We got our wish for another dog — and he’s a doll.
It’s been a long four months since Bailey died, and the house hasn’t been the same since.
The house seemed so terribly empty, and having the kids back to school right after he passed made it doubly so.
Everywhere I went, be it somewhere in my house or around town ore elsewhere, I’d see something that would remind me of my fella and all our special times together.
Knowing that the summer was soon upon us (and the best time for the kids to connect with him), I started my plan to get another Golden Retriever in the house this spring.
And as much as I love puppies, I didn’t want to go through all the months of training and rule-setting. As Oliver reminded me, he’s going off to school in a little over a year and we should have an adult dog who we can get to know and enjoy as-is right now.
Besides, I think rescue dogs are so wonderful because they are particularly grateful for one last chance at security and happiness — and I’m a pretty good dog nurturer.
The new dog plan was given new fire when we went to a Golden Bond fundraiser that month, and I was reminded how nice it was to curl up with a sweet soft dog.
It was at this fundraiser at Glassy Baby in Lake Oswego that we got to meet a very special dog by the name of Scout.
Scout is a dog based in the Portland area that has become Instagram famous for giving out free hugs at nursing homes, colleges, and meet ups all around the area. His mom Melissa is a hugely talented photographer (and sweetheart) and she does a spectacular job of capturing his personality. Scout has has almost 130 K Instagram followers — check out his wonderful IG feed at “scoutgoldenretriever”.
He’s a therapy dog so I knew his demeanor would be relaxed and natural but Scout is more than just that — he exudes this generous, loving vibe and is always smiling, be it running on the beach, accepting hugs from strangers (supposedly street people in particular gravitate towards his non-judgmental love) or just chilling in the middle of a store.
I really believe Scout has such a following because he exudes such brilliant joy and Melissa brilliantly captures that.
I mean c’mon– look at his smile and those bright, shiny, happy eyes.
Because our family had such great success with Golden Bond and Bailey, I knew that this group would be the perfect place for me to find another rescue dog that’d be a good fit for my family. When I visited the volunteers at this Scout fundraiser they urged me to get my re-application in soon as they had a number of dogs coming in from China that they’d be placing shortly thereafter — and there was a lot of competition for them.
So re-apply I did –and not long after we had a home visit with one of the many volunteers who give tirelessly to Golden Bond. Paul came to our house with his older dog Rocky and I think once he saw my kids playing so sweetly with his infirm dog he knew we’d be a good fit.
Our name was then in the system, and we were assigned a certain counselor who oversees your case and advises you. She told us that we had to wait until a foster family chose our application for a possible match, but to let her know if a certain dog came up on the website that we were particularly interested in.
We saw this guy with a Mohawk, and we fell a little in love with his picture and the extended description of his sweet demeanor.
Our counselor put our name in the “please consider” column for Porter, and we waited.
A week later, we got the call. We were chosen by the foster family as the No. 1 pick. We had a few days to get over to visit him and test the doggy waters. Within 24 hours of our meeting we then had to let them know if we wanted Porter (the name he came with) or otherwise the next family on that list would get dibs.
I’m not exactly sure why we got picked first; perhaps because we were repeat customers who’ve demonstrated the ability to adopt a dog with possible issues, we hadkids at home and I’m a stay-at-home Mom?
Either way, but we were so excited when we got to meet him last weekend.
Porter was living at a foster home with three other Goldens
and he was adorable and so relaxed.
Can you see his Mohawk (a indefatigable cowlick)?
We took him for a walk and he couldn’t have been more relaxed on the leash — and like Scout, he exuded this joyous, happy vibe.
By the time we left him we were in love — and we knew he was a keeper.
Ours.
We brought him home the very next day — and he’s just proven to be the sweetest thing.
Right now we don’t know a lot about him other than the fact that he comes from Beijing; we don’t know if he was a stray (apparently when cute puppies get bigger they sometimes are released to the streets) or if he was rescued from a slaughterhouse (as some GB dogs have been).
I’m hoping more details will come soon, but we do know that he’s been checked by a vet, is up-to-date on shots, and vetted by a foster family who’ve observed him keenly for a month.
Physically he looks different than a lot of Goldens I’ve seen; yes, he has the big blocky head and a long fluffy body but he also has very stout and short legs. To me it looks like he’s a bit of a low-rider, and more than a couple people have said he also looks like Chewbacca or an Ewok!
