There is a satisfaction in volunteering - the knowledge that you've been part of a process that has helped someone, somewhere, somehow - that cannot be matched.
I've volunteered for innumerable different causes over the years and every experience has brought that thrill of knowing that, in little ways, I'm making a difference.
My latest pursuit is by far the most satisfying, exciting and challenging to date.
R.A.G.O.M. (Retrieve a Golden of Minnesota) is an organization that saves and re-homes Golden Retrievers throughout Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Dakotas.You can find their web page at www.RAGOM.org.
I started volunteering with this organization in February as a transporter. Someone would call the organization - whether it was a shelter, or a good samaritan, or simply someone forced by unfavorable circumstances to surrender their dog - and a notice was sent out looking for volunteers to go and pick them up and bring them to a local vet and/or a local foster. After any number of trips to Iowa, southern Minnesota and one memorable on to South Dakota I found myself more and more taken with the people and the dedication that this organization brings to their mission.
After one very special trip to Wisconsin to pick up a pair of outdoor four footed brothers, I found myself volunteering to be a temporary foster for one of those gorgeous farm dogs.
I brought Jerry 08-175 home and was totally enthralled by him. As an outdoor dog, this beautiful golden had never been in a car or inside a house. He was raised in the country, far from the smells and noises of the city. With a sense of regal patience he took every challenge in stride and I found myself absolutely entranced as I watched him learn to play, enjoy the fellowship of his foster brother Lakota and become an absolute snuggle bunny at the end of a long day.
With a resigned acceptance, I wore the label of foster failure with a sheepish but resolute grin. I adopted my first foster dog with a joy and sense of humbled amazement. Some things are just meant to be.
Since then, I HAVE managed to foster and joyously re-home another Golden fuzzbutt, which has given me the confidence to take on the biggest challenge to date। Please join me in welcoming Jake, an eight year old Golden of gorgeous temperament and Sam, a 40# Golden mix feral 1.5 year old, that I will be fostering this summer. Stop in daily for updates on how things are going and please, feel free to offer advice and comments as I'm sure we'll meet more than our fair share of challenges in the weeks to come.
Welcome, Jake and Sam!
Heidi Michelle
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Hello-we are the orginal owners of jake08-243.we had to give him to ragom becasue we were moving to a new house and could not take pets,very hard to do, miss him bunches...we got him when he was a puppy,He was abused by his doggie mom we were told , he still has a scar on his nose from that,he has always been submisses and lays on the ground , and pees ,He alawys loved his belly rubs and his buddy quentin who took him for walks misses him to , he does loves his bones and likes to be loved,thank you for the updates,
love the markforts
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