Goldie is a three year old Golden Retriever who was rescued by an elderly man named Jack.  She was owned by a woman who had little time for her and so neglected her.  Our sweet girl spent much of her life tied outside on the end of a chain.  The woman's social worker, a true dog-lover,  tried to get her to give up the dog.  She finally did when she had to move.  The social worker was going to take Goldie home with her while trying to find her a home, but she already had 4 dogs of her own.  Enter Jack, a friend, who offered to take Goldie.  As he said to me, "I thought four dogs would overwhelm Goldie."  Jack has an 11-year-old golden retriever that he takes to the dog park every day.  When he showed up with an extra dog, the regulars asked what the story was.  Jack explained, and that he was trying to find Goldie a home.  Concerned that Goldie was a bit much for Jack, they rallied around him, trying to find her a home.  One took photos and posted the story on facebook, and I was tagged in it.  I called Judy, told her about Jack and Goldie, and of course she said she'd take the girl, no problem.  Naturally, the original photos from the dog park are included here because I want you to see the effort made to save this girl.

Here's the thing:  Jack had every reason in the world not to help Goldie.  He already had a big dog.  He is an elderly man.  And he has Parkinson's disease.  He didn't need to become involved.  But he did, and he saved her life. I've included on Goldie's webpage a photo of her and Jack, taken when he brought her to us.  Look at those faces and tell me you don't have time to make a difference.  Jack stands as a testimony to all of us that we can make a difference, that we should make a difference, that our excuses are just that: excuses. 

While in his care, Jack brought Goldie to the vet where it was shown that she is heartworm positive.  Not a real shock, given her situation.  But not a real concern either.  Treating with regular heartworm preventive like Heartgard slowly kills off the heartworms.  I speak from experience ~ my own dog was positive, treated with monthly preventive, and negative a year later. 

Oh, one more thing.   Jack says, in retrospect, Goldie would have done fine in a home with four dogs.  She loves the dog park and romping with everyone ~ dogs, kids and adults.  He says she is a wonderful dog.  "I've grown attached to her already and I think she feels the same way."   Goldie is pretty special; despite a sad, neglectful life she has retained her puppy-joy.  A special dog indeed.

OK, one MORE thing.  I think that it is quite possible that Goldie is a Novia Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriver.  A relatively rare breed, they are very similar to Golden Retrievers, just a bit smaller, usually with a white patch on the chest.  If you know the breed, you know how great they are.  But, again, they aren't very common in Florida, so maybe I'm wrong, and Goldie is just a smaller Golden Retreiver.  One way or another, she is wonderful!!!