Toby Found A Forever Home!!!!

Hip, Hip, and Hooray!!!  Toby was adopted today!!!!  It just goes to show that even if you are in your Golden years there is still love waiting for you!!!  All my best to you Toby!  You totally rock!

Toby!!!!

Woody - Short Timer

Scared Pup

Sad and Lonely

Lots happened on December 2, 2011.  I was called to care for a golden that was found in an east valley shelter earlier in the day.  Since I was only planning to be in town for two weeks I didn't expect to have time to foster until January.  Well, I couldn't refuse a golden in need so I gladly opened my home and heart to Woody (his given name by RAG).   He was on the next bus to my front door.  I was excited with anticipation!  Later that night my Mom fell and broke her other hip and was rushed to the hospital in Oregon.  Yikes!  Now what do I do?  I am glad to say that it all worked out.  Woody still came to my home and Steve took care of him for the day when I flew up to Oregon.  My mom is recovering well, too.  Sometimes you can do it all......

Woody stayed with us for about one week.  It wasn't very long, but long enough to wish he was mine.  He was a gift   With his calm and trusting ways it was easy to take care of him.  His cries soon stopped and his tummy filled up.  Our twice daily walks were always an adventure as Woody loved to explore.  One thing of interest was...... he walked like a coyote!  Hmm!  I asked him who he had been hanging out with, but he wasn't about to give any secrets away. 

The groomer worked for hours cleaning and combing and cutting off mattes of hair.  After what seemed like eternity Woody emerged an absolutely beautiful and glorious pup!  With a bandana around his neck he pranced out of the building as if saying "Hey!  Look at me!  I feel like a million bucks!"

Life Is Getting Better - Waiting For Dinner

Woody made it to my wall of fame in no time at all.  With his regal and independent ways he stole my heart.  It didn't hurt either that he was housebroken, used the doggy door whenever he needed to go out,  slept well at night, and was loving and affectionate.  The only thing Woody wanted in return was to sleep on the family room couch! At first I wasn't sure I wanted him there, but then I decided it was fine.  He earned it!  I have lots of pictures of him on the couch.  Woody the couch potato!!!

It didn't take long before some nice fellas wanted to "meet and greet" Mr. Woody.  They came over on a Sunday and one hour later they were taking him home.....his forever home.  I have no doubt he will live a long and happy life!

Saying a Last Goodbye

It's Tough Watching Him Go

Toby

Toby is a sweet jolly twelve year old pup.  I was asked to go to his foster home and take pictures of him.  His photo shoot was a blast.  Some of his expressions were priceless.  Check it out!!!  These are just a few of the over one hundred pics I took of him.  How could someone give up such a special guy?????  Lets hope he finds his forever home.......

Toby - Photo Shoot Tomorrow!!!

I have returned to AZ for a couple weeks before Christmas and I am ready to get to work and have some fun!  Because I am here for a short time I have volunteered to take photos of a golden retriever named Toby who is in foster care.  He is 12 years young and his pics on the website .....  ummm, lets say they aren't taking advantage of his best features.  A little good lighting, brushing, some funny jokes and good angles may just do the trick! 

Check back in for the finished result and just see if  YOU  don't want to adopt this amazing Golden!!!!

Tatum Came Back!

Tatum (Simon) with Pink Pig

Tatum is back!  Except now he is called Simon.  His new owner had to go out of town on business and I was asked to care for him while she was gone.  I had a secret wish to see him again and to spend more time with him, but I didn't expect to have him back at my door in just a couple of days!  I was granted an extra bonus week and it has been absolutely awesome!  He cracks me up!  Simon is quite the dog!  He obviously feels terrific and loves life.  You would never know that his toe was recently amputated due to cancer the way he jumps, runs and plays!

In a few minutes,  Simon's new owner will be coming back to pick him up.  Life works in mysterious ways.  I am a lucky gal.......

Goodbye

Today is Goodbye Day

Well, the day has come.  It always does.

Tatum is one fine Golden.  He is a GREAT dog!  This morning he made me laugh so hard.  He was laying outside by the pool and I was still waking up in bed.  Our door going outside was wide open for Tatum to go in and out.  Suddenly, we heard a rustling noise on the other side of our fence.  He jumped up startled and next thing I knew he was galloping full speed and with one amazing jump, landed in bed next to me.  (My bed is one of those extra high off the ground beds)  We were eye to eye and nose to nose.  Tatum is so big ...... and he is a scaredy cat.  Oh, my!  What fun!  Then he jumped off the bed with sheer joy and started running wildly fast all through the house.  He jumped so high into the air - virtually impossible for a dog his size.  I was in awe.  This was my golden rescue with a newly amputated toe from cancer.  Wow!  Next, Tatum grabbed his pink toy pig and flew out the door like lightning! (yes, pigs can fly!)  I ran out after him afraid he might hurt himself.  He then began to run around the yard in circles, only pausing long enough to see if I was watching.  Abruptly, he stopped, cocked his head and focused intensely on me. Uh, oh!   My mouth dropped wide open and then I froze. Tatum reared up on his hind legs and with reckless abandon he took one giant lunge and sped towards me with pure love in his eyes.  He was running as fast as he could leaping and bounding with excitement and happiness and in full force.  I held my breath terrified, but smiling at the same time.  It was an electrifying moment like none other.  It was his gift to me.  Tatum dodged me at the very last minute, as if he was Tom Cruise in Top Gun, and I laughed and laughed and laughed so hard, deep from within my soul.......until I started to cry.  Here are the tears I told myself I wouldn't shed this time.  He is magic.  He is special and he is saying goodbye.

