Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Why we foster, Mogley. Part one of many to come

Below, Mogley the Rescue dog and blogger.

For the next few weeks, or months, I will be sharing my blog with my human family.   They were asked to write a short piece about "Why we volunteer to rescue and foster".   That short piece became too much for one newsletter, it will be a series of stories on individual dogs and their stories.
Please share these with friends, we hope we can inspire more people to volunteer to work in rescue. 

Why we Foster:

Our daughter became a foster home for Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies (GRRR), she led the way for us. We always had a Golden in our life, she was raised with Goldie, a Golden Retriever that helped her though school, prom dates and saw her off to college. When she married, they went looking for a Golden and found the GRRR. We attended a rescue event with her and in 2007 we asked for a foster that would not be in great demand, we lived a long ways away and did not want to drive back and forth to meet with adopters too often. Mary said she had just the dog for us, he was only six months old, but no one would want to adopt him because he had a bad heart. He probably would not live to be more than more than three years old, he would be difficult to place in a forever home, forever might not be that long. Mary told us to “take him home and give him a good life”. Mogley had been rescued off of the “kill table” at a vet's office, he had been ordered put down by his owner/breeder who discovered a heart defect, sub-aortic stenosis, that would make him unsellable. Mogley had already received one of the two shots that would terminate his life on the stainless steel table when someone came into the room, saw a beautiful young Golden about to die, and came to the very last minute rescue of an unwanted dog. They woke Mogley up and called Golden Retriever Rescue. He began his journey to a new life, groggy but alive. A volunteer transported him from Southern Colorado to Denver where he was ready for a foster home, and ultimately a real forever home, however long forever might be.

Below, a very wet and tired Mogley at the annual Golden Retriever Rescue Reunion Picnic at the lake in August 2007, one month after joining us. 
Mogley met Bella, our pound rescue lady, they fit together perfectly. After only a few days with Mogley we knew we had to adopt him, we did not want to take the chance of losing him to someone else, he was an incredible addition to our family and to our life. We were a foster failure on our first try. Mogley began writing his blog about his life and about the incredible dogs that have passed through our lives. Four years ago we had a back yard of green grass and flowers, today we have a few patches of green amidst the weeds, it has never looked so good!

Below, a very wet and tired Mogley at the Golden Retriever Rescue Reunion Picnic, August, 2008
Mogley's heart? He has a heart that is big enough to welcome the 65 fosters we have shared out home with. Mogley's tasks include teaching newcomers the rules of the house. No sleeping on furniture, how to use the dog doors, no waiting in the garage when the garage doors are open, no swimming in the Koi pond, no digging except in designated digging areas (the garden). He teaches them that at 7:00 and 6:00 dinner is on its way, treats are about ½ hour after dinner. Treats are usually pills hidden in peanut butter. Everyone must sit in a circle for treats. Because so many of the rescue dogs have health problems, everyone gets a pill, even if it is just a vitamin supplement. Mogley's tasks are many, and he takes them seriously. He has to share his toys, but in return he has a continuous play date.   

As you can see from his birthday photo, Jan 2009, below, he has a lot to share.
Since then we have (as of Nala) fostered 65 different dogs, every one has a story, a story that deserves telling, a story that would bring tears of sorrow or tears of joy. We hope that sharing a few with you will help you realize that every dog is a story waiting to be shared, a life waiting to be helped along its way. We foster because of Mogley, but also because of Nala, Stella, Clyde, Ginger, Molly, Jake, Hudson, Ruby, Thelma, Chase, Black Jack, Agnes, Butter, Honey, Charles, Duke, Daisy, Snickers, Aspen, Verna, Star and 40 others that have shared our lives. Each one has a story, a story we want to share with you. Be patient, it will take a long time to tell their stories, one by one.

We still don't believe that they let us take these wonderful dogs, bring them into our home and share our lives, and all for free. They don't charge us for the joy and happiness that we have shared with them, they don't charge us for the love they have shown us. 

This is why we foster: Part one of many to come.

Mogley G. Retriever

14 comments:

  1. Oh my my -

    Mom is all leaky -

    And she knows there will be more tears to khome in the series -

    Given our housing situation - with The Doggy Nanny - we khan't foster - that's why Mom transports - it's her giving bakhk -

    It sounds like Mogley would sekhond the little 'chat' Mom has with her passengers each time she has special 'khargo' -

    Hugz&Khysses,
    Khyra
    PeeEssWoo: THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  2. Oh man, 65? You are wonderful, wonderful people! I know that you know they go to great homes, but I don't know that I could give them up!! I know that Mogley is living as long as he has because of the love and care you give him.

    I posted this on my Facebook page and asked people to share it. I'm going to post random stories as you post them on my blog as well.

    Thank you for what you do. Thank you!!!

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  3. Second chances, or in my case, third chances are a good thing. I will spread the word through Facebook. Tucker

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  4. I posted a link to your blog on mine.
    http://ifididnthaveasenseofhumor.blogspot.com/

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  5. A truly heart warming story, not only about "nick-of-time" Mogley, but your commitment to Golden rescue. Lady is our first rescued senior Golden, but will not be our last. We do what we can for our Golden rescue groups and always wish that we could do more and give more. I can say for sure that from the day Lady we brought Lady home, it was decided that we would only rescue senior Goldens for the rest of our lives. I would be glad to put links to your foster story posts on my blog.

    Bless you for your dedication to Goldens in need.

    KT and Lady

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  6. T_________T

    i salute you!
    so much dedication.
    i really hope more people here like you

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  7. I admit, you must have a heart as big as all outdoors. There is a lot of love to give, but I know from experience the reward is tremendous. I am looking forward to all your stories.

    Trudi, mommie of Earnhardt, Lady(senior), Sandy Paws and Oliver.

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  8. Mogley - you & your people have GReat big hearts! Apples Neeli & I are looking forward to reading more of your blog stories!

    God bless
    Nadine Apples & Neeli

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  9. All we can say is that we appreciate all of the people who rescue, transport, foster, donate, and help in any other way. We are all at Chez Herd because people took the time to help us canines. Thank you.

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  10. Hi Mogley

    We don't always comment, but we are faithful readers of you blog, and we took this opportunity to share you blog with our friends at our blog to thank you for all the incredible work you do for GRRR. We can't wait to read even more about all your fosters.

    Tucker and Daisy
    http://tuckerdaisy.blogspot.com/2010/10/we-interrupt-our-regularly-scheduled.html

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  11. Ohhhhh! We're overwhelmed with big tears and huge smiles! So great to read Mogley's story and yours! Looking forward to many inspiring posts.

    Hugs and snaggle-tooth kisses,
    Sierra Rose

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  12. What an incredible story! So glad Mogley was rescued in time and he ended up with you.

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  13. Mogley, this is my first time hearing your rescue story. Now I love you and your humans even more. Tell your humans to smooch you on the nose for us okay?

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  14. I was sent here by Khyra and read Agnes's story, then couldn't stop until I had read all four. You are a wonderful example to us all. I have had several rescue dogs and now have (another!) Stella, who had spent 3 months in the slammer. I am putting you on my blog roll so I don't miss anymore of your stories.

    Cheers and hugs,
    Jo and Stella

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