Marlene s foster boy, Chip

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1 A safe haven for Goldens finding their way home again. FEB 2013, Volume 14, Issue 1 The Heart of Foster By Lea Kachler-Leake Why we foster, and why we need you! One of the most important resources of any rescue organization is its foster team. Our foster families give the dogs awaiting adoption a soft place to land while they await their forever homes. They give love, security, affection, and sometimes a little training on basic manners. In some cases, they help the dogs learn, for the first time in their lives, what it s like to live in the love of a family. Our foster homes are critical to the rescue process. Because the younger, healthier, more sociable dogs typically get adopted quickly, we have a particular need for fosters for senior dogs, those with separation anxiety, those who don t get along with other dogs, and those recovering from illness or surgery. Fostering these dogs can present more of a challenge, but it may also offer a higher level of satisfaction. Long-time fosters Marlene and Arlene Clark specialize in fostering timid, unsocialized dogs. Marlene says, Many of the dogs we ve fostered have been shy dogs. We foster shy dogs in part to help them realize that they, too, can be brave. We celebrate some of their miniscule steps the first time they come over for petting or bring a toy to us; the first time they give away one tentative kiss. Even the shyest among them has shown the capacity for joy as they ve raced around the backyard with our dogs or by themselves, giving a happy woof or wagging their tails exuberantly. It s that capacity for joy in both the shy dogs, and the more happygo-lucky dogs, that keeps us fostering. Marlene s foster boy, Chip When asked why they choose to foster, Marlene says, Years ago I read that one of the sad things about becoming an adult is that you realize you can never have and be loved by as many dogs as you d like. Fostering helps us come closer to that mythical number of wanted dogs. Simply put, we get to have many more dogs than we d otherwise get to have. We ve fostered dogs as young as 3 months old and as old as 13 years old. We ve fostered dogs that were very shy (one was almost feral), and dogs that were outgoing and curious. And each has taught us and our own dogs a great deal. The most frequent question fosters are asked is, How can you let them go? We can because we must. It s a necessary part of the process. My husband and I have fostered over 100 dogs in the past 12 years. Some were timid and came from backgrounds of neglect or abuse. Some had never lived in a house, having spent their lives alone in a back yard. Some were geriatric, had cancer or seizures, terrible allergies or chronic ear infections, or were recovering from illness or surgery. Each of them left an indelible mark on our hearts. The joy of helping them to regain their health, confidence, and find their smile is indescribable. Each one that finds a wonderful, happy new home makes room for the next one that needs us. We foster because we love being a part of helping a displaced dog find the love and security every dog deserves. continued on page 2 The Heart of Foster 2 Rescue: A Child s Eye View 3 Shane s Story 4 Fund of Love 5 The Gold In Owen 6 Golden Cheers 7 Maggie: Life Saver 8 Oceans of Love 9 Pike Pack: Dogs Teaching Dogs 10 Golden Rule Training 10 Help Wanted 11 Volunteer Teams 11 Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc. TAX ID No

2 Homeward Bound Newsletter Volume 14, Issue 1 Welcome Thanks to the efforts of our tireless volunteers and dedicated friends and supporters, we rescued well over 500 dogs in 2012, securing loving homes through adoption, foster or sanctuary. With a new year, our efforts begin all over again. In these pages you will read inspiring stories of sacrifice, leaps of faith, and lives changed - both human and canine. None of this happens without you. Our sincere thanks to all for all do in support of Homeward Bound and the Goldens. The Heart of Foster continued from page 1 It s ALWAYS hard to say goodbye to the foster dogs, says Marlene. And that s how it should be. We ve given them love, and they ve loved in return. If it doesn t hurt, we haven t done our job. On the other hand, we also love seeing the dogs go to wonderful forever homes. Homeward Bound adopters are special people. Some have adopted the supposedly unadoptable and given them the best of homes, where the dogs have not only felt safe and loved but have flourished. Because many fosters can t bear to say goodbye to their foster dogs, they adopt them and thus fall off the foster rolls. We lovingly refer to these as foster failures. Like many other foster families, we have Lea s foster boy, Max a special fondness for the seniors. They are generally calm, easy-going, affectionate and lovely to have around. Their gratitude for having a safe place to cuddle up, some love, good food and security just melts the heart. Our current foster is 12 year