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May 19, 2004
Alice is a ten-year-old girl and she is not yet available for adoption. She was found wandering the streets in a very neglected state. Her story is not unique; instead it is rather commonplace. I have never seen a Golden Retriever in this state of despair, she was dirty right down to her skin, her hair was dull and matted, she was covered in parasites, she had no muscle tone and her rear legs trembled when she walked. She was only wearing a choke collar that had rubbed into her neck. It appears she had been chained up in a very dirty place. When she was diagnosed with heartworms, no one was surprised. Although I know how this story will end, with a beautiful Alice living happily ever after, I am not so sure Alice does. I thought it might be interesting to hear her thoughts, as she makes her Homeward Bound journey. The picture you see of Alice was taken after her bubble bath and grooming - I promised her we would not exploit her neglected state. The following, in her own words, are the Alice Chronicles:

My story starts on the streets of a very beautiful neighborhood. I have never been here before and can’t imagine how wonderful it must be to live in such a large house with all that grass and safe play yards. Unfortunately the residents only saw me as another dirty homeless person and the authorities were quickly called to remove me. The “paddy wagon” showed up and a kind officer helped me inside. I was taken to a place they call Animal Control, and I have to tell you I was scared. A dog hears things about places like this and much of it is not good. I couldn’t hear what the people where saying but one of the other dogs told me not to be afraid, that this was one of the good places. I was tired so I climbed into the nice bed they gave me and slept all night long. The next day, when I woke up, I saw a lady talking to my caretakers. I still couldn’t hear what they were saying but she bent down and kissed me and told me she would be back. Not sure if I really heard that or if I just knew that’s what she meant. The caretaker in charge brought me a big fluffy quilt and tucked me back into bed.

I can’t hear the people but I can communicate with the other dogs, and they told me I had to stay here for four days to give my owners a chance to find me. I think we all knew no one was going to come for me. I found out that by just being a Golden Retriever, I would have a new home waiting for me. For once in my life I really felt lucky! Sure enough after four days, the lady from Golden Retriever Rescue showed up. She put her arms around me and I knew everything was going to be ok. She helped me into her car and drove me right to the doctor's office. Everybody was so nice to me, especially my new doctor. She looked into my ears and put some stuff in them, and then wiped them out and all of a sudden I could hear! Not real well, but at least there was still sound. Although what I was hearing was very scary. I didn’t mind the shots, the ear cleaning, the x-rays, the thermometer or even the stuff they put in your nose. What made me nervous was when the Doctor told my new friend that I had heartworms. I had heard about this bad thing and knew it cost a lot of people money to cure. It also explained why I am having such a hard time breathing. The doctor asked my friend want she wanted to do; it was very quiet until my friend said “we are going to treat her”. Hooray! This gets better all the time!

I can hear my new friend talking to me now. She explained to me that she was my foster mom and would take care of me until we found my forever home. She has a special place for foster dogs to stay, with lots of comfy beds, plenty of cookies and our own yard. I have great roommates and they have been adding to my knowledge of Golden Retriever Rescue. Next day my mom took me to the beauty shop, boy was that ever fun! I can’t believe how good it feels to be clean! They brushed me and cut all the mats out of my hair. I even got a pedicure! When mom picked me up I couldn’t wait to show her how my hair swayed from side to side when I walked. She told me I was beautiful! We went back to the doctor's to talk about my treatment, it seems the sore on my face was a cyst and my foster mom wanted it taken off, also the one on my neck and the lump on my shoulder. My doctor said I would do the heartworm treatment first, then she would take all the lumps and bumps off of me. It all sounds just great to me, I can’t wait to get home and show my roommates how great I look!

I am really enjoying my new home, even if it is only temporary. There are lots of tennis ball and toys to play with. I have my choice of six different beds and I plan to try every one of them. I have two roommates who tell me that they are permanent fosters and that they help a lot of Goldens find their way home. I know I am safe and will be taken care of; you have no idea how important that can be to a dog. We just don’t have the skills to make it in this world without the help of a good human. I am so grateful to be here that every time my foster mom comes to see us, I run around looking at all the toys until I can find the best “present’ to give her. My roommates think I am silly but my mom laughs and gives me a hug, nothing silly about that!

