Picnic Extravaganza

Where do we even begin? What a wonderful weekend! It started out Friday evening with Miss Lizzy - now known as Lilly - being adopted by the wonderful W family. This little girl has touched the hearts of everyone that has met her, but none as much as this incredible family. Miss Liz bugled her welcome to them when they first met her, Thursday night, and she's been wagging her tail ever since.
Look at these three...they were destined to play together...Lizzy will never lack for want of a ball game, a wrestle, and all the loving pats a Golden Girl deserves. Bless you Little Liz and know, Lizzies former family, that your Golden Girl continues to live the Golden life.Jerry Bear, Sam and I had the privilege of seeing her and her whole family at the RAGOM picnic today and I've never seen a Golden smile so hard. That tail was just wagging! And darn it if I didn't get a picture. Thanks wonderful W family, for opening your hearts and home to this fabulous little RAGOM princess.



Sammi didn't lack for attention this weekend either. This fabulous little guy made it to the picnic with over three hundred people and well over a hundred dogs with an equanimity that had many of us smiling. For all of you who saw us at the picnic and patted, petted and lavished him with loving words, thank you! This little guy was a trouper.

Another amazing development. Below is a picture of Sam and his sister, Sadie (Daisy). These two were running wild for well over a year before they came into RAGOM to learn how the Golden Life works. Thank you Heather and her husband (sorry guys, again my name oblivion shows its ugly face) for bringing little Sadie to the picnic. What a wonderful end to the day!

And of course, Lakota. While Mom didn't have enough hands to manage all three at the picnic, he found ways to entertain himself...this is Lakota chasing sun beams. Just a note to all of you out there that are contemplating the "cuteness" of playing with a laser pointer with your dogs. DON'T!!! As cute as this picture looks, this behavior quickly becomes obsessive. I made the mistake of entertaining Lakota as a puppy with a laser pointer. Now, every once in awhile, I'll find him a drooling mess pressed up against some surface, chasing a shadow or a light beam. Soooo not fun!

...and the treats weren't half bad either. Holy Bison, Lakota, look at that bone!

And we've saved the best for last. Magnificent Jake, the wonder dog, is doing wonderfully with his forever home. He has fit in like a duck to water and beyond a little bit of storm anxiety, has behaved himself like the king he is. His forever family tells me they couldn't be happier. YAY! Another RAGOM success story.

Welcome Miss LIzzy!

The Den welcomes a wonderful new little girl to the pack. Her name is Lizzy (08-441) and she is a RAGOM foster. This little girl comes from a fantastic family that, unfortunately, found themselves allergic to her. Lizzy is a delightful 1.5 year old pure bred Golden Retriever with vivacious intelligence and perfect manners. She fit into the pack like she'd been born here and enjoys the company of her foster brothers to an amazing degree. She's had Jerry Bear (08-175) running from the get go, chasing and wrestling, running and fetching for this new cutie pie. Thank you Lizzy - I was beginning to worry a bit about his exercise level. Before you came his favorite walk was the one to the car or to the couch.

Sam, I am

Sweet little Sam had a tremendously busy weekend this week. This gorgeous little guy had a puppy party on Friday at Christi's and got to play with Hunter, Robbie, Meg, Liberty, Jerry Bear, Molly and Casey. Talk about crazy times! I crashed on Mom's leg for a little while - it was pretty intense, all those dogs and people, some I knew some I didn't. Look at that crazy crowd!

Cross Transport

Look at this big new guy! What a doll he is. While not a guest at the Den, I did transport him from motley to the Twin Cities. Can you believe he was going to be SHOT? I was just amazed with this big, cuddly baby. He hopped in my backseat and pretty much form nose to toes took up the entire thing. I was just glad he made it inside the car. This gorgeous boy became a MARS foster and he's available for adoption!

