and turned them into illuminated canvases.

Peaking through, I caught a glimpse of couple of favorites out for a stroll: Miss Dazy…

And Victor Mature.

Inside the shed, I found this touching note:
To the garden angels,
This is Rusty’s companion, Rosie. Three weeks after we lost him to Hemangiosarcoma, she let us know she couldn’t go on without him and we lost her, too. Could you put her in the rose garden next to Rusty?
Thanks, Carole

They belong together.

“Be still, sad heart! And cease repining; behind the clouds is the sun still shining; thy fate is the common fate of all, into each life some rain must fall.” ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Wordless Wednesday: Happy Chevy!

Happy Homecomings

We like every dog to know they are special, but when you help hundreds of dogs each year on their journeys home, being original about naming them can be a little difficult. So each month, we turn to themes. Composers, poets, artists…and this month: cars. I know. It’s just wrong.
Meet Mercedes.

And Rambler.

But Odyssey?? Just look at that disgust on his face.

Selecting cars as the theme this month turns out to be a bit apropos – given how much time our teammates just spent in them.
This is Marley.

He is an extremely thunder-phobic dog who happened to live in Illinois: not good a good place for dogs afraid of thunder. He is so frightened by thunderstorms that he will hurt himself if left alone during one. He is very closely bonded to his sister, Harlo. So the decision was made to send them together to a place where thunderstorms are extremely rare. That place is the Sacramento Valley – home of Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue.

Miss Harlo is a mellow girl, who made the trip by plane without incident. But Marley was having none of that. Even sedated, he freaked out. Time for the Golden Taxi!

Three teams of two relayed to ferry him two thousand miles over three days. Last night he was reunited with his sister in a touching welcome home. (Thanks to Rob Kessel for capturing the moment.)

Because special needs dogs need special plans, we had already contacted a family on our waiting list. Previous adopters, they were looking for a canine companion for their Ella. Instead of one, they fell for two. It’s a perfect match!

Tonight, Marley and Harlo are beginning a new chapter together in a loving home.

Meanwhile, I have been reunited with Maria – one of my bonded gardeners who went A.W.O.L. for three weeks and finally returned. I was so happy to have company again, I let her dress the Memorial Garden in silly fall regalia.

Sammy wasn’t so sure about these scary scarecrows – but with Steve by her side…it’s all good!

Happy homecoming and next chapter to Marley and Harlo. Welcome home, Maria! The garden missed you!

Made for each other

Some things are just made for each other: butterflies and flowers…

tiny frogs in roses…

the color gold and fall.

We had a weekend full of “made for each others” at Homeward Bound including Bogart and Bacall – a bonded pair that we insisted go home together. It took a little longer, but today they found their bonded human pair.

Mylee – at just ten months, is full of youthful spunk and energy; perfect for a family of kids and a runner mom to exhaust her puppy enthusiasm.

And Billy Joel. Born with extra toes and missing two wrist bones, his paw is permanently fixed in something that looks like a ballet pose.

He has adapted well and it does not slow him down one bit, so the doc says “leave it” unless it becomes a problem.

But that can be a hard thing to explain to people looking for a “perfect” dog. Until today.

He went home on a trial run – just to be sure everything works out. And we sure hope it does. Because, by the looks of things, he too found the perfect someone he was made for.

“Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.” ~ Albert Einstein

Wordless Wednesday: Goofy Tucker

A drop in the bucket

We had an unexpected surprise this week…something we haven’t seen in a very long while: rain!

While the rainfall total is but a drop in our drought bucket, we are so grateful. It delivered a much-needed assist to the firefighters battling the massive King Fire in El Dorado County, about 70 miles from us. After two weeks and thousands displaced, the 97,000 acre fire is now 87% contained.

The garden soaked up every drop and enjoyed a few consecutive days of cloud cover.

In response, it spewed forth tiny frogs,

snails,

and a host of mushrooms…one of the gifts of our bark paths when the days are darker and there is finally moisture.

You’ll remember Moses from my Say Goodbye To Summer post? Well, your good wishes worked. He went home this weekend –

joining Carly Simon, Loki, Gordon (below right with his new sister, Sophie) –

Casey, Reacher and Ginger (pictured left with her new sugar-faced sisters).

Patsy Cline and Coki went to foster. Curious about the names? You try being original after rescuing nearly 8,000 dogs!

It was another good weekend for adoptions. Heard among our volunteers: “We have lots of open kennels.” Quickly followed by the arrival of seven (at last count) more.

Seven adoptions; two fosters…a drop in the bucket that keeps being refilled. But, like the rain, we – at Homeward Bound – are grateful for each and every one.

Tree of Remembrance

Jody Jones is Homeward Bound’s president and our tireless leader; a woman with a passion for rescue. She and her husband, Mike, planted the seeds of Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue & Sanctuary years ago. Over time, it has grown into something truly remarkable.

The Memorial Garden was her vision as well. With saving lives as the priority, the undertaking was frequently sidelined. For years, it remained mostly a dream. But Jody is a woman full of (stubborn) patience, optimism and determination. “Tomorrow’s another day; it will be better,” is a familiar refrain. After years of fits and starts, the right mix of gardeners finally came together three seasons ago to make it a reality. I think Jody simply willed it into being.

Her latest project developed in much the same way. It is for the garden.

Jody and her father created it together. Over-sized coils collected over the years;

a giant hole dug in the ground – waiting; a pole eventually planted in concrete; a plan clear only to the two of them.

Finally, this artful, rusted metal version of a weeping cherry tree sprouted from their labor.

The tree will don the most special leaves; the tags of thousands of dogs who have come through our doors on their way to their forever homes. Some wait for us over the Rainbow Bridge. Saved, remembered, and cherished here.

Of course, exactly how long the process of adding thousands of these “leaves” will take remains to be seen. But no matter. “Tomorrow’s another day.”

This beautiful piece of art is a gift from father to daughter and daughter to father – a remembrance of time shared together.

It is a gift for all of us as well. A lasting tribute to all the golden friends that we have known; and a reminder of why we do what we do.

Wordless Wednesday: Puppy (Newborn)

Until the Fall

The garden – like the rest of us – is desperately trying to turn the corner to fall.

It was not to be this week – with summer still making itself known by delivering temperatures over the century mark.

With the surrounding rice fields drained, even the crawdads are trying to seek safe haven.

I guess the word is out that we rescue, as most were scooped up and transported to our pond.

After a very hectic and full-house summer, we delighted in sending 14 dogs home last weekend. However brief the respite, there are, thankfully, a few open spots in our kennel “dorm.” I think all of us could use a bit of a rest from the crazy pace and heat of summer. Like the garden, we are a bit wilted and worn.

I look forward to cooler days and fall projects. Last year was the entry way – freshly planted and a looking a little bare this time last September –

now full and flourishing.

And the re-worked Iris bed. Last September, we carved out some center space for annual color while the irises take their own rest.

The summer plantings have completely taken over and will look even more beautiful as the season changes.

There are bulbs to thin and plant, beds to re-work, and trees to install as the season’s cycle begins again. But all of that will have to wait until we have a bit of cooler, crisper weather suitable for hard labor. Until then, we’ll just enjoy the company of dogs.