Golden Bond Rescue of Oregon

Crossed the Rainbow Bridge April 2, 2011

Taz crossed the rainbow bridge on April 2, 2011 – just 2 weeks shy of his 16th birthday, here at home on his favorite blanket, in front of a warm roaring fire aided by Dr. Erin Hicks and Melissa from Chambers Creek Vet Hospital. A special thank you also to my BFF Shelly for coming over and taking the other three off our hands so we could have a peaceful transition for Taz. 

We were so lucky to have Taz in our lives, adopting him at the tender age of 12 and are so thankful for the time we had him, short as it was. He truly was an amazing dog, and we were happy to give him the best retirement home any dog could have wished for.

Each day with Taz was certainly an adventure.  From first thing in the morning, waking up on the bed, he’d wrestle with his golden brother Ben or with mom or dad, enjoy his very special breakfast, then would go out back and wander around taking in all the smells.  Then, of course, were the hours of relentless retrieving games, even in the  house if the weather was bad, and  more wrestling either inside or outside with Ben or his golden sister Sammi.

Walks were joyous for him, always stopping to take in the scents, meet someone new on the street and happy to oblige that person the opportunity to pet him.  His favorite times were the walks to the Farmers Market because he got to see the cookie lady and get spoiled with many treats and pets from people.  Even on days when the market wasn’t open, he knew exactly what street to turn down and would pull as if to say “Mommy, please – I just know she is there and has a cookie for me”.  And, if she wasn’t there, he knew exactly where her booth was and would sniff the ground, hoping for a crumb left behind! As this last year passed and he couldn’t make the walk, a special ride in the Jeep with daddy was the ticket – his own chauffeur to the market!

Swimming was also an adventure – we were stunned to see him at 12, 13, 14 and even 15 years of age - relentless in the water – swimming, retrieving ‘duckies’, in the community pool (and having to be pulled out by mom because he got tired in the deep end).  He loved Puget Sound, even if it was rocky; dad would have to wade in after him - half an hour in 50 degree water, he’d be shivering but still want to stay in.

Taz was always friendly and fond of all his “people”.  Anyone who came over or anywhere we went, he greeted everyone with a ball or p-rope to play.  His favorite time was any time food was involved, whether it was his or someone else’s.    Pizza, carrots, biscotti and apples were the best treats to steal, but a random piece of steak, cheese or even an unsuspecting finger worked!

Taz had so many amazing qualities and our pack – or as we fondly call our place “Cirque du Siedlicki” – misses him terribly.  His Golden Siblings – Ben, Sammi and Barlow – still showing signs of grief and how different our home is now – very empty and quiet.  Sleeping is strangely difficult, even though he snored, and very loudly – the overpowering quiet of the night is hard to get used to.  I miss my shadow, the only dog I knew that could be so sound asleep that I couldn’t  wake him, but if I left the room, he somehow knew and he would wake up to come find me – I still find myself looking down the hall, or at the dining room entrance for his sweet face looking up at me.

Our hearts are broken and we still have moments of overwhelming sadness, but I just stop and remember the happy, funny antics of our “TazMan, TazzieMoto, Razz-ma-Taz, or BoogerMan” and smile fondly knowing he touched our lives so deeply and the lives of everyone around. 

Thank you Golden Bond Rescue, for all you do for these wonderful dogs.   We were truly blessed to have adopted him, and had him in our lives and now Heaven is blessed to have him.

Chuck & Melissa

Adopted Aug. 7, 2007

Hi Everyone!!! It’s me – Taz #1564 – “the most amazing dog”.

For those that remember me, I’m the guy who had a great life, winning field competitions and hunting championships for ten years of my life. That all changed suddenly. Next thing I know, I’m living in a basement or garage with other family members, then went to a family friend, then thankfully to Golden Bond who took me in.

What’s amazing? Well, back in August, at the tender age of twelve, I was adopted!!!! I have a new home that is full of fun, love and lots of toys. Best of all, it came with two four-year-old golden siblings, my new sister Sammi (Samantha) and my new BFF brother Ben.

I adjusted very quickly. In the beginning, I did my thing – you know - the retrieving game that I can do for hours on end, kept to myself and hung out with my new mom and dad. Then I’d settle in and pretend that I wasn’t interested in them – I mean, they’re just dogs, too. But, what I was really doing was studying – taking it all in.

Boy did that pay off! I watched how Sammi and Ben played with each other, and I learned how to start up a wrestling session just like they do. I must say I caught everyone off guard. So, whether it is on the bed when we first wake up, out in the back yard or in the dining / living room (which the latter apparently isn’t appropriate when we have human guests over!!!!) we have a ball – it’s so much fun.

Ben and I play tug of war with ropes and are always together. I think Ben and I have a special bond, as he is a rescue golden, too. If I’m not playing retriever with mom or dad, or wrestling with Sammi, I’m laying on one of many very comfy beds, and always close to Ben. I also sleep on the bed at night – I wiggle in between mom and dad – dad thinks its cool, mom does too until I start snoring, then I keep her awake. Ben and Sammi sleep on the bed too – good thing it’s a king size one! Room for all of us!!!!

I go to daycare every Thursday which at first I thought it was just okay, but now I love it and am so excited to go and play all day and hang out with new friends. Even the day care workers say how much I’ve changed!!! They have parties all the time; we went to the “Howl-o-ween” party and just had a Christmas party where we had our picture taken with Santa. I also got to be in an advertisement video for the “Duggan Foundation” here in Seattle/Tacoma through the daycare, it’s a foundation that raises money for people to help get their pets spayed or neutered, and they provide food for the pets of low income families and also give money to rescue shelters. The video was shown at the “Fur Ball” – a formal event in Tacoma dedicated to pets and their people.

My folks have all sorts of friends that come over so there is always something going on. I love my Aunt Shelly and Uncle Steve and my dog cousins Woody and Polly. My aunties – Carrie, Karlee, Mary and Patricia –I see every couple weeks when we have what is called “Grey’s Anatomy” night. I did learn that it is not appropriate to get too close to their food, nor is it okay to drop your play rope on to someone’s plate. Mom was pretty cool about it, but once the three of us got put in to time out in the bedroom and boy that sucked!!

Dad is trying to find information on my past with the hunting and field work. He’s pretty sure no guns were used in the competitions I was in because he took me to the gun club ONCE. Let’s just say I didn’t like it at all. I tried to dig my way out of the truck!! I also do not like thunder storms – mom stayed up with me all night during one severe one, but with each thunder boomer, she gave me a small bite of a cookie to help calm me down.

Anytime we run in to someone new, they don’t believe I’m 12 years old, they think I’m really young until they really look at my eyes. I don’t scratch at my skin anymore, the doc thinks it was an anxiety thing and it stopped just a while ago when I started feeling comfortable in my new home. My mom is a skin care specialist so she has helped with the itchy skin, she also spotted a small melanoma which was removed and I’m clear of any problem there.

So, yep, this is me, Taz. I do have an amazing new life. Thank you to my mom and dad, for adopting and loving me; my new brother and sister for accepting me; and for Golden Bond, for rescuing me and believing I could have a new start. This is the best!!!!