Next Monday I start my heartworm treatment. I'll let you know how that goes!

May 24, 2004
It is Monday morning and time to start my treatment. The worst part is I have to stay in the hospital for three days. Mom kissed me goodbye and told me she would come back for me Wednesday, and I know she will. The people here are really kind to me but it is not the same as being home. They tried to explain to me what was going to happen, but I really didn't understand. The first injection into my hip really hurt, I wasn’t comfortable sitting, standing or laying down. You could say I was one miserable pooch. They all told me how sorry they were, but in order to kill the worms, I would have to suffer. If only I had an owner who would have given me preventative, I wouldn’t have to suffer like this. The next day I got the second injection in my other hip. Now I am really hurting and my heart feels very heavy, it is hard to breath and I am so sick to my stomach I can hardly eat. Day three arrived and they told me no injections today and that my foster mom would be here soon for me. 

My foster mom came just like she said and I am back home with my new friends. They were very worried about me and both helped me off to bed. I am not feeling good, I don’t want to eat and I know my foster mom is worried about me. She comes out at night and holds me, brushes me and tells me stories. The next morning I told her I didn’t want to eat and she was so concerned she made me some scrambled eggs. No one has ever cooked for me before. I tried them and they did taste good, also it made mom happy to see me eat. She helped me back to bed and told me to just stay in bed and rest…no argument from me! I feel so tired and it is hard to breathe. I am coughing a little bit and my mom gets really worried, so I try not to cough when she is with me. I still can’t eat, unless mom cooks for me and then only because I don’t want to hurt her feelings. I am so glad to have all these comfortable beds to choose from. All I want to do is curl up and sleep and dream about the day I will be able to run through the meadows again.

It has been a week now and I am feeling better. I can eat my regular food now, matter of fact I am starting to feel really hungry. Mom is also feeling better; she doesn’t look nearly as worried. I think she was afraid I was going to die, once when I was really snoozing she got down close to my face and when I opened my eyes she let out a yelp! Scared me too! Now I know that when she comes out I need to have my head up and wag my tail. It is so wonderful to have a human actually love me and care what happens to me. I wish mom had more time to spend with me; it is so much fun to give her a “present” or just lay there while she brushes me and tells me stories. I am actually starting to think about what it would be like to have my own home where I always have my human close by. My mom says I have to be very careful not to get excited or be too active during this time. When it is time to go outside, Mom walks with me to make sure I don’t try to run…not much chance of that, just yet! The worms are dead now and I just need to wait until they fall off my heart and dissolve. If I am too active they could come off in chunks and go into my lungs. I have come too far to let that happen, so I am doing exactly what I am told.

June 7, 2004
I have discovered blankets and quilts can be moved from one place to another! One day I was trying to find a toy to give my foster mom and couldn’t find one, so I took her my favorite blanket. Boy, did that earn me a big hug! Now whenever I see her, I start dragging blankets and quilts out for her. The other dogs really like having the blankets spread all over, I don’t know why they never thought to move the blankets themselves. I am still getting a smile and a pat but I am starting to think mom doesn’t like the blankets like she used to. Maybe I ought to look out in the garden and see if she likes flowers.

June 14, 2004
I have some new roommates this week, two girls who used to be fosters here have come back for vacation. They are sisters and have been adopted for almost a year. They had so many stories to tell! We are all best friends now and we have been staying up late at night just talking. They are both so pretty; they have been giving me tips on keeping my hair nice and my tail fluffy. They like to play with each other and that really looks like fun. Mom explained to them that I couldn’t run and play just yet; so they are teaching me how we can all play laying down. One of the girls bops me in the head with her paw, then I bop one with my paw and we just keep bopping each other. This has got to be the most fun lazy dogs can have!

