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…

A piece of me is missing

Categories: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue · Rescue DogsTags: · · · · · · · · · 14 Comments

Those who work in rescue know that bittersweet feeling that arises when certain dogs (or cats or whatever) move on to their forever homes. We’re delighted for them, of course, but there is a sense of loss too. It’s more than a fair trade though because they still maintain a place in our hearts. Yesterday it was Marshall’s turn to vacate his kennel at my house in exchange for much nicer digs with his new humans. I can’t tell his story better than Ogee so please visit her blog here for Marshall’s story. I suggest this reluctantly due to Ogee’s…

Doing rescue can change you

Categories: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue · Homeward Bound Memorial Garden · Rescue DogsTags: · · · · · · · 22 Comments

When I adopted my first Golden Retriever back in 2001 I was like most people. I wanted a young, healthy dog and paid little heed as the rescue adoption counselor explained the benefits of adopting an older dog. I wanted what I wanted and that was it. And there is certainly nothing wrong with that as there are many healthy, young dogs that need homes. But I had no idea of the changes to come when I started volunteering at Homeward Bound. I remember wondering during my first weeks there how we were going to get all these older dogs…

Arco is visiting

Categories: UncategorizedTags: · · · · · · · · 5 Comments

Arco arrived on Sunday for four weeks. No, not the Sacramento sports arena — the dog. Arco’s not a Homeward Bound alumnus; I met him when he lived across the street from me in Folsom. Not the prison — the city where the prison is located. For some reason Arco fixated on me and he watched my house intently for any sign that I might come out. Sometimes he would come over and bark on my porch, yelling at me to come out and pay attention to him. I opened the door once when he was there and he came…