5/11/07: Friday Afternoon: we picked up our new 1 year old foster Golden (who we thought was "Lou") from a wonderful International Falls Humane Society employee. She agreed to transport him halfway to us to Bemidji (even with the price of gas at a scary $3.19). She told us that the family who originally adopted Lou from their HS had changed his name to Sam and he has been Sam for 6 months. Now he is Lou/Sam 07-321.
His family lived out in the country and had to keep Sam hooked up to a lead all the time because he constantly ran down the road to other farmsteads. Sam had a thick leather collar on that was far too tight because the owner said he was 'Houdini' in disguise and wiggled out of other collars. We immediately gave him a soft new collar and put his "I am a rescued Golden Retriever" tag on. He tumbled into our old Camry ready for adventure - my 13 year old son (who skipped school for the day trip) told Sam he was a "RAGOM dog" now and his forever family would find him soon. We stopped by the lake to pee on Paul Bunyan's leg and then we were off. "Go west young man."
Sam is a good car rider and had his head out the window at an amazing 60 miles an hour with his eyes closed and saliva blowing in the wind. He appeared to have some killer hair balls behind his ears and a few random ticks. His fur is pretty dirty around his neck, so I think he's going to go in for some grooming as I'm not sure I can bathe a rambunctious one year old. I believe he was an outside dog so it will be interesting to see what lies ahead in the housetraining realm.
We arrived home and walked Sam around the yard but he was anxious to go straight into the house. I think he saw resident dog, Toby Ed, looking patiently out the window. They greeted each other excitedly and Sam tried the politically incorrect 'humping greeting' which Toby Ed put a quick stop to. He appears to have understood that directive because so far it hasn't happened again. Sam tipped over the water bowl with his paw and I replaced it with an ice-cream bucket of water, which he also proceeded to tip over with his paw. I'm going to have to think about that one.
They looked around the house wagging tails for a while and then wanted to go outside. Sam stood at the door and looked at it - pretty clear signal. We discussed whether we needed to put him on a lead and decided to give it a try commando. The street we live on has about two to three cars go by a day and an occasional kid on a bike. Sam and Toby Ed ran and romped together within the boundary of the yard until they were so pooped out they lay on the grass panting. I had training treats with me and when I called their names they readily came to the porch swing for the treats. Amazing, since we heard he was such a runner - perhaps he was just bored on the farm and was looking for a playmate. He hasn't been out of eyesight of Toby Ed since we arrived and appears to think his new pal is pretty cool. We will keep him on a lead if they go out by themselves, of course, and will see how he does on a leash.
Sam greeted the cats with a puppy dance and a smile, nothing else, so that's good. Scooter (cat) and Skeeter (cat) just looked at him, shook their heads, and sauntered away saying to each other "not another foster - for Pete's sake... what's with these people?" He is now stretched out on the floor exhausted from his play; he is panting a little but appears to be adjusting well to being inside the house. I almost forgot to tell you what he looks like!! Amazingly beautiful! He is a light colored golden boy through and through with the fluffiest butt and beautiful brown eyes. He has a sweet little cowlick running down his nose that makes him look like he's full of mischief. He can't wait to meet a potential forever family to show off his pearly white teeth with a big doggy smile. Please contact placement
ragom [dot] org if you are interested in meeting Sam.
