Tropical Dawg Graduates

We are updating and consolidating our site. In an extreme moment of enthusiasm I deleted a bunch of pictures. We don't want anyone to feel bad -if your golden's picture was here and is no longer please send me a new one along with an update and it will be posted on our new GoldenBlogging Media Center In fact we'd like to hear from all our folks out there that have adopted from us.

Remember Chevy! he got hit by a car and had a fractured pelvis. well look at him now.

Ok here's the update! As I said, we adopted Susie about 4 years ago when we were living in Delray. My daughter got married almost 2 years ago and is now living in North Carolina. She begged and pleaded for the dog when she left saying she didn't know if she could stand it being without Susie. We relented and off she went. Susie also has a playmate-- a half Golden/half yellow lab that keeps her company. He's a bit younger with tons of energy so Susie never gets bored. ..... enjoy. Scott

Belle was found wandering the streets of Lake Worth, she was malnourished and filthy. It took 5 baths to figure out exactly what color she was and it turned out to be a beautiful reddish gold. Her head was bigger than her body, she was so skinny. I took her in as a foster dog so she could wait for her future permanent home in comfort. The poor girl got beaten up by my cat on a regular basis though and she was petrified of him. Although after being with us for 2 weeks I wandered out one morning and saw both Belle and the cat curled up together asleep on her dog bed and knew that Belle had already found her permanent home.

One month after she celebrated her 2 year anniversary with us, Belle was diagnosed with bone cancer and given one month to live. About 2 months later it appeared that although late, the doc's words were going to come true. She was lethargic, uncomfortable and couldn't get up off of her bed. I put her collar on and of course no well dressed Golden leaves the house without her bandana...in this case the Rescue League's pink flamingo one....and with help of a neighbor carried her out to the truck. I cried all the way to the vets, thinking that her time with us was way too short and how wrong that was. As I went to open the back hatch there was a regal looking Golden Retriever standing there surveying her surroundings. She then jumped down on her own and walked to the door of the office with me. To say that I was amazed would be quite the understatement. The girls at the vet's were waiting for us with tears in their eyes because they knew her story and what we were there for. When she walked in and saw them she must have known what was happening because on her 3 good legs she dragged me back to the door twice. Now understand....after she jumped out of the truck like that there was no chance that she was going anywhere other than home with me for some cookies and play time with her adopted Golden brother, Dreyfus. However while we were there I did want the doc to check her out. I guess she didn't understand that part of it and kicked up the biggest fuss I've ever seen. She placed herself between me and the vet and bumped me backwards toward the door, when that didn't work she barked at me and then grabbed my hand in her mouth and proceeded to pull me to the door. In the end it took 3 people to lift her up onto the table and hold her down while the doc examined her. She had an infection and that was probably bothering her more than the cancer! So after getting a cortisone shot and some antibiotics we set off for home to celebrate! Evidently there's magic in that pink flamingo Rescue League bandana!

I'm happy to say that 4 months after the diagnosis the cancer has not grown appreciably and she's still loving life, chasing lizards, barking at the dogs next door and sleeping on Mom's bed. Belle's story just goes to show the resiliency and will to live and play that these precious Goldens have. They are truly a gift.

Dec 20th 2004 Belle lost here battle with Bone Cancer I can ever thank Sali enough for taking in Belle and loving her so much. All though I don't think either Belle or Sali had much choice. It was fate they spend this time together.