old Max. He is almost completely deaf from years of untreated ear infections, and he has cancer which will probably take his life eventually. We know we re in for heartbreak, but we also know that, for now, Max is a happy, much loved member of our pack. He feels safe and secure, and he knows he belongs. Every time he looks up adoringly at me, his tail wagging happily, I am blessed. We are so glad to have the opportunity to make his last months or years the best ones of his life. Each day with Max is a gift. Edna Caluza, another long-time foster who specializes in special needs and terminally ill dogs, says that people often Edna s foster girl, Miracle ask how she copes with the pain of knowing she s going to lose her beloved foster. This always makes me smile. It hurts that much because I loved and was loved in return that much. There is no greater gift, says Edna. As soon as I bring a new foster home; they become family. When you have a home that is always full of fosters who come and go, it seems that they know to be kind, to share and to welcome. They have taught me and my children how to be better humans. And my children are amazing two and fourlegged. My terminal fosters don t come here to die - they come here to live with great joy, laughter and love. Each day is a miracle; for them and us. For all, this is home. Long-time foster mom, Carla McCreary, has fostered dogs of every age, description and medical condition. Of her fostering experience, she says, I have had times where I specialized in the heartworm recovery dogs, those recovering from surgery, and a whole bunch of young dogs that came and went so fast it s hard to remember them all. I believe I topped out one year with just over 40 dogs for the year! I have had puppies all the way up to hospice dogs that just needed a quiet place to live out their life. Right now I am happiest having a canine assisted-living facility. My current residents are two 13 year olds in failing health and one 10 year old with cancer. They will stay with me for the rest of their lives, and along the way, play host to any local intakes that I think they would enjoy. We just had two eight month old girls stay for a few weeks and the seniors were quite taken with them, but equally happy to see them both move on to their forever homes. For me it s the best of both worlds; I have multiple dogs of my own, and I can have multiple foster dogs to love and care for. My dogs know that they will stay with me forever; my foster dogs know that theirs is a temporary home and the best is yet to be. Fostering has countless rewards and benefits. Our fosters give dogs who may 2 Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc.

3 be stressed, confused, and depressed the opportunity to experience the love of a family, while freeing up space in the kennel for another dog to be rescued. The foster dog benefits, the rescue organization benefits, and the foster family experiences the joy of loving and helping a dog in need. Fostering can also provide a family with children the opportunity to teach them about compassion and caring, while giving the family a project to do together. If you have the time and energy to give to a dog that really needs you; we need you. Homeward Bound offers support with behavioral issues; we pay for any medical care your foster dog might need; Carla s foster boy, Kramer and we re here to provide the resources needed to help your foster dog become happier, healthier and more adoptable. We particularly need fosters who are home most of the time and can foster dogs with separation anxiety. We also need fosters who don t currently have a dog, for those dogs with dog aggression. So please think about recruiting your dogless, dog-loving friends. If you would like to make a priceless contribution to the life of a dog that needs a little extra help, please contact our Foster Coordinator, Maryann Farmar, at farmarretired@ gmail.com. Rescue: Through the Eyes of Children by Carolyn Carlson I am a Homeward Bound volunteer and foster mom. Recently, a three month old golden-mix puppy arrived at Homeward Bound with a significant burn/open wound. I volunteered to foster him while the wound healed. His name is Barney and he is very adorable. After nearly four weeks, his wound healed sufficiently to become adoption eligible. A wonderful family by the last name of Roberts adopted him immediately. There are four beautiful young girls in the family, ages 6 to 11. They are home-schooled and each wrote a paragraph on what Barney - now nearly 6 months old - means to them. Barney: He loves sleeping in my bed. He sits with me when I read and he protects me if someone comes to the door. I like feeding him and petting him. He grows a lot. He chases me when I ride my bike and he watches me when I play outside with my friends. I love my dog Barney. He loves playing with me. Besides my mommy, he is the best. I pray with Barney. ~ by Courtney Roberts, age 6 Barney loves sleeping in my bed. He barks when someone is at the door. When I am