Golden Bond Rescue of Oregon

Crossed the Rainbow Bridge November 17, 2009

Zach (#1254) died at home this Thanksgiving weekend, after making sure we were all there with him including our daughters in grad school and college — he waited for them to get home to say goodbye to him. Rich has been carrying Zach outside and we've been hand-feeding him all his special foods to keep him going until his girls got home to snuggle with him. Zach has been in failing health for the last month because of a tumor on his spleen that has been causing internal bleeding, and tumors on his adrenal glands that were causing many other symptoms. The vet told us this is not uncommon in older golden retrievers.

Zach was 13-1/2 years old. Zach was rescued by the Golden Bond Rescue when his previous owners took him to a vet to be euthanized because of his seizures. The vet put him on medication and turned him over to Golden Bond instead, and we took him in as a foster dog. (Zach never had a seizure again.) We liked him so much we almost kept him — but another family wanted to adopt him. Our daughter drove Zach halfway to Brookings and the other family drove up to claim him. Zach didn't want to leave us and obviously sabotaged the adoption. A few weeks later they called and said it wasn't working out, so the Golden Bond Rescue organized a caravan to get Zach back up to Portland. After a couple of days and several transfers, we took him back in, and he clearly felt he was home and we were his family, so we adopted him as our own dog. Zach was the fourth dog we had adopted from Golden Bond, we'd also adopted Midas #393 and Robbie and Ginger prior to this, back in 1994. As the resident golden in a Golden Bond foster home, Zach was a congenial and generous host to many, many foster dogs who have lived with us on a temporary basis over the years.

Zach's favorite activity was rolling in dead fish. He loved to go fishing and rafting with us and would jump out of the boat and swim to the shore to roll in any dead fish carcass he could smell. Zach's most spectacular find was the carcass of a dead cow that had washed down the John Day River. Zach also loved to go on long walks and for rides in the car. He was very patient with the pugs who stole his food and climbed on him. The picture above is the last raft trip he went on, in September 2009.

Rich and Ellen

Adopted September 14, 2005

Zach (#1254) here. Overheard somebody say something about cats and their nine lives. From where I sit, it's Rescue dogs that get the second chance — let me tell you why. Last year my family said dogs like me with seizures take a trip to a place called "Rainbow Bridge." I got to the vet and they called Golden Bond to find me a new place to live. They called it a "foster home." I stayed there awhile, then went to another place. It was OK, but I liked the foster home better, and guess what? They took me back! I've been here for months, having so much fun with the kids and the other canines that I forgot to send in my story until now.

About the picture, here I am on a fishing trip. I don't need a hook, line or sinker — just use my nose! We're out on the boat and I get a whiff of a stinky dead one on the beach, and off I go. There's not much in life that beats rolling in dead fish... life IS good!

Oh, about the seizures? One pill a day, and haven't had another one since that day at the vet. Thanks, guys, for my second chance at life.

Love,
Zach

Zach's "Available" Story

Hi, I'm Zach (#1254) and as you can see, I am one handsome fellow! I have a thick, silky strawberry blonde coat and am a perfect size. They say I'm 9 years old, but I sure don't feel or act like it. I have good teeth, like to walk and run on a leash, and absolutely love to be with my people all the time. I am an affectionate dog and will want to follow you from room to room. When you're out, I'll be happy being out, but when you're in I want to be with you! I even like to carry your shoes around the house if you will let me. I am pretty good about staying away from the dinner table. And, I know some basic commands. They say I have had a history of seizures, although I have not had one since being under observation at the vets or at my foster home. I'm taking medicine to be sure to control it. I'm living with a couple of other dogs right now and I fit right in. If you're looking for a new member of your family who will love to love you back, please call today!

Love, Zach