The Sweetest Sound

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I'm sharing this article written by Robin, the executive director of Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue because as much as it made my heart hurt, it also made me smile.  DK members and the DRC made a positive impact on this pure breed rescue a couple of years ago and now the rescue takes in golden doodles as well as their beloved goldens.  Robin's "pack" now includes one handsome golden doodle boy. I'm not soliciting donations, just letting you know how the love we shared way back when, keeps on giving.  Happy Saturday! The Sweetest Sound I've Ever Heard   There are a lot of noises around Golden Gateway.   There is the high-pitched, excited greeting each morning at 7:00 a.m. when the dogs greet their staff slaves. Smiles are everywhere - dogs and humans. Both seem to have missed each other overnight. As the coffee brews, first turnout of the day begins and then the dogs' breakfast is served.   While the dogs are eating, the kennel is once again silent. The staff has a quick cup of very strong coffee as they review notes from the night shift and share overnight antics, which can include a smart dog jumping over a half door and greeting the staff in the hallway upon arrival.   Then, it's playtime. The bark pitch is a bit lower. After a few weeks, we know which voice belongs to which dog as they chase each other around the field, nipping at legs and tails.   By 2:00 p.m., it's nap time, and the kennel is silent once again.   Yesterday, this Golden Doodle arrived. It's hard to believe there is a dog under this feces-infested and knotted sweetheart... and he is sweet. He apparently never whimpered or cried as his rescuers managed to shave as much as possible before bathing him. They told us that after the process was complete, he stood on his hind legs to hug, and without his feet touching the floor, managed to move to the next person to give a hug. Surely, this had to be painful.     Judging by his condition, we think he was a breeder dog who managed to either escape or was turned loose. As I held his head in my hands and looked into those huge doodle eyes and long  eyelashes, my anger was hard to control.   Especially in light of what had happened a few days earlier:   When the call came, we thought it was a full-moon joke.   We were told a man was selling four-day-old Golden Retriever puppies, mother and father (a purebred) out of the back of his car for $200.00 each.   Alas... it was true and real, and the Good Samaritan who managed to get the mother, father, and puppies told us that, allegedly, three of the puppies had already been sold. This is tragic news. Perhaps the purchasers didn't know any better and thought they were helping to save a life. (We are continuing to try to find those puppies, so they can be reunited with their mother and siblings for the critical socialization period of their lives.) Another rescuer kept the male as the mother became agitated when he got near her.   The DVGRR "ambulance" was already in use as Marie had taken Leroy for a cardiac consult. (If you remember, Leroy was the puppy from the farm with the heart murmur. Unfortunately, that diagnosis is poor - sub-aortic stenosis. Leroy will not have a long life.) So, Dennis and Inza jumped in my van and made the three-hour trip to north Jersey. The rescuers were great people and had done well providing for mom and puppies. Still, it was obvious that she would need to get on a good diet fast so that her nipples would fill with milk.   The mother is named Blossom, and her spring litter consists of four females and two males. Their names are Iris, Dandy, Clover, Violet, Poppy, and Tiger (as in lily). She is a great mother, and we know why - this was her third litter, and she's only about three years old. We moved mom and babies into Haley's Haven, the lower level of The Lynne Glennon Sanctuary for Senior Goldens and Puppy Mill Survivors, cranked up the heat, and brought in extra staff and volunteers for the first critical weeks of care. We're happy to have gotten the call for this rescue, but having them throws expenses in crisis due to the extra help needed to ensure Blossom is eating enough to support milk production and that all puppies are nursing uniformly and being handled to promote their socialization.   The puppies will be ready to move to their new homes in May. Until then, it is effectively "all hands on deck" for intense handling and socialization.   If you are interested in adopting one of the puppies, and you have an approved application on file, please  [e-mail]. As always, priority will be given to qualified, approved applicants. If possible, please help with a donation to offset the added expense of ensuring that these puppies get a second chance to get off to the right start in life rather than being sold as four-day olds where that prospect was impossible.   So, what, do you ask, is the sweetest sound I've ever heard? It is the long sigh that every dog gives as they lie down, perhaps for the first time in their life, in a warm bed, clean and with a full belly.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thank you, Cheryl.....right back at you!

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Thanks Jane :) 

[Julie, Eloise & Beasley]

So thankful for all those involved in rescue.  Thank you for sharing this story, Cheryl.  It's beyond heartbreaking - sad tears and happy tears all at the same time.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I had the same crazy mix of sad and happy tears.  I sure hope that sweet boy comes out ok.  Now, go hug Eloise and tell her what a beautiful lucky girl she is :) OMD I'm looking at your pictures and I think I'm looking at Finney.  They could be twins :) except FInn's probably not as tall.

[Julie, Eloise & Beasley]

I will do that - any chance I get to hug her, I take it :)  And you do the same to Finn.  He is so handsome!  I agree, they do look like twins. :)  Your photos are beautiful - and Finn looks like he poses nicely for pictures, unlike my girl.  I swear she looks away when she sees the camera 90% of the time.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Thanks! I've learned a lot in the Photography Group.  Finn thought the camera was great fun at first…now not so much : )

[Robin and Libby Louise]

This is a great rescue with a wonderful facility.  I don't live that far and am planning to take a ride there in the nicer weather or to attend one of their functions.  They do a great job.  Thank God they were there for those pups and the poor doodle boy!

[April S.]

So heartbreaking to read this.  I'm so glad there's wonderful rescues like this to take care of neglected puppies.   I cannot imagine treating animals like this, my doodle is my baby.