hurt, he licks my tears. He is very cute. I love Barney. He is surrounded by girls. My dog has a scar on his back but his fur is growing back. When he is in a playing mood he gets my stuffed animals. He is the best dog I ever had. ~ by Claire Roberts, age 6 The Roberts family with Barney My name is Barney. I love chew toys and whenever my family is eating, I sit and look at them and make my cutest face and put my ears up. My family calls me lots of different names like shnoogums and shnuggles. I also know words like sit, stay and come. I do feel a little royal when they put crowns and tutu s on me. I would rather wear a cape and fly. I love to give kisses and go on family walks. If the girlies steal my toys, then I chase after them. Life would be boring without my family. ~ by Caroline Roberts, age 8 My dog, Barney. When I first heard we were getting Barney I was so excited! Right after we were told, our friends arrived to pick me up for ballet. I ran outside, hugged my friend and yelled We are getting a puppy! Since we are home schooled, I do my math downstairs at the computer and my sisters do it upstairs. Barney always sits with me while I do my math. He usually curls up behind the chair and every now and then, I lean down and pet him. I never do my math without him. I love playing with Barney. I grab a toy, run and he just bolts after me. When he catches me we play tug-of-war. Barney has many sweet names like shnugums and Barney-boy. I love Barney and he will always be special to me!~ by Calista Roberts, age 11 Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc. 3

4 Homeward Bound Newsletter Volume 14, Issue 1 Cherishing Todays Shane s Story, by Cathy Akana Have you ever felt like the dark cloud hovering over you is never going away? That s how my husband and I felt last spring. In a matter of months, we d lost both of our dogs; one to old age, and the other to cancer. It was the first time we d ever been dogless and both my husband and I were struggling to shake off the sadness and loneliness. For my husband s birthday in May, I suggested that we go to Disneyland. He said No. I want another dog for my birthday. He knew I was volunteering at Homeward Bound and asked me to try to find a dog, or dogs, to adopt. I d been out there about a week or so before and had seen someone walking a new arrival. I asked about him. They told me his name was Shane and that he was really pleasant to walk and play with. I hadn t been able to get him out of my mind, so I ed Jody. She said someone else was coming to see him but if it didn t work out, she d let me know. The next day, I was playing in a yard with another dog and Jody saw me and said the adoption for Shane had fallen through. She asked if I was still interested. Was I ever?! She told me that he had a heart murmur and was scheduled for an ultrasound that week. I brought him home and the joy on my husband s face was priceless. Not only is Shane the most beautiful dog you could set eyes on, but he is as sweet as can be. He s also the most talkative dog I ve ever met. He announces his arrival with a wagging tail and his signature roo-roo-roos. You just can t help but smile when you see him. Having a dog with health problems wasn t new for us, and heart murmurs aren t always serious - so I wasn t worried. What I didn t know anything about was Subaortic Stenosis (SAS). It s a genetic condition and ranges from mild to severe. The cardiologist explained that Shane s was severe, and seemed sad as she told me more about it. She gave me a prescription for beta blockers and recommended that we avoid strenuous exercise Beautiful Shane Buy Nature s Select and Help The Goldens! or stress. She also said that 70% of dogs with Shane s condition don t live past three years of age. We were sad about the diagnosis, but agreed that we would give him the very best life possible. To say that Shane s a little spoiled is an understatement; but he s so worth it. I m fortunate to be able to bring Shane to work with me. It has made my workday so much more pleasant. Next week he ll be attending our annual conference and will get to meet my co-workers from all over the state. He ll love it and they ll love him and his roo-roo-roos. Shane has reminded us that tomorrow isn t promised to any of us. We cherish each and every day with him. We want the time that he has to be filled with the kind of joy that he s given us in return. We are eternally grateful to Homeward Bound for saving Shane s life, and for making our lives whole again. Good news for Bay Area residents! Nature s Select Food, the food used by Homeward Bound, is now available for delivery in the greater Bay Area. So now your dogs can enjoy a fantastic, healthy food (made in the USA) and you can enjoy free, next-day delivery to your front door. For every bag purchased, Nature s Select donates 10-cents per pound to Homeward Bound! A great way to feed your pets high quality food while helping the Homeward Bound Goldens. 4 Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc.

