Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue – Page 25

The Divine Miss Bea

When Beatrix needed a few days of fostering before her new family could take her, it was easy duty to sign up for. Who could resist this face?

It was really less fostering than babysitting. This little one-kidney girl needed a watchful eye as she healed from her spay surgery, and a little big-dog socialization wouldn’t hurt considering she would be sharing her new home with an adult Homeward Bound alum.

Jackson is our mellow boy; he has never met a dog he doesn’t like so I had no worries at all about him. Despite his serious face, he is a lover, and took to her immediately, acting as her protector –

an ever-present, watchful knight.

Bella is our princess girl. And while she loves and shares with her brother freely, she was unimpressed with this cute little bundle of joy,

and not exactly overjoyed about sharing her house,

her Daddy,

and definitely not her toys with little the brave little Miss Bea.

While Bella generally behaved herself, she was clear that there is room for only one princess in this house!

All of this was good preparation for her introduction to her new big brother, Charlie. Apparently he is as tolerant as Jackson. A good thing for this rascally girl! Puppy got your tail?

It was a gift to have her for a few days. She left behind a mountain of laundry, two exhausted doggies, and took with her a tiny piece of my heart.

Wonderful life, little Beatrix girl.

The language of flowers: Iris

The story of the Iris flower dates back to Ancient Greece, when Iris, the Goddess of the rainbow, acted as the messenger between heaven and earth. She traveled from one world to another, carrying messages across the arc of the rainbow. Purple irises were planted over the graves of women to summon the Goddess to guide the dead in their journey. Today, the flower named for her is considered a symbol of communication and messages.

In the language of flowers, the Iris means faith, hope, and wisdom. The purple iris is symbolic of wisdom and compliments;

blue symbolizes faith and hope;

yellow symbolizes passion;

and white iris symbolizes purity. It’s fitting that they are found in abundance in the Memorial Garden, where our passionate angel volunteers travel the state to rescue and return lost, displaced and broken dogs to a place of faith and hope.

A perfect statement for our mission – standing tall and beautiful this spring in the garden.

“Where flowers bloom so does hope.”
-Lady Bird Johnson

Wordless Wednesday: Sugar Face

Wordless Wednesday: Lilly’s Bliss

Wordless Wednesday: Anastasia

We go to school

At Homeward Bound we rescue Golden Retrievers, golden mixes and the occasional gold dog masquerading as one or the other. But we serve dogs of all shapes, sizes and spots through our Golden Rule Training program which is available to adopters, fosters and the public. The garden has always been a welcome place to visit on the way to training classes. Thor and Locke –

and Bear and Cooper regularly make their way through the garden before class. It puts them in their happy place.

Lately, the garden has become a destination for training in its own right. Since so many gather here, it is a perfect spot for people socialization training. Sadie visited with us last weekend. She is great around other dogs and gets a lot of hiking and outdoor time,

but people make her a little nervous. When I first walked by, her posture immediately let me know that I was too close and she was uncomfortable.

Our trainers have taught us – avoid eye contact and do not attempt to approach or pet a dog that is afraid. Instead, wait quietly for the dog to approach you – then reward with treats.

It took a little while, but pretty soon Sadie was saddled up to me and turning to mush while my friend Rob took pictures.

Claire is undergoing similar training. Sick as a puppy, she didn’t get a lot of people time – something that is key to a well-adjusted dog.

One by one, visitors approached her in the garden. She is making steady progress. Who says a dog can’t change its spots?

Training, like gardening, is a commitment. It requires patience, consistent effort, and a little bit of faith.

“Properly trained, a man can be dog’s best friend.” ~ Corey Ford

A flower for every smile

For the first time since I began volunteering at Homeward Bound, the kennels are only half full (a temporary situation, I’m sure.) Despite the reduced workload, the volunteers were out in abundance. I overheard one of them explaining to someone about what draws her here: the joy she feels when she pulls through the gates; the serenity of the country surroundings; the garden; the people – like Michele and Chip who visited with their failed foster, Murphy, to pick out a new foster pup (they have fostered more than 20);

and of course, the dogs.

These are the loved dogs of Homeward Bound…

the ones that have been with us a long while because their special needs make them hardest to place.

We have faith that someday their perfect match will come along. But until that time, we are very happy to love on them.

“If I had a flower for every time you made me smile,
I’d be walking in an endless garden.” ~ Author Unknown

The garden is smiling back at us;

every visit this time of year brings new spring delights in the waking of perennials, trees and grasses from their winter slumber. I was thrilled to find the Mexican Sage finally popping out from its wood sticks, and Campanula making its way skyward.

I am under orders not to make any significant changes until Ina and Maria return. Does editing the Hummingbird bed count as a significant change?

I don’t think so. Wanting some greater structure during the winter, I added a smoke tree bush, dwarf blue spruce, blue fescue, some boxwood and others.

What do they expect, leaving me alone in our endless garden?

Secrets of the heart

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, nor touched…but are felt in the heart.” ~ Helen Keller

There is one feeling that I will never get used to – is the joy of watching new connections made and new two+four-legged families formed. Last weekend Jeff and Erwin came through the garden with Duke – 90 pounds of golden love.

Previous adopters, they had lost their beloved pup and were finally ready to share their hearts with another. The connection was real and instantaneous. They spent hours together. Arrangements were made to return a week later to pick him up; unable to stay away, they were back the next afternoon with a friend to share another day.

Who knows what clicks to create these instant bonds. Who cares?

Secrets of the heart – dog to human; human to dog.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday: Unforgettable Agatha

Building trust

Building trust with the new arrivals at Homeward Bound…

one touch…

one kindness at a time.

“Properly trained, a man can be dog’s best friend.” ~ Corey Ford

happy new beginning

This is an update to my Worth Waiting For post – about a blind golden retriever named Bogey, who was adopted by two retired eye doctors on Valentine’s Day – after three years in Sanctuary at Homeward Bound.

The morning with spent with CBS13 local news reporter, Cambi Brown and crew, interviewing Bogey’s adoptive family, Homeward Bound’s president, Jody Jones – and Bogey, of course!

Word spread quickly of his brief return, resulting in an extra-large turnout of volunteers today. Now we know how to incentivize them!

While all the other dogs reaped the benefits of so many helpers on hand, Bogey was definitely the center of attention.

Special thanks to our friends at CBS13 for their interest in our Bogey boy and for helping to spread the word about the value of adopting adult and special needs dogs.

But our greatest thanks are reserved for David and Anita, who gave our golden boy a long-awaited loving home.

Happy ending? “Every end is a new beginning.” ~ Proverb.

Happy new beginning, Bogey boy!