I got Woody, an 18 month old Golden Toller mix, from a Rescue Center not far from where I live. I've had him about seven months now and I wouldn't trade him for the world.

He was scheduled to be put down the following day at the shelter he was rescued from. The High Sierra Rescue Center picked him up along with six other dogs who were also going to be put down the following day.

I wonder how this beautiful dog ended up at the Shelter? If only dogs could talk - I'd sure love to hear his story.

He was very people oriented - when I first met him he crawled right into my lap and looked up at me with those deep brown eyes and that was all it took - I'd been adopted.

From what I've read most strays tend to be very shy initially when first captured. Woody must of been raised by a loving family as it showed so much in his personality. He was house broken and careful when inside - no attempt to jump up on the counters and he stayed out of the garbage can on the floor.

Don't get me wrong he was a ball of fire outside but he did settle down once inside. He slept up on my bed his first night and was right at home there.

I think someone breed him purposely for duck hunting. The area he was found was definitely a duck hunting area. He's very likely a cross between a Golden and a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. Because there just aren't many Toller's in the area - I myself have never seen one - it would seem someone did some research to locate one and breed it.

My feeling is Woody took off after something - he is a chaser - got lost and ended up at the shelter. And thankfully from there to my home. Why his family didn't search the shelters in the area is beyond me???

How much of the story behind your rescued dog do you know?

Pete

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Sonny, the black lab, ran ahead to make sure there were no gophers or jackrabbits in the way. If you don't give a dog a specific job, he'll improvise one for himself and it will invariably be fun. There's a lesson there.
John Gierach

Chris my golden rescue was owned by an elderly gentleman that used to take him everywhere. He even hunted with him. His owner passed away and the family kept Chris's at his original owners house for a year in the backyard by himself. (Chris used to be a much loved house dog.) They would come by once or twice a day to feed him and pay a little attn to him but that was it. He contracted HW's and the family paid to have him treated before turning over to rescue. He actually went thru HW treatment loose in the backyard... He got turned over to rescue because he would run up and down the fence line barking at the neighbors dogs trying to get somebody to play with him..The family decided to let Chris go to rescue so could find a new family that would spend more time with him....

I fostered him for a couple of months and decided he wasn't going anywhere and adopted him shortly there after.

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Lil

You'll get tons of stories with this post! Some of my rescue stories I know, but most I don't. Sometimes people deliberately leave the dog at the shelter (Buster....).

Anyway, Pete your dog is gorgeous! sounds like he adopted the right person too.

Not a golden, but our springer (Cody) came from ESRA 3 years ago. He was an owner turn in when he was 17 months old. He had been a pet store impulse purchase ( HATE you Petland). When he started growing from a little cute pup to an active, goofy springer, he was thrown in the back yard and forgotten about. The only good thing his first owners did was turn him over to ESRA. At that time, he was on death's door with what was found out to be AIHA. He was covered with fleas and ticks... his skin one huge infection. I found him on their website about a month later and immediately knew he belonged with us. I later found out that there was serious talk of euth'ing him because of all his medical problems.... and who would want to take that on???? The first time they came to meet us and bring him here to see how he'd get along the first thing he did was jump in the kiddy pool. HA He had DH right then. When they got ready to leave, we said our goodbyes and told them we would pick him up in a few days ( we had to go out of town for the weekend.... the longest few days ever!!!). While trying to load him in the car, he got loose and ran back up and was pawing on the front door...... yep, he knew right where he belonged. After about 6 months of some pretty intense medical treatment, he has been off all meds for 2 1/2 years, with a CBC every 5-6 months just to see where he is. To us, he's been a super special gift..... our baby boy.



Who wouldn't love that face???

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Betty and the Dallas crew


“Until one has loved an animal a part of one's soul remains unawakened.” A. France

Oh and know most of the foster dogs stories that I have had the last few years =) there have been a couple

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Lil

Holiday's owners decided to get rid of her because of allergies. They advertised her as a two year old intact Golden. I didn't want some miller to get her, so I went and got her. I knew the minute I laid eyes on her she was staying. DH and I decided we wanted a Golden anyway since his Golden, Francine, was NOT suited to living with a child (she is very unstable).

Starlite I bought to rescue him from a puppy miller in Topeka, Kansas. He was later stolen from me (to make a long story short) and I got him just recently. Obviously, he's never going anywhere.

Ivy (not mine- foster) was turned over to me because her owner had a stroke. He was an elderly man who fed her to the point of neglectful abuse. His daughter couldn't keep her, so I offered to take her in and find the perfect home, which is what I am doing.

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What wonderful stories. You really are hero's being able to see beyond what's in front of you and give these dogs homes or foster them. They're all such deserving dogs.

And Penny & Maggie's Mom that Springer of yours - what a gem. How could anybody possibly just forget about these dogs???

There was nothing wrong with Woody - he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and I got very, very lucky.

Pete

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Sonny, the black lab, ran ahead to make sure there were no gophers or jackrabbits in the way. If you don't give a dog a specific job, he'll improvise one for himself and it will invariably be fun. There's a lesson there.
John Gierach

We just rescued Dory, a lab / golden mix this past weekend. I've posted her story here http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/...ad.php?t=65837 (Dorothy Gale Gilbreath AKA Dory)

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Bailey's first owner was an elderly gentleman who surrendered her due to heart problems. She had not been trained to do anything except be his companion. She went out to do her business on a small enclosed patio, which apparently did not translate to a yard to her. They told me she was not potty trained when I got her.

Bailey was adopted by people who I believe wanted a lay by the fire, calm, well behaved golden retriever. Instead they got an untrained dog with a lot of energy. Based on her actions when she came to me their preferred training method was physical abuse as she would cower and snarl when she was given a command. At times she would lash out if you tried to touch her after giving her a command. They returned her because she bit (imagine that).

I got a call one day from my grandmother who had heard about Bailey from my cousin (I come from a long line of animal lovers). She was very disappointed that my grandfather would not let her have the dog, and she was told they were only giving her one more day to find a home. She told me her history and begged me to "just go look at her." Well, of course she came home with me. She potty trained easily by following my other dog. It took me about a year to gain trust to train basic commands and walking on a leash. She is no longer even the least bit aggressive and has become a wonderful dog. I would not trade her for the world.

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I've had five rescues or "found" dogs in the last 8 - 9 years. I tend to get older dogs since most people want the younger ones.
1. Tramp - a beautiful very old red golen I found when I went fishing one day. He was the first dog I'd had in 15+ years. 8.5 months
2. Boomer- I got him from a little old lady. Her son left his dog there because his wife didn't like it.