5 Nicholas Needs Fund of Love - and Fund of Love Needs You! It seems like every year there s a Nicholas; a dog that needs our help, and needs it immediately - just as the sun sets on Christmas Eve. On that very day, this dear boy was surrendered to Homeward Bound with a compound fracture of his left front leg. Nicholas was in pain, and in danger of serious consequences should treatment be delayed until after the holiday. Homeward Bound arranged for Nic to receive the emergency surgery that saved his leg, relieved him of great pain and suffering, and started him on the road to recovery. X-rays to examine the extent of his injuries revealed not only the details of the injury to his leg but coincidentally, that he had nails in his stomach. Thankfully, Homeward Bound was able to give Nicholas the emergency surgery he needed. The cost was high, but the knowledge that we were able to alleviate so much misery for this boy is a great relief and a tremendous reward. We have taken the same compassionate measures for every other Nicholas - on every other Christmas Eve. This has been possible because of the generosity of compassionate supporters who pledge to establish our annual Fund of Love matching fund, and each and every person who steps up to have their donation matched during our Double the Gold Challenge. Medical maintenance and treatments - from basics like monthly heartworm and flea preventative - to the most complex surgeries, are Homeward Bound s greatest expense each year. Even with the number of dogs in need of rescue (thankfully) trending down, they are coming to us with greater medical needs due to untreated conditions. Dr. Codde and Tiffany attend to Nicholas, post surgery. On Valentine s Day, we begin building our Fund of Love, which provides the matching funds for Homeward Bound s Double the Gold Challenge. For the past few years, trusts, foundations, businesses, corporations, and individuals have Brave Nicholas with his cast. come together to form a consortium of contributors pledging to provide this fund to match donations for our Double the Gold Challenge beginning on April 1st. A classic matching fundraiser - Double the Gold provides inspiration and motivation for all supporters to give generously so that Homeward Bound can cover over $300,000 per year in veterinary expenses and medical care. Through your generosity, we will be able to provide Nicholas, and every other dog that appeals to us for help this year, the health-related support they need to have the best possible life. Please consider a contribution or pledge to our 2013 matching Fund of Love. Participation is possible for as little as $ or you may be, or may know of, a benefactor that would like to provide the entire matching fund. And stay tuned for updates on Nicholas progress and the rest of the story! Contact Candy Courtney, candy@homewardboundgoldens.org with questions or assistance. See our website, org for a downloadable donation/pledge form for Fund of Love or to participate using Pay Pal. Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc. 5

6 Finding the Gold in Owen by Robin Hardy It took us a long time to get over the loss of our dogs - to illness and old age. It had been a long road. Suffering from Lupus; deafness; arthritis; it didn t matter. They were family. When we were finally ready, a friend suggested Homeward Bound. We met her adopted Homeward Bound Golden Retriever and we were sold. We wanted an adult dog; no puppy issues. Not too old, not too young. A laidback dog who might like to go on runs with us. At the home visit, we were asked if we would consider not one, but two Goldens. Since we had always had two dogs, and it was our long term intention to have two again we said we would. A visit to the Sanctuary was quickly arranged. Pairs are hard to place. I had a few minutes to wander around the ranch when I arrived and a black dog in one of the pens caught my eye. Oh, that s Owen - and I was whisked away to meet the waiting pair. They were beauties; but they couldn t have care less about me. I believe Robin, Jim and Owen arrive for training in instantaneous connections and bonds. My mind kept going back to Owen. You want Owen? I was asked more than once. Turned out, no one wanted Owen. He had flunked adoption twice. His transgressions may have been explainable, but he now had a bit of a record. He was young; he was not completely housetrained; he was ill-mannered; and he was not a Golden Retriever. But he was perfect as far as I was concerned. I brought my husband out to meet him, holding my breath the whole time. In my mind, Owen was ours already. Owen cast a similar spell on him. We were offered the option of foster before adoption to see if he was a good fit. My answer was simple: I don t return things. The paperwork was finished, and he came home with us. And then, the real Owen came out. We had been advised not to leave him alone until he was successfully transitioned. Thankfully we had a few days off to devote to this, and we have flexibility with work. He came home with a crate; instructions to be on a leash at all times in the house until the house-training was successful; and a plan to check on him every couple of hours when we had to return to work. We were offered training support. This should have been our clue. Jim with Owen after a run The first night when I went to make his dinner, Owen practically tackled me. He was so food-obsessed, he sent his dinner flying all over the kitchen. When my husband came home late that night, Owen demonstrated his guard dog skills. Thankfully, he recognized my husband and turned immediately into puppy mush. But the biggest issue with Owen was that he had never learned where play stops, and troublesome behavior began. Most puppies learn this from their mothers, siblings and first contacts with humans. I guess Owen skipped that. He was worrisomely mouthy and extremely exuberant in play. Not a good combination. Fortunately for Owen, we don t give up easily. Thankfully, we had access to Kathryn, who heads up training at Homeward Bound. She worked with me, my husband and Owen at home, and in classes at the ranch. The transformation continued on page 11 6 Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc.

