Golden Bond Rescue of Oregon

Crossed the Rainbow Bridge January 25, 2012

We met Sunny #2126 after he was surrendered to Golden Bond Rescue last springtime, with the idea that we would be his foster family.  It’s no secret that we’ve flunked Foster 101, 201, etc., and this time was no exception.  Sunny was a big, rangy old red dog, whose most active years were long behind him. He needed a lot of love and food and a comfortable place to live out the rest of his days.

Sunny got along well with his Golden brothers Bear and Caliber and even tolerated Max, the cat.  He accompanied Don and the other dogs on their daily walks around town and the campus and enjoyed being out and about until just a few weeks ago.  He loved being outside in the sunshine and sleeping under a tree or on the deck.  As time passed, his activity level decreased, but he still loved his outside time and was an awfully good helper when yard work was being done.  Sunny really enjoyed spending time at the back fence, where he wagged his tail and touched noses with two little Chihuahua friends, making his ‘barking’ noises at them.

Sunny loved to be petted and would spend every evening lying near our chairs where he could “nerf” our hands from time to time; he would put his head on whatever knee was available and we couldn’t resist looking into those soulful eyes that were so full of love and adoration.  A look from sweet Sunny could make the most rotten day bearable, and petting his big, old head made everything okay again.

Sunny enjoyed good food and laughter, he patiently waited at the kitchen door for whatever treats were available – tomato bites, cooked chicken, pie crust and cheese.  He loved tortilla chips and guacamole.  He patiently sat on the floor beside the dinner table, knowing that he would get his share of handouts in due time.  Hand feeding Sunny had challenges, as he frequently thought fingers were part of the meal.  His failing sight made these experiences even more interesting and we still marvel that we didn’t lose one or two in the process.

During the past few weeks, we noticed that Sunny’s legs gradually began to weaken.  He could barely see or hear, but his spirit was still shining through.  He lost his appetite and wanted only to sleep.  We knew that his time had come to go to heaven.  Sunny took one last breath as we held him close and Dr. Ken helped him to cross the Rainbow Bridge.  We know he’s happy barking and running and chasing squirrels, and meeting all those wonderful dogs we love and miss so very much.

Don and Patty

Permanent Foster May 2010

There is not much known about Sunny’s (#2126) past except that he was found running loose and severely undernourished and taken to the Lane County Animal Shelter in 2009 where he was adopted by a guy who had him for 18 months before he realized that he had too many animals and in 2011 contacted Golden Bond Rescue.

When a Golden Bond volunteer went out to evaluate Sunny as well as transport him to his foster home it was quickly seen that he could not get in or out of a vehicle without help and that he was also hard of hearing.

Once he was in his foster home, his foster family found that they had to help him up, especially in the morning because his rear legs just would not allow him to rise.

For a 12-13 year old; Sunny is a trooper. When his foster family goes on their daily walks with their other two dogs they take him with them. Although he is slow, he is quite durable. The funny thing is that he does have a faster gait, but needs inspiration to use it. If approached by people especially ones with dogs, his ears come up and he goes into a trot. Or if a jogger goes by, the same thing happens. His foster dad’s theory is that he used to belong to a jogger, because he looks like he wants to run, just can’t muster the energy.  His gait is kind of funny, as it resembles John Wayne - his front legs criss-cross into kind of a swagger and when he increases speed his whole body goes into a bounce and his ears flop up and down. The sad thing is that his rear legs, while they look strong, are not. His rear kind of sags and his tail sits between them.

Sunny absolutely craves company. Those big eyes, when he can spot you, follow your every move. He will put his massive head on your knee and can stand hours of petting and love. His eyesight and hearing are limited. When he has lost track of you, he will stand there like a statue, wondering where you are. He can hear sharp noises and things like a dog bark, but little else. Sunny has a great appetite and loves handouts of virtually any kind. Because his sight is a little limited, you have to be careful feeding him. Palm of hand is safest, but if you like to live dangerously, you can try your fingers. He has a two chomp approach; you better have given him the food on the first chomp because it is followed by a second one that could remove a finger.

In all, Sunny is a great dog to have. He has the biggest, warmest head that when hugged can bring joy to your heart; reminds you of the times when you were a kid and had a big dog to hug. His foster family is happy to care for him and love him and soak up his love. When his days come to an end, they will be sad to see him go, but glad to have known him.

Available Story

Hi, my name is Sunny (#2126), although at this stage of my life, I feel more like twilight. My past is kind of sketchy. I think I am 12 or 13 years old, but you know how a dog's memory can be. I am a tall, rangy guy; I suppose I weigh about 85 pounds. I have lived several places, but this foster home sure suits my fancy. I get regular meals, regular rest, and tons of love. I have two Golden housemates, and we get along just fine. We even have a male cat that tries to tease me, but I ignore him.

My old bones don't jump around so well. When I came to my foster home, I just plopped down and had some trouble getting up, especially on slick floors. This bunch I am with walks a couple miles every day. At first that was quite a haul, but now I am pretty used to it. It has made my get up and go much better. I was a one-step dog at first, but my crafty foster man set an Arthur Murray book in front of me, and now I can handle the two-step pretty well. My hearing and eyesight are diminished, but I eventually see and hear you. On walks, I hear dogs barking or coming near, and boy, does that make my juices flow. My ears perk up, and I begin to trot.

What I love most of all is being hugged and kissed. My head is large and can be heavy, so I like to lay it down on someone's knee. I can take a lot of that. Of course, it goes without saying that my appetite is just fine. At my foster home, we get a lot of treats beside our regular meals, and I like that a lot. You just have to be careful giving me a treat because I sometimes think your hand is part of the deal.
Sunny

I need a forever home where I can get as much love as I am getting here. I don't have any problems being the only dog or in a bunch, I just want my humans. They are the best for encouragement, exercise, and — most of all — the love they are so good at giving. Gosh, I love those hugs, kisses, pats, and just good old-fashioned company. I like to sleep on the bedroom floor, not far from your side. My Golden pals and I play musical beds at night, but I always end up on the softest bed — my personal favorite. I may be slow, but in the end, craftiness wins out.

I'd love to get a chance to meet up with you.