June 21. 2004
I am starting to feel really good now; no more coughing and I can breath deeply. Also I don’t feel so tired, I can walk around more and I am starting to get my strength back. My girl friends are still here and we are just about caught up with each other’s lives. I asked my friends about being adopted and what it was like. Both of them smiled at me and told me it meant being home. I am going to have to really think about this, because where I am feels like home. I only wish mom had more time for just me, maybe adopted means more time for me. My mom told me that, Friday, I would have my last heartworm treatment. I am not looking forward to it, but this time I only have to stay during the day and I can come home that night and sleep in my own bed.

June 28, 2004
Well, I think I got this thing beat! I am starting to really feel good - I am hungry and I want to walk around more. Mom went to the store and bought a whole bag full of new toys, there were dollies, teddy bears, ducks, and even a camel! My friends and I had so much fun playing with all the new toys; I couldn’t decide which one I liked the best so I usually carry two or three around with me. I got to take a duck with me when I went in for my last heartworm treatment. This one wasn’t so bad, I just felt a little sick to my stomach and very tired. The duck and I just slept until Mom came to get us. That night I was ready for dinner and enjoyed a game of “bop the dog” with my friends. The news is that I have a surgery date scheduled! Guess every body else thinks I beat the heartworms cause my doctor gave me an appointment to have my lumps and cysts removed. I go in on July 19th and if every thing works out well, my Mom says I am going to someplace called “The Adoption Center” on July 24th to meet some families. I hear there are a few people already wanting to meet me! It sounds like lots of fun and Mom says if I don’t find anybody I really want to live with, I can come back home with her until I do. Sounds like a win-win deal to me! That’s about all that’s new this week. I understand my new girl friends are going home on Friday, and I sure am going to miss them. Maybe Mom will have more time for just me then. Oh, I almost forgot, I have a new nickname. Mom calls me Ali---gator, cute huh?

July 5, 2004
I know July 4th is a people holiday, but this year I celebrated Independence Day also! I am free of chains, dirt and hunger. Every morning I wake up feeling just a little bit better and it feels so good! I never thought I would look forward to a new day and now I just can’t wait to see what life has in store for me! Where I am living there are horses, and this morning they got into an argument. Well, I couldn’t let that happen, so I ran over to the fence (yes, I ran) and told them to knock it off. My foster mom was so surprised - first that I ran, and second that I barked. I don’t believe in idle barking, if you don’t have anything to say, you should just keep quiet. I talk with my eyes and have never had a problem communicating what it is that I want. This is not to say I have always gotten what I wanted, but at least I ask. After I got the horses back under control, I had a big breakfast. I am really feeling hungry now, and mom says it is time to build up my strength and stamina. My girl friends went home Friday, and I missed them so much that I didn’t want to eat my dinner. Mom understood and spent time talking to me and brushing me until I realized missing somebody was no reason to let a good meal go to waste. Mom says that most of the heartworms are gone now and that’s why I feel so good. It seems like this time has gone by so fast and yet I feel like I have lived here forever. This week my favorite toy is the camel; he is really great to carry around. I also have a favorite dolly that I look for when it is time to go to bed. Never in my life have I had so many toys to choose from, and I know mom would like it if I picked up after myself, but I just love the look of the toys spread all over.

July 13, 2004
Not much new, supposedly all the heartworms are gone now, but I won't know for sure until next Monday when I get my test. I am able to run again, not marathons, but just for fun. I have been helping mom in the garden, my job is to bring her toys so she remembers to play and not just work. We were going over my agenda for the week and I was excited to see I have a beauty shop appointment on Friday. I am looking forward to seeing my friends there, I wasn't feeling so good when I first went, but now we are going to have lots to talk about and all kinds of catching up to do. Monday is surgery day, finally I will have this awful sore off my face, it really bothers me, I have tried to scratch it off and it won't budge. Mom is looking forward to getting the lump off my neck and shoulder; guess I am going to have a few bald spots, just when my hair is looking so good! I asked mom to get some pictures of me this weekend so my new family will recognize me when they see me. We are still planning on coming down to Homeward Bound Ranch on the 24th.