7 You Made us Merry! Your gifts have decked our halls with kibble, blankets and love! Thank you to everyone who loaded the 2012 Giving Tree with your donations in the form of lights, bulbs, packages, toys and stars. Your generosity exceeded our wildest holiday dreams doubling last year s success and raising more than $43,000 to support the Goldens. Hundreds of Goldens are rescued, provided with medical care, and find loving homes through Homeward Bound each year. While we are finally seeing some leveling in the number of dogs who turn to us for help, they seem to be coming to us with greater needs a result, no doubt, of families continuing economic struggles and conditions left unattended. By loading the Homeward Bound Giving Tree with gifts in honor of your loved ones, you have helped to ensure that more dogs will receive the care they need in the coming year. That has to warm the hearts of those you have remembered! Our sincere thanks to all! Golden Cheers Award! by Jody Jones Golden Cheers to Deb and Ron Fowler who win the prize as all around great volunteers. Two days a week, rain or shine, Deb and Ron make sure that all the dogs get a walk and a cookie. They are also mentors in the dog walking club; happy to train new volunteers so that more dogs get out for walks and socialization. Deb and Ron also take challenging dogs to reactive dog training to make them more adoptable. They drive the van to Fresno to bring dogs to Homeward Bound. All the way they are telling them stories about the other dogs that have had the opportunity to go to wonderful new homes. Looking for feeders for Christmas Eve--no worries, Deb and Ron will cover. Need laundry done? Dishes in the sink? Deb and Ron will be here. We always have opportunities for the dog lovin volunteers. Thanks for all you do! Deb Fowler with Bones in the Garden Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc. 7

8 Maggie: The Life-Saver by the Stahlberg Family This is to thank Jody, Judy, Jeanette and Kathryn and anyone else at Homeward Bound who had a part in our adopting Maggie. She is an angel from heaven and - she is the reason that Bill is alive today. On Saturday morning, October 20th, we were getting ready to bring Maggie to her training class with Kathryn at Homeward Bound. Bill took Maggie out for her walk around 7:30 a.m. to go potty before we left for her class. As the events were told to me: Bill collapsed on the wetlands trail that runs along the side and back of our home. It is a beautiful place to walk a dog, but not a good place to have a medical emergency. Bill regained consciousness, got up and headed home. Half way up the side trail by our house he collapsed again. Maggie ran up the trail, around the corner, and down our block until she found a neighbor, Jim, walking his dog. Maggie encouraged him to follow her; she led Jim down the block, turned and ran down the trail. When Jim turned onto the trail, he saw Maggie - about 60 yards away, sitting next to Bill. Bill, Carol and Maggie She is an angel from heaven, and she is the reason that Bill is alive today. Maggie relaxing at home; rescuing humans is hard work Bill was unconscious when Jim found him. Jim rushed to our house and told me to call 911 before returning to Bill. Bill regained consciousness again, and Jim put him through the tests for a stroke. He passed all of them. The ambulance and fire truck arrived, and Bill was rushed to Sutter Roseville Hospital. I arrived at emergency and they had just taken Bill for a CAT scan to see if he had any head trauma from the wounds he received during the falls. And then we heard the alarm. Bill had flat-lined for the third time. I was able to be with him through it. He regained consciousness and seemed to be doing pretty well as we talked, when he flat-lined again. I had to leave the room as they worked on him and took him immediately to surgery for a St. Jude s Pacemaker. They could not put him under because of his weakened condition and operated using just a local anesthetic. The surgeon came and got me in the waiting room, and I was able to go into the operating theatre to sit with Bill while they were preparing his room. I was informed that he got to the hospital just in time. Our wonderful new dog Maggie had saved his life. We Sincerely Thank You, Carol and Bill Higgins The Homeward Bound Goldens and humans wish to thank Noah s Bagels on Douglas Blvd. in Roseville for all the yummy bagel treats! Noah s has generously donated bagels to us each week since the beginning of These healthy treats are greatly appreciated. Golden thanks and four paws up to Noah s Bagels! 8 Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc.

