Monday, September 15, 2014

Tuesday's Tails: Goldie, Goldie, Goldie...

This post is a longer one than my usual Tuesday's Tails, but please, please...read through to the end and share if you can. <3

(Photo courtesy of HSNI)

I have mentioned Goldie - an 11-year-old Golden - on this blog on four separate occasions:





And now today's post, in which I beg - no, implore - you to please share Goldie's story.  She arrived at the HSNI in January of 2013, twenty pounds underweight and severely traumatized.  Her previous owner had abandoned her in an outdoor kennel for over three weeks - out of fear, hunger, and stress, Goldie had chewed off and ingested her own tail.

Goldie cannot be in a home with any other animals.  She cannot be adopted to a home without a fenced-in yard.  She also cannot live with a family who will leave her alone for long periods of time.  Goldie is also not house-broken.  For these reasons, she has remained in the shelter for what's coming up on two years.  Two years!  Goldie is nearing the end of her life, and she has never once known what it is to be someone's pet.  

The amazing Susie's Senior Dogs has featured Goldie THREE times.  Each post has garnered thousands of likes, hundreds of comments and shares.  The comments typically range from sympathetic ("That poor girl!") to just plain unhelpful ("If someone is going to get a dog that's not house-broken, they'd probably just get a puppy, not an 11-year-old dog...").  Most of the comments are something along these lines:  "I wish I could take her, but..."

So many buts.  It's totally understandable - Goldie is not an easy case.  However, she is a great dog.  She is smart, playful, and in great shape.  To be honest, she acts more like a puppy than the senior dog she is.  The great loves of her life are walks, water, and tennis balls.  She could make someone a great pet.  But each day I grow more and more terrified that Goldie's life will end with her still behind bars at the shelter.

The last time Susie's Senior Dogs featured Goldie, the HSNI received one phone call asking about her.  One.  Goldie deserves more than one phone call.  These are the types of cases that make me feel so helpless and so worthless - it tears me apart that I cannot make a difference, that I cannot help this girl.  I so wish that someone would step up and give Goldie a chance.  Is that someone you?

Please share.  I apologize for the depressing novel of a post I've just written...but my heart is breaking for Goldie.  Please share. <3

To end things on a slightly more positive note, check out these AMAZING photographs of adoptable dogs that Love & Luck Photography recently took at the HSNI! (All photos courtesy of Love & Luck and the Humane Society of North Iowa)



Milo, whose fur was so full of painful mats when he arrived that the staff had to stop for a break halfway through!  Don't worry, his furry head is now shaved down and he is super handsome :)

I absolutely love this photographer's work.  Amazing, right?!




25 comments:

  1. Definitely a heartbreaking story. Goldie deserves to find a home or maybe a wonderfully beautiful animal sanctuary, like Best Friends. Sharing in hopes that this time the forever home arrives.
    And those photos are great!

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    1. Best Friends would be amazing for her! Thanks for sharing, Mark.

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  2. Poor sweet Goldie. Truly hope someone can step up for her soon. Sharing.

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    1. I hope so too, Sue. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  3. Oh, Goldie's story brought tears to my eyes. What a sweet and happy face she has....surely someone could find it in their heart to help her? Sharing her story and praying for her.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words, Janet. She does have such a happy "puppy-like" face; I can't believe she hasn't won someone over yet!

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  4. Poor baby! We'll definitely be looking in to helping, I wish we could do more. Sharing her story.

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    1. Your shares definitely help a lot! Thank you so much <3

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  5. Prayers that Goldie finds her forever home soon. Will share Goldie's story.

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  6. Goldie so deserves to spend her golden years in a home with a real family! I will share and hope for the best for this sweet dog.

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    1. No dog deserves to spend her golden years in a shelter :( Thank you so much for sharing!

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  7. Poor Goldie. I wish I could help her to make her last months as enjoyable as possible, but unfortunately I live on the other end of the planet :(

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  8. I feel so bad for Goldie. Paws crossed somebody gives her a home. Sharing.

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  9. Sharing! Wish there was something else we could do.

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  10. Will share. I hope Goldie gets to spend her final days with a family she can call her own. If Goldie doesn't find a home there is still good news in her life that you can celebrate. She is safe, has plenty of food, she doesn't have to sleep outdoors and she has your love and the love of the other shelter volunteers.

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    1. It's true - Goldie is very well taken care of there. The employees are wonderful and dote on her. She does seem like a happy dog. The thing that gets me, though, is that she has NEVER been a loved member of a family before. I think every dog should get to experience that before they cross the Rainbow Bridge. :( Thank you for your kind words!

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  11. Those are great photos! Shared all of these dogs and I hope they find forever homes soon!

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  12. We have nominated you for an award on our Thankful Thursday post today!

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  13. Wow that is so hard. I will share her. I pray she finds the home she needs so she can experience that life. All animals deserve that.

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  14. Shared on Twitter & Facebook. Sure hope this little girl will find a good home soon, she's so deserving of it!!

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