Tatum

Meet Tatum (aka Rex)

Tatum!

Meet Tatum!  He is a lovable, handsome, sweet, muscular, and well-behaved fellow!  No kidding, he has the biggest paws I have ever seen on a Golden.  A gentle giant that only wants to please.  He was found as a stray in a small town in Northern Arizona and turned in to the Humane Society up there.  Someone called Rescue A Golden and next thing he was transported to Phoenix.....soon to start a new life.  Of course, he had a few bumps along the way as many rescue dogs do.

First off, Tatum was shaved.  I don't know all the details, but they told me he had skin problems.  This shave left him looking like a lion.  The fur around his head was left and since his head is big it only accentuated the lion look.  Someone even left the very end of his tail furry.  Roar!

Yesterday, I picked up Tatum from the hospital after he had his first bandage change.  Unfortunately, while he was in the care of his first foster family, he started limping.  Turns out.....it was the big "C".  Yep, he developed toe cancer.  Poor guy!  The vets amputated his toe and a few days later he came home with me.  No wonder Tatum feels a bit insecure!  He follows me everywhere I go and I don't blame him.  It is time for a little happiness for this fine boy.

The good news is, I found out today that Tatum's cancer has not spread and that he only has about a 15% chance of a recurrence.  No further treatment!!!  Because of the good news, a nice lady wants him to spend the rest of his life with her.  Cool, huh?

I have Tatum until Tuesday of this week and I plan to love him and rub his tummy and scratch behind his ears as much as he wants!!!!  And......give him a real good shampoo!!!!

Dasher (aka Mr. Peepers)

Dasher

On Danner, On Cupid, On Dasher!!!!  I think it goes something like that....

This is Dasher and he is definitely not a Golden Retriever.  He came to me for a very short time through the Pixie Project.  Dasher was found walking on the side of a road in Somewhereland,  California.  A lady picked up the little scared guy and searched for the owner in the nearby town.  Without any luck she decided to pack him up and  take him to Oregon.  Unfortunately, the Oregon Humane Society was unable to accept Dasher for whatever reason.  That is when he ended up at the Pixie Project and Amy Sacks in Portland Oregon.  (Amy is the lovely young woman who rescues cats and dogs that need forever homes. )

I took Dasher in on a Friday for the Pixie Project.  He is a sweet fellow and things went just OK for us.  Dasher has some abandonment issues (do you think???) and needs to learn to get them under control in a setting other than a house.  He is back with Amy learning important people manners and behavior so that he will find someone to love him and care for him and have the life he deserves.

Ramblings And Odie Update!

Greetings!  I know it has been quiet here at Shelley's Golden Rescues, but I plan to return to rescuing in October.   I will be making some occasional short trips back to the Valley of the Sun and if an opporturnity arises where I can be of some help, I am ready and willing to help out a Golden friend!  Stay tuned on that front. 

 GREAT NEWS!!!  Odie was a winner last night in the "Cutest Golden Contest" and will be featured in the Rescue A Golden Calendar!!!  I know he wants the month of April, but we shall see if he gets his wish.  (April is the month he was adopted in to his forever home)  Someone else was voting big time for him other than me and that is what pushed him into the winner's spot.  ($1.00 a vote)  This contest went on for many weeks where each week voting started back at 0.  Odie won out over 200 other Goldens!!!!  Yeah!  Team Odie all the way!!!  You can see I am soooo happy!  Calendar anyone?

I am fortunate that Odie and Sampson's forever moms have stayed in touch with me.  What a great feeling to follow their journey.  Here is a little story on Odie.......

Odie has lost about 25 pounds and seems to have developed a bit of a stubborn personality.  My take is that he is definitely feelings his oats and loving life!  How great is that?  The other day after his nice long evening walk he came home still feeling frisky.  Maybe he was just hot, but he jumped to everyone's surprise into the bathtub with his 4 year old "brother".  I guess at first it was funny, but then it was messy and stinky.  Odie is now signed up for obedience school!  Ha Ha Ha!!!  Funny!  Before he could barely even get in the car,  now he is jumping into bathtubs!!!!  I say "way to go, Odie"!

Please give YOUR furry friend a hug today and check back!


 

Old Golds

 The other day I was asked to go to the vet hospital to photograph two new "Old Golds" that were just brought in and rescued.  Fourteen year old Sammie was turned in by his owner who was about to be deployed and twelve year old Lewis was found as a stray.  As it turned out both goldens were smelly and not so good looking.  They had bad teeth (and breath) and more than a few warts.  It was up to me to capture their "inner beauty" and have the pictures posted as available for adoption.