Here he is sitting on my porch and as you can see, his legs are unusually short for a Golden.
He’s got a huge black nose but the one thing that really makes me laugh about him are his giant fluffy paws — like a bear.
We suspect he’s some kind of Golden hybrid — maybe a little Chow? Or?
This past week has just been about taking it easy and trying to settle him.
Porter (I sometimes call him “Pork Chop”) has been through so much, still doesn’t understand much English, and sometimes seems a bit stressed.
He’s probably wondering: Will this be his new home — or just another stop on the road?
We’ll get there with him soon, and this organization has been so wonderful about giving tips and advice on making a smooth and happy transition for all.
Just as with Bailey, I can’t wait for the time when Porter starts to relax, begins to really enjoy perks he’s never yet had (this week alone he’s tried bites of fresh mango, pork, salmon and Cheddar biscuits) and he becomes our little mascot.
Most of all, I am looking forward to him realizing how much he is loved and cherished, and that his days of worry and scrounging for food, stability and affection are gone for good.
So a big thanks for all the good wishes and love (particularly all those emails, many of whom from those of you I’ve never met!) and a big, fluffy, cow-licky Happy Mother’s Day to all the nourishers, nurturers, girlfriends and caregivers out there.
Rest up!
XO
Sarah….So happy that Porter is now part of your family! Lucky pup! Just in time for Mother’s Day and what joy he must be bringing to all of you. Give him a big hug from Annie, Skeezix and me. With much love, Sandy
Sandy! It’s soooo wonderful to hear from you. I know you of all people really know what incredible joy a dog brings into your life, and I haven’t been the same without one. Now more than ever it seemed like the right time, and Porter is a wonderful creature. Maybe you’ll meet him one day if we can ever lure you out from Camden for a proper visit!
My heart is singing for Porter, you & your family. How absolutely wonderful.
I’m reading and tears are flowing with the wonderful news.
It may just be a coincidence, but this morning my husband & I were talking about whether or not to re-apply with Scottish Terrier Rescue Northwest.
Now, after reading and crying tears of joy and remembrance, we have decided to go ahead and open our home & broken hearts to that special someone that needs us as much as we need him or her.
Thank you for being here, for posting your heartfelt thoughts and sharing with those of us out here.
Thank you!!!
Lacy, you made my day with your sweet note — and thanks so much for all the kind words. I’m so happy for you that it sounds like you are ready to begin again — and I’m sure your organization is similarly wonderful. Keep in touch — I’d still love to meet one of these days. Perhaps we’ll BOTH have a dog and we can meet up at a park!? Bes of luck in your journey — and keep me posted!
I’ll let you know WHEN we’re successful adopting a new him or her. I would be trilled to me you & Porter someday. All the very best ~ Lacy
Aren’t dogs just The Best!!! I’m so glad both for Porter and for your family. We will always go with rescue dogs.
Yes, and YES! Lots of people tried to steer us to a puppy (so cute!) but we really wanted to give a loving new home to someone who knew what it was getting was really precious. Oliver uses a football term to describe him “plug and play” meaning he’s ready to go right from the start. Good to hear from you, Vikki!
Tears of joy for the Kline family!
Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lucky Porter, lucky C and O
& so glad there’s a sweet furry boy in the house.
Hugs all around,Sasha
Yes, Sasha, so much gratitude around here. He’s an absolute peach of a dog and we love him so much already. I can’t wait for you to meet him. When are you up next?
Happy Mothers Day Sarah! And by the way — I’m not crying; you’re crying!! 💖
Sarah, I have never met you but my daughter Brooke is a friend of yours and a Golden lover! She has told me so many wonderful things about you and since I have been following you on Instagram I concur!! I am so happy for you and your beautiful family! Enjoy many years and make many memories with Porter! (Your Pork Chop!)
Lanna, I had no idea you are Brooke’s Mom! I think the world of her and every time I see her she exudes such good humor and joy! Thanks so much for the very sweet note and kind words. We are in fact delighted to have another Golden in the home and I hope he settles down soon — poor thing, he still looks so confused and stressed! Do you live in Portland? If so, Brooke and I are going to try to meet up in the park one day over the summer and I’d love it if you could join us!
Oh my, what a great story, Porter is blessed and so is your lovely family. They say the universe makes no mistakes. I look forward to meeting your new family member!