July 19, 2004
Whoa....I hope somebody got the number of the truck that hit me! I thought the heartworm treatment was rough; this was not as painful, but knocked me off my feet! They had to carry me out on a gurney to Mom’s car, and then Mom had to steady me off to bed when we got home. Don’t worry about me, I am ok and everything went well, no bad news. Mom said this was the same as a human lady having plastic surgery and liposuction all in the same day. I look like somebody slugged me in the snoot! Sure glad we took those “before” pictures.

I have to wear a long sleeve t-shirt, to keep me from licking my arm and to keep my shoulder from sun burning...wait till you see how much hair they took off me! I understand the “get it all” theory, but I am going to be wearing sweaters this winter just to keep warm! I am sending Mom off to buy me my own clothes tomorrow; hers just don’t fit that well. Mom asked me if I wanted to wait until I had my stitches out and my hair grew back before I interviewed families. My way of thinking is that if my Mom loves me this way, so should my forever family.

I pretty tired tonight, so am not going to talk much more. I sure hope lots of people come out to meet me on the 24th. I did want to tell you one more thing; this ordeal that I have shared with you is not unique or unusual, today my heartworm test came back negative, but everyday other dogs have them come back positive...I sure hope they are Golden Retrievers, because I know who will take care of them. This weekend a boy, my age, with heartworms showed up for Mom to take care of, so for Mom the journey starts all over again. His name is Charley and I hope when he is ready for a new home, you will be waiting for him too.

August 2, 2004
Well, I am still here, so much for my big adoption day. I got all dressed up, rode in the car for over an hour, and not one family came to adopt me. Oh granted, I met lots of people, being a celebrity...there where people who wanted to meet me, get my autograph, stuff like that. I was so depressed I decided I wasn’t going to get out of the car. Mom had some dog stuff to do, so I just sat in the back of the car and waited. People would come up to the car and say, “Oh, you must be Alice”. Duh, what was your first clue...the t-shirt or the stitches on my face! Mom says I don’t have to go back down to the adoption place, from now on if someone wants to meet me, they need to come to where I am at, then we will see if I have an appointment available. I am feeling very good, down right feisty! Mom has been giving me some kind of high-powered vitamins and they are really working. I run more, stay up later and have the energy to drag blankets further! Outside of feeling rejected by all the families, I am doing fine - I am happy living here with my roommates and will be content to wait until the perfect family finally comes for me. Maybe next week I will have some more pictures taken, now that my face is so pretty.

August 16, 2004
I know you all have been waiting for this part…I am ADOPTED! I wanted to wait until I was sure my new family really loved me and wanted to keep me, and it looks like they do! I was thinking I would never find my own family, and then all of a sudden a lot of families decided they wanted me. Seems everybody thought I would have a waiting list, and that they wouldn’t have a chance. When my new mom read that nobody had adopted me, she called HBGRR right away and said that she wanted me. She drove all the way to my foster home to meet me. My foster mom told me that someone was coming to meet me, and that I would have to let her know if it was the right place for me. Well as soon as the nice lady came in my yard, she sat down on the ground with me and rubbed my belly - this was a good start. Then she told my foster mom how much she would do for me and how loved I would be. I had to take a chance; I reached up and gave her a kiss, looked over at my foster mom and gave her a wink. I was going home!

I have two other dog siblings (one of them is also a HBGRR alumni) and a couple of cats (boy are they ever a weird species) - and get this, KIDS! I get to help raise kids! I am going to be the best Nanny ever; I have so much to teach them and so much love to give them. Life doesn’t get any better than this for a Golden Retriever.

I want to thank Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue for taking in a sick, old, bedraggled lady and helping her to find more happiness than she knew existed. I want to thank all my fan club for your words of encouragement and I look forward to seeing you at the reunion picnic. My long journey is now over; I am HOME!

Sincerely
Alice (Ally)

(family photos coming!)

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