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.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

*sigh*. Tears! Tears that include both sadness and happiness.
But you just have to wonder..what type of person, surely not " a human being" could do this to a dog? Or any animal.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I know.  I used to help in puppy transport but I'm not sure I could control my anger if I was to confront the actual person(s) who did this.  I'm thankful there are people who can. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thanks for sharing. I am so thankful that these dogs were rescued and are receiving good care.  What a sweet doodle boy with his hugs.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

: ) I think most rescue dogs are forever grateful but doodle hugs are just the best :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thank you for sharing this, Cheryl. The more people who hear the stories, the more we can all do to put an end to this kind of abuse. 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Amen, Karen. Thank you for all you do …you are a champion for JD, rescue and healthy doodles. I hate these kinds of stories but it gives me a lot of hope when I see that people who used to feel that "doodles aren't part of our mission," have fully embraced them. And they are doing a great job. No dog should suffer. 

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

heart wrenching.  I hope we get to see pictures of that poor golden doodle with those mats gone.  the puppies will be adopted, no doubt -  so cute

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I'll try and find pictures, Lori.

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

Happy for goldens to be sure, but the doodle story makes me sick.  Do these people think dogs don't feel pain, cold, or hunger?  How frustrating, but glad he will eventually get the love he deserves. 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

No they don't.  Their only concern is that the dogs get enough so that they don't die --if the dogs are still money makers. If this guy is healthy, or can be brought back to health, he'll get all the love, care, and hugs he needs until his forever home finds him :)

[Wendy and Myla]

Wow, that is just unbelievable!  My stomach is in knots!

[F, Calla & Luca]

These rescue groups are so heroic and tireless. What a story.