Best to all of you~~~
Mary
Happy Mother’s Day, Mary! Porter makes us feel lucky and I’m so relieved to have a dog in the house again — it felt so lonely without one! Can’t wait for you to meet him. Shoot me off a text or stop by and maybe we can take a mini-walk!
Congratulations, Sarah, from Black Oak Lake! So happy Porter has a loving home. He’s a handsome boy!
We are enjoying our 6mo white Golden named Packer! We lost our beloved Aileron last Nov. Your tribute to Bailey said everything I wanted to say. We still miss her, but Packer is helping to fill the void.
Happy for you all!
Hello Sandy! So sweet of you to chime in with the sweet note. I’m so sorry to hear about Aileron — I remember your pup so well from our float boat party! I so wish we were headed to the Lake this summer but regrettably we won’t be able to make it — my husband needs major surgery the middle of July and so we will be stuck in Portland. Give my Walt and my Mom and Fritz a big Black Oak hug from all of us and another huge one for Packer — I bet he’s gorgeous!!! XO
Aww, I am so happy that Porter rescued your family from a dogless house. Too much love was going to waste there and he is a lucky pup. Those paws and the mohawk are to die for. Congratulations.
Jen, I love that term — “rescued your family from a dogless house”! Thanks so much for the sweet note and well wishes. He’s still stressed and confused by this all but I’m hoping that soon he’ll feel more secure and come to love us just a tiny bit as much as we already love him. He really is a doll.
Yay, for your family! He’s such a cutie!
Thanks, Linda!
Ahh so glad you have another friend .i totally agree with you about the house not feeling the same with out them — it broke my heart when we lost our friend but we to like you have another and my home feels complete .wishing you lots of fun with your new family member sarah x
Well, you know how happy I am for you and your family, and for Porter as well. As you say, there’s something so special about making a rescue feel loved and secure. By the way, we recently decided to do a doggie DNA test on our rescued Golden, just to get a bit more insight into his personality. It sounds indulgent, but there’s a basic one that’s quite affordable. Received the results (just in time for his ‘birthday’ yesterday – the anniversary of the day we got him), and Crispin turned out to be mostly Shepherd (a mix of German Shepherd and White Swiss Shepherd), which explains his body shape (a bit different from your average Golden) as well as his temperament (a bit more aggressive than a Golden would be typically). At any rate, I’m sure you had a lovely Mother’s Day with your two as well as the new “kid,” and happy you will get to enjoy the pitter-patter of those not insubstantial paws around your house again!
That’s so interesting — and so timely. I asked for a dog DNA test for Mother’s Day and we are sending it off tomorrow! Fascinating how the different breeds factor in to temperament and personality. I will keep you posted! Thanks so much Connie for the good wishes and kind thoughts 🙂
Oh my word…. just tears.. and so much happy on these faces. I am so happy for Porter, he has a home with love- security- care- he and you are in for some wonderful times. Growing and loving along with other. This just is so beautiful. Beautiful.
Cindy, thanks so much for chiming in here. I can’t tell you how much all these kind words and well wishes mean to me. 🙂
Makes my heart so happy. A great story with lots of new chapters to unfold.
Cynthia — me, too. Good to hear from you here and sending you lots of love back.
Lovely story. I started to cry pretty much right a way. It brought back memories of many wonderful times spent with 2 goldens which belonged to a friend of mine from work. She would bring them to work some days and it was amazing how they changed the feeling of the Office! I would go see Rudy and Lucy at break time and bring treats. Sometimes Rudy, my special buddy, would come back to my office and would just hang out. Rudy was a deeply wise and benevolent old Soul. My Boss at the time, was a toxic old Cow– who stopped by one day when Rudy was sitting under my desk and cuddled close by my legs. The Cow came by and started her nastiness, but Rudy just stayed close by. Then she became more aggressive–and Rudy stood-up and came around the corner of my desk and just stared at Her. He did not bark, or growl–he just STARED at her. The Cow soon left. Dear, sweet Rudy is now in Heaven, blessing everyone up there with His noble, loving and protective presence.
P.S. Your site is filled with lovely, wonderful stories. Thank you for showing them and attracting them, such a pleasure to visit You and them!
P.S. How is your Husband doing? Has Porter settled in okay? Bet Charlotte is all ready ready for her new school, eh? Thank you for so generously sharing so many elements of your colorful
Life! 🙂 am