9 Haley. She had taken care of Ocean through all of her surgeries and followups, and dearly loved her. There was only one answer: Yes! When Haley walked in the door, Ocean flew into her arms! Yes, miracles do happen. Baby Ocean will have the best care possible, she will be loved as much as I could ever ask for, and she is getting a new name to boot! Ocean - now Bailee - at her new, forever home Oceans of Love By Carla McCreary My foster rescue, Ocean had the potential to break my heart; instead, she was my holiday miracle. She had surgery on both of her front legs several months ago, and it seemed to be a failure. When I picked her up she was walking on her arms. Dr. Runyan, of K-9 Bodie fame, was her surgeon, and so we were all dismayed that she wasn t walking properly. Ocean came to stay with me for several weeks so I could very closely monitor her exercise and rest time. Then, we went in for a consultation with Dr. Runyan. The change was dramatic - Ocean was now walking on her paws! That would have been a miracle in itself, but Dr. Runyan asked if I would consider adopting her to one of his surgical techs, My puppy foster, Ocean now Bailee, went home in time to celebrate New Year s Eve with her new family. She will be spending her days at VCA Hospital with her Surgical Tech mom where she will have access to all of VCA s facilities including the underwater treadmill. When Bailee went home she was able to walk on both front paws but as she got tired, her left paw still sinks back to her arm. She will be spending time on the underwater treadmill to strengthen those muscles, and I am optimistic that she will have a wonderful, normal life. Volunteers (Always!) Needed Homeward Bound is an all-volunteer effort and we have some of the best! It takes a lot of volunteers to keep things running smoothly, and when others join in, it means a little less burden for everyone, and a lot more time with the dogs! Right now, our most pressing needs are for: Feeders. Voted #1 by the dogs. This is a labor of love, with a special need for people who can commit to one morning each week or biweekly. Fosters for hard-to-place dogs. These are the people who not only love dogs, but love the challenge and commitment of training and transformation. Taxi Drivers. Can you commit to driving the HBGGR van back and forth to Fresno once every other month or so? We rescue from far and wide, but the pups need drivers to get to us! You must be at least 15 years of age to volunteer. We offer a Youth Program for volunteers ages 15-18, and adult volunteer efforts for those 19+. For information on volunteering, visit our website, www. hbggr.com, or us at: volunteering@ homewardboundgoldens.org. Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc. 9

10 The Pike Pack! by Marla Pike Training made easier by dogs following dogs. We now have three Homeward Bound dogs, and they are truly a joy! Monty was well-loved and cared for by his previous owner who could no longer keep him. Madison and Yoshi had been rescued from breeders and have socialization issues due to their previous environments and history with humans. It has been great to see the girls begin to trust, as well as the way they ll observe Monty s interactions with us and then begin to mimic his behavior. Two of my favorite examples of this behavior are the way Madison will body check during play and the way she eats her treats. Madison and Yoshi keeps watch Successes like Madison and Yoshi s (above) don t happen without help. Their mom, Marla, attends Golden Rule Training at Homeward Bound to ensure they get the support they need. Our Golden Rule Training can do the same for you. Homeward Bound s Training Coordinator, Kathryn Baines is a Certified Dog Trainer. Classes are held on Saturdays and Sundays. They include beginning and intermediate obedience, AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) preparation Madison and Monty at play Monty would play, and he would body check her. When we got her, she was about 30 pounds and Monty, 50 pounds. Well, she would just bounce off of him when she tried to body check him back! It was so funny to watch. Golden Rule Training Monty also taught her that when you get a treat, you take it to your bed and eat it on your bed; she still does that and won t eat it on the floor. Madison and Yoshi both need an experienced dog to show them that, Hey, not all people and evaluation for adult dogs, and even a special version just for puppies! Each class includes important socialization time, so your dog can learn to be comfortable with other dogs in the class. The training is based on positive reinforcement. Because the classes are small, they can be customized to your needs and you will receive plenty of individual attention. You ll learn to read your dog s body language, and have time to address your specific training concerns. are bad! Check it out, you can get pets, belly rubs, walks, regular meals (really, twice a day!) and treats! They greet us when we get home with such happiness: Tails wagging, jumping around in circles, so delighted to see us again. The best part for us is to watch them play. The girls are at play nearly non-stop (well, when they re not sleeping). Monty typically watches them like an elder statesman and will sometimes join in. It s hilarious to watch them attack each other, race around the yard and house, then engage again after a brief rest. Some nights we ll look at each other and say Who needs TV, we have dogs! Kathryn also offers workshops on Leash Skills and Reliable Recall, as well as private consultations, at Homeward Bound, in your home, or by phone if you live some distance from us. All fees received by our training program are dedicated to helping the Homeward Bound Goldens. For more information, contact Kathryn at goldentraining@homewardboundgoldens. org. There is also a wealth of information in our online training library at: training. 10 Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc.