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First, was Sammie.  He was very sweet and friendly and LOVED getting out of the hospital for his photo shoot!  He rolled in the grass over and over.....all the way down the hill.  He was full of smiles and just wanted to kiss me and my camera!  We had a blast!

Sammie

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Next, was old Lewis.  Now he was a different fellow and very camera shy!  Even when I did get a shot of him he looked like his eyes were closed.  After a short while he started warming up...once he realized that this was kinda fun.  Part of the problem could have been that Lewis didn't know his name was Lewis.  No one knew his original name so he was given this one.  He probably was wondering what this funny lady was doing rolling around in the grass and calling him Lewis.  For all we know his name is Fred!  Lewis is a good boy and deserves to live out the rest of his life in a loving home.

Lewis

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So, the really awesome news is that both these "Old Golds" had their new pics put up on the available for adoption site and.........have been adopted!  Right away they found a home!!!  This is just the best news!!!!  YEAH! 

Lewis

Sammie

Back On All Fours

UPDATE:

Sampson was successfully adopted by a loving family in Tucson, Arizona on April 26, 2011.  He has every hope of living a long and happy life.

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It was very difficult  nursing Sampson back to health, but I did it!!!!  I have accomplished my goal and he is doing awesome.  He loves the gourmet meals of chicken, brown rice, sweet potatoes, cottage cheese and pumpkin that I have been feeding him everyday.  Sampson now has a spring in his step and a happy heart.

Yesterday, some really nice people came over from Tucson to meet Sampson.  He dazzled them and won their hearts.  They want to adopt him and it looks like it is a perfect match.  So, transport called and Sampson is scheduled to be picked up tomorrow.  Another transition, but I believe this is Sampson's forever family and he will have a wonderful life!

Between A Rock and a Hard Place

 "If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went."           -Will Rogers  

 

I got a call yesterday that Sampson was ready to come home from the hospital.  Yeah!  When I picked him up he was all wobbly and sedated and he looked terrible.   Maybe, on his last leg...... it was a tough afternoon and night not to mention the ride home.   Of course, I should have anticipated stomach problems of another kind. Then I received the news the family that was to adopt sweet Sampson changed their mind.  Transport was indefinitely canceled.  Sampson no longer had a loving forever family waiting for him.  And. I have a plane ticket to Oregon.    Ok.  This is where I tell you that I am having a very difficult time with the situation.  It is really tough.

Stayed Tuned

Just a quick update for those of you following Sampson.  Transport called to say they couldn't transport.  Huh?  Well, we had an awesome weekend.  Sampson played and chased bunnies, birds, bugs and lizards while Steve chain sawed some dead trees in the yard.  It was all good, until....... Sampson started throwing up Sunday night (actually, Monday around 3 am).   Yucko!!!!!!!  No sleep for the weary and that would be me.

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Tonight Sampson is in the hospital.  Unfortunately, he was real sick last night and today.  I had to take him in.  He didn't want to leave my side ..... even for the cute girl who beckoned to him.  They took him away and I am not sure if I will ever see him again.  As he was walking down the long hall of the hospital he turned around and looked at me.  Whoa!  It was really, really hard to turn my head and walk out the door.  Sampson needed medical help and I had to let him go.  So many moments are unbelievably heart wrenching.

Transport Calling

Sampson just isn't feeling that great.  Valley Fever is a devastating disease and when it has progressed to a dog's bones it is extremely painful.  Sampson has had some good days that are followed by days that he feels poorly.  But, Sampson is strong.  He's overcome a lot of adversity so far, lets hope he has  the strength to continue fighting.  He'll be on meds for a long time, maybe the rest of his life.

As far as I know the family that originally wanted to adopt Sampson still wants him.  I think the plan is to have him transported to Tucson sometime soon.  That's all I know.  I try to keep focused on the present and the time we have together now.

Oh, the phone is ringing..............

A Few More Days

Sampson's stomach didn't feel so great on Friday, so his adoption was delayed about a week.  After several home cooked meals of white rice, chicken and carrots and a Pepcid here and there, he is feeling much better.  It is great to have more time together! Sampson has calmed down quite a bit since we got him.  I think he thinks he is staying with us forever and that has made him very happy.  There isn't any way to explain to him the situation........

Sampson has captured our heart.

Our Time Is Short

Sampson and I were out on a walk yesterday in the late afternoon when an older lady crossed the street and looked at me and said, "Do you know your dog has a hitch in his get-a-long?"  Then she crossed the street and continued on her way. 

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Dear Sampson,

Our time together is very short.  I was planning on having you much longer.....for at least a month!  I was really surprised to learn just now that a family out there in Tucson wants you.  They want to nurse you back to health and be your forever home.  Wow!  Are they lucky to get such a great guy like you.  (What's this with Tucson?)  This time, no one called me for any input on how fabulous you are, but I guess everyone knows.  Gosh, as handsome and well mannered as you are it is no wonder you are wanted right away.  Too bad for me.  

 I thought this time I would not become so attached, but even though it has been only five days, I have to say that the thought of you leaving so soon is bringing me to tears.  I want you to stay, but I know you need to go.  As happy as I was to get you is as sad as I am to see you go. 

Pictures of Sampson

Stop And Smell The Flowers