Labor Day

It's a fantastic weekend here at the Den. Having been gently, but firmly persuaded by friends and family that four large furrbutts are just a little toooooo much for any social gathering, we decided at the Den to put meaning to the "labor" part of the Holiday. Mowing grass, deweeding the gardens, pressure washing the green room and deck and pretty much getting ready for the cold winter ahead. Here's a picture of little Sam - the baby - and HIS opinion of yardwork:
Kind of reminds me of my sister and I when we were kids... My own dear Mother told me - many many years ago - that it would only be fair if I had children that were just like me when I grew up. Isn't it funny that, one way or another, parents are always right?

Now Jerry Bear, he's been a huge help with the pressure spraying. He lunges at the mist that comes down from the windows and mock terrorizes the hose. He doesn't quite understand that, for once, the water isn't all about him. As for washing the deck..well, most of the kids have a firm opionion on that:
We had wonderful visitors Saturday morning. Amy and Meg came over with Amy's wonderful Golden girl Minnie (above first on left). The boys and girls played themselves out in a couple of hours and spent most of the evening lying around napping before going to bed at 10 PM and sleeping until 9AM!!! Wow, what a play date. Here's Amy with the pack...do you think she has their attention?
And now, the biggest news for last. Marvelous, miraculous magnificent Jake has found his forever home!!! With a family that is as spectacular as he is! At 1:30PM Saturday afternoon he met the C family who drove three hours round trip to come and see him! It was love at first sight, for Jake and I'm pretty sure for the family too. I wish I had pictures but my eyes were too blurry with tears - happy tears - to focus. They took him for a long walk and he cuddled up to their teenage daughter like the incredible dog he is. The C family will be back today (again, a three hour trip, without a blink of the eye) to take him back with them. I can't imagine a better new beginning for gorgeous Jake! I'll post pics when I get them :)

Here are a couple of other pics of Saturday morning. Little Sam was quite enamored with Miss Minnie! Believe it or not, there are THREE humans on the deck, about three feet from him.

OK...who looks happier... Magnificent Jake or his Fabulous Family?

Cheyenne 08-406, Liberty and Max 08-419

Three new RAGOM royalty came in this weekend. Cheyenne 08-406 has found a foster. She's a charmer! At about four years of age, this cuddle bunny is a lover, not a fighter. She is a Golden Retriever Springer mix and got the best of both breeds. Happy to curl up at your feet and roll for belly rubs she's very good on the recall, so so on sit and rides like the princess she is in the car. Gentle and good natured, Cheyenne is everything one could want in a four footed companion.
Liberty is a frisky, light colored Golden with a friendly nature and an intentness that speaks for the intelligence behind this pretty little girls playful nature. She's gorgeous!
And then there's our little prince, Max...front and center. (Jake, comfortably at home on the couch, Jerry Bear back and right, Lakota, back and left). He's a gorgeous light colored Golden with a really warm personality. He's another cuddle bunny and is great with other dogs. He also fell in love with the kiddy pool and sprinkler. He and Jerry Bear made a night of it out in the backyard.

All three dogs are up to date on their shots and in great health, looking for wonderful forever homes. Please visit the RAGOM.org website for updates and other available dogs. For those who've considered fostering, now is a GReat time to hit the website and put in your application...there are many wonderful dogs available that are in desperate need of a foster. Please, please, please...do it now!

Success Story

This is one of the most happily moving things I've experienced, through all the events and opportunities we've been exposed to through RAGOM. This is Rosie's Story and an incredible sixteen year old girl put it together! THIS is what it is all about. THIS is what 800 volunteers strive for each and every year as we transport dogs from sad circumstances as their first step in a journey to a life that is full of joy and love. Why we spend the time and volunteer power to visit each potential home - which may take some time but gives us the outcome we hope for. Why we foster these beautiful kids and strive to place them in homes just like this one. THIS is what it is like to live the Golden Life.

Rosie's Story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKUmgKayHMc



Thank you, the H family, for sharing this. And especially Miss H, an exceptionally talented young woman! I'm still brushing tears from my cheeks.