11 Finding the Gold in Owen continued from page 6 of Owen did not happen instantly. He went on lots of runs to wear down that youthful energy; we set firm boundaries for him and his behavior in, and outside, the house. Along with new skills, we learned about the importance of consistency. To give Owen his best chance, we needed to be on the same page and send the same message, over and over and over again until one day I woke up and realized, I have a good dog now! And we really do. Owen is still a work in progress, but he s a smart and sweet boy who deserved a shot at the opportunity to become a great dog. We re well on our way! Your Stories Wanted Every dog adopted through Homeward Bound is special; each has a unique story to share. Our readers love to read about your happy endings and shared journeys. If you have a story you think other readers would enjoy, please submit it via to: lea@ homewardboundgoldens.org. Be sure to include a photo as a separate attachment. Not a great writer? No worries! We have gifted editors to help you. We also welcome article submissions on other topics of interest. So send your stories and ideas along! Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue & Sanctuary, Inc. Board of Directors Jody Jones, President Dick Brothers, Vice President Jana Mauk, Secretary Judy Kent, Treasurer Kathryn Baines Justina Codde, DVM, MS Candice Courtney Audrey Farrington Jim Greenhaw Deb Haggerty Mike Jones Lea Kachler-Leake Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue Mission Statement Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue & Sanctuary, Inc. is an allvolunteer organization which rescues and heals displaced, abandoned, and homeless Golden Retriever and Golden mixes, regardless of their age or health. Homeward Bound secures safe, loving homes through a comprehensive adoption program, and also provides lifetime sanctuary for Goldens that cannot be adopted. Homeward Bound also provides education on proper animal care and on the benefits of, and need for, rescue and sanctuary. In the event of a disaster, Homeward Bound will provide assistance to other rescue groups and the families of dogs impacted by the disaster. Homeward Bound will continue to serve as a model rescue organization, addressing animal welfare needs throughout California and neighboring states, and strives to be a national leader in rescue, sanctuary and education. Your help and ideas are always welcome! Contact team leaders below if you are interested in helping in any of these areas: Adoptions and Surrenders & Sanctuary Development Mike and Judy Jones 7495 Natomas Road Elverta, CA Fax: jody@homewardboundgoldens.org Foster Families Maryann Farmer, maryann@homewardboundgoldens.org Placement Team Lynn Pihera, lynn@homewardboundgoldens.org Golden Taxi (Transport) Judy Kent, judy@homewardboundgoldens.org Events Planning Jana Mauk, jana@homewardboundgoldens.org Volunteering volunteering@homewardboundgoldens. org Newsletter Lea Kachler-Leake, lea@homewardboundgoldens.org Training Kathryn Baines, goldentraining@homewardboundgoldens.org Information Technology Jim Greenhaw jim@homewardboundgoldens.org Homeward Bound 2012 Stats Dogs Rescued: 531 Vet Expenses: $220,467 Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc. 11

12 Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc Natomas Road Elverta, CA Phone: Fax: NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID ROSEVILLE, CA PERMIT NO. 98 CAN T ADOPT? THERE ARE MANY OTHER WAYS TO HELP. There are countless ways in which you can contribute to the rescue of more than 500 dogs each year! Fosters, Feeders, Transporters, Walkers, Groomers, Maintenance Helpers, Administrative Support...you name it; we need it! Look Inside! OUR GOLDEN WISH LIST If you can donate an of the items on our wish list, please contact us at: Thank you! For Our Goldens: Pill Pockets (large and small) Dog Cookies Office Supplies Postage Stamps 8 1/2 x 11 Copy Paper Professional Printing Services General Maintenance & Laundry Paper Towels Garbage Bags (heavy duty & extra heavy duty) For Our Memorial Garden Bricks, pavers, stepping stones Shredded Cedar Bark/Mulch We also welcome Lowes or Home Depot Gift Cards! LESS PAPER: MORE RESCUES! If you currently receive a paper copy of the newsletter, you can help Homeward Bound save money by printing from our website instead. Each copy costs about $1.00 to print...which adds up fast. Print it online, and you will see us in color as well! us at: newsletter@homewardboundgoldens.org. We ll send you an alert each time the newsletter is ready for viewing.