Day 63

7/14/22

Today, all the stars aligned! I had been waiting and hoping that a miracle would happen for a golden soul in our neighborhood, and today it did!

I am getting ahead of myself. A couple of weeks ago, I was walking Gus when a senior golden crossed a busy street and came towards us. After ascertaining that she was friendly, I looked for tags and discovered only a broken rope. I thought I might know where she had escaped from, so I headed that way.

I walked up the long driveway and knocked on the back door. Gus was behaving (for once), so I could focus on the situation at hand. The dog was matted beyond combing and had an eye infection that made my own eyes sting. That was at a first glance, but someone answered the door at that moment and my attention turned to her.

Now, I had already judged this situation and I was not pleased! I was ready to defend the poor, sweet dog and do whatever was necessary to improve her life. Then I looked at the dog's owner. She was not well. It turned out she was suffering from a number of nasty infections and her husband had barely survived Covid. He was on dialysis and she was bandaged and could hardly walk. My heart softened immediately and I inquired how I could help them. There didn't seem to be anything I could do for the couple, so I said, "If having this dog is too much for you, I will take her and find a wonderful home." I meant it even if that home turned out to be my own! She declined, tied the dog back up outside and started back into her house. I called after her that I meant every word and she could knock on my door if she ever changed her mind.

Now, we come to the stars aligning on this wonderful day. There were many players, so I am convinced the puzzle pieces did not fall into place without some unseen help.

One of our newer neighbors approached the front porch as we sat with our three goldens and a dear friend from high school. She asked if the dog was mine. It was so kind of this lady to bring her our way when she later admitted that she didn't really believe it was one of ours. I told her that she belonged to the house down the street. She took another look at the condition of the dog and decided to call the police. We exchanged numbers and decided to rescue her if the owners didn't show up.

Well, that couple discovered that their golden had chewed through the rope and were in their pickup looking for her. They got a call from the police saying she was down at the station with her rescuer. When they arrived, they were told that I would take her or I knew of a wonderful senior rescue who might just love to add her to their pack.

They drove right to my house and, leaving my dear friend, jumped down from the wall to talk to them. They admitted that she was just too much and that they couldn't care for her any longer. I was crying, the owner was crying, the dog was...looking hopeful.

I brought her into the back yard after assuring the couple she would be loved and taken care of, and I called a true angel. This same angel had just commented on one of my "Walking With Goldens" posts that she had never had the honor of having a golden retriever. Charlean, who runs Old Barkers Farm Senior Dog Sanctuary, answered on the first ring. We had all mourned the loss of one of her beloved pack just a few days before, so I knew she was still sad. I opened with, "Your wish just came true if you can take this sweet golden retriever into your home."

She hardly hesitated. She had an appointment around dinner time, so she asked if we could sit with her so she wouldn't be left alone right away. I answered that I would be so happy to do just that and so the plans for my day were wiped clean. I had the privilege of bathing, combing (attempting to comb) and loving this old girl.

Princess Di, her new name, was picked up this evening and jumped into Charlean's car...with a little boost from her new mama. If a dog could smile and blow kisses, Princess Di was doing just that. I love a good ending to any story, but this is really only the beginning...

For more information on Charlean's rescue (We are proud to support her cause!) look up:

"Old Barkers Farm Senior Dog Sanctuary"

You will see at least seven four-legged angels with their mama who is the most precious angel there!