It has been a while since I have been on tripawds.com.  It was very difficult for me after Jake's sudden death. As many of you know, Jake and I were a team. He was by my side as a parent, at work, as a Therapy Dog Team, as my best friend.  His death on December 19, 2012 came less than four months after his amputation. He lived every moment of his life 100%.

How different my home feels without him. In fact, not like home at all. I wish, as most who have lost a dog do, I could bring him back. Instead I began to think about having another dog. I began to look, even fostered an Anatolian Shepard for a month, but it was not the right fit for my family. I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach that I wanted another golden. That turned out to be easier said than done.

Then a friend, who I met here (tripawds.com), posted a photo of a dog in Southern California. He was in rough shape. Having been neglected to the point where a huge fibrosarcoma tumor on his front right leg had erupted and was infected. His fur was tangled and matted. He was dehydrated. It was estimated that his owners had neglected his health and care for almost a year, leaving him in their yard and ignoring the problem.  Finally surrendering him when he was rescued by the Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue. Amputation was immediate and invasive.  They took the leg and the shoulder blade.

Then my friend, Carrie Madrid, who many of you know is the foster mom for Buddy Golden, told me to put in an application to adopt "Woodley". I reminded her that I had already tried to adopt from a rescue, but was told I was out of their adoption area. She said "Then what have you got to loose."

The response to my application was as expected "Thank you, but you are out of our adoption area." The next day, Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue announced that they "might have found the most wonderful home" for Woodley. I was happy for him, a little sad for me, it was a long shot anyway. But 6 minutes later, I got an email. It said that I "would make a wonderful mom for Woodley"!

For the next few days, updates on Woodley's recuperation came in, then in one conversation with Barbara with SCGRR she started talking about other Goldens who were recently rescued needing medical attention.  How odd to have two needing amputations just days apart! She mentioned a female who had a botched surgery on her hind leg after an accident.  Because of this, "Heather" was undergoing an amputation of her left hind leg.

Crazy as this may sound, I couldn't get it out of my head that there were these two beautiful Goldens in need of forever homes. I bet you know where this is going...

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