Leroy

Categories: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue · Rescue DogsTags: · · · · · · · · 7 Comments

At Homeward Bound we get new dogs in every week. When I came up to the front of the rescue to see our new residents, Leroy definitely stood out. Having escaped from his own crate shortly before arrival, he was was standing on another dog’s crate eager to make his exit. He had to wait, though, because we had to move some crates so he could get down safely. I was drawn to him immediately. “I want to take him home,” I said. I’m not sure exactly why I felt that way. Sure, he’s handsome but that certainly wasn’t all…

McLeod

Categories: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue · Rescue DogsTags: · · · · · · · 11 Comments

We’ve had a bunch of dogs that make my heart beat faster lately. There is more than one kind of dog that does that to me but the red ones tend to have a leg up on the others. McLeod came and went quickly as you can well imagine. He was one type of almost perfect dog for me — the young and playful type. He was a little shy at first but quickly passed through it. His personality was much like my first Golden, Buddy. Very physical play with lots of affection. It’s amazing how fast you can form…

Scrappy’s Story – Part 3: The Healer

Categories: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue · Rescue DogsTags: · · · · · · · · 21 Comments

This is the 3rd installment of Scrappy’s Story. In Part 1: Descent I explained what brought Scrappy to my house for work on some issues. Part 2: Recovery described how we helped Scrappy interact better with people and other dogs. Although he became a much more confident and relaxed dog, he would still occasionally revert back to his old behavior. I reluctantly decided that we could not never put him up for adoption. So I agreed that he could stay with me. After a while BoBo and Shaggy moved on and Scrap and I shared the house. Scrappy continued to improve, letting go of…

Funny Friday: Milo

Categories: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue · Rescue DogsTags: · · · · · · · 15 Comments

I just posted about Milo on Wednesday, I know. I normally wouldn’t return to a dog so soon but … Milo is what I call a simple dog. He struck me as such almost right away. I assure you that I say this with a high degree of affection and appreciation. Some of my all-time favorite dogs fall into the “simple” category. It does, however, require one to adjust expectations just a little. The other morning I couldn’t find Milo. I walked through the house glancing in every room. Nowhere to be seen. Guess I missed him. Retraced my steps this…

Scrappy’s Story – Part 2: Recovery

Categories: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue · Rescue DogsTags: · · · · · · · · · · 20 Comments

In Part I of Scrappy’s story, I explained that he came to my house after he was returned by his first adopters. The family did not feel they could keep him because he barked and growled at outsiders. He didn’t seem safe. After he came back to us, some of the volunteers at Homeward Bound were uncomfortable with him, as well. This was partly due to his inordinately large eyes and his habit of staring. Worse, he would unexpectedly lunge at strangers and even some other dogs. I take some of Homeward Bound’s dogs with challenging behaviors to work with…

Scrappy’s Story – Part 1: Descent

Categories: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue · Rescue DogsTags: · · · · · · · · · · 20 Comments

I’ve posted about Scrappy several times already. He’s also often called Scrap, Scrapper, Scrapper-Doodle. He’s been my permanent foster for almost a year now. It’s time to tell his story. He wasn’t supposed to stay with me permanently. I bring dogs over from the Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and give them some time to heal emotionally and get a little training along the way so they can be adopted. I really don’t do much except give them a safe place with some rules and structure. This allows them to get back on track and become the dogs they were meant to…

You can feel it in the garden

Categories: Homeward Bound Memorial Garden · Rescue DogsTags: · · · · · · · · 10 Comments

We’ve passed the winter solstice, the days are noticeably longer, and we are rolling slowly, but inexorably, toward spring. Today was wet and dark and cold in the Homeward Bound Memorial Garden but even so you could still feel an undercurrent of life and growth that promises spring is not far off. I had to leave but still I paused again and again to look for just one more shot. I am normally drawn toward displays of color but we don’t yet have much of that in the garden. So I search out other targets. Perhaps I can get can get…