One very busy Saturday in September, a family arrived to share their children’s donation – food for the dogs paid for with money they had earned themselves. They requested a tour, and while the day was especially hectic, we rearranged to accommodate it. These parents wanted their children to understand the importance of giving. They returned within the week and gifted us with the adoption of our deaf Ollie who had waited so long. Not long after that they returned for sweet Mariposa. Both have found a loving home; our gift of time was unexpectedly rewarded a hundredfold.
Every year we make lists of resolutions with varying degrees of success. When Homeward Bound lost our beloved Vice President, board member, dedicated volunteer and my friend, Dick Brothers this year, I resolved to be better at two things to help fill the gap: welcoming and thanking.
Our organization is powered by some 200 volunteers and thousands of supporters. Their first or best day may be on the heels of our hardest. Anyone who is dedicated to rescue understands that loss sometimes accompanies joy. I remain resolved to temporarily put the day-to-day aside and welcome each person with enthusiasm and appreciation; you just never know what it will lead to.
My gratitude: it is boundless. Without all of you, there would be no Homeward Bound. Because of you, blind Bogey is finally home; hit-and-run victim Nicholas is able to walk and run; Janie and Summer’s cancers have been treated; and sweet 11-year old senior Maggie was home on Christmas. The list goes on and on – thanks to you.
As one of our volunteers so beautifully put it: it is such a blessing to find one’s passion in life and be surrounded by those that share the same. I am grateful to you all and I remain committed to welcoming and thanking in the New Year. I wish you and yours a wonderful 2014!
Sincerely,
Jody Jones
President, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue & Sanctuary, Inc.
Just a few of the faces we have been blessed to know and help this year:
9 Responses to Another Golden Year
Beautifully written from you heart Jody. It doesn’t surprise me that after all the years being away from Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue that what you taught me continues to resonate with me every single day for the benefit of dogs and the humans that love them. You were born to be a leader. And Homeward Bound and all the dogs that have passed through your loving hands along with the humans that look to you for strength and direction are so very fortunate that you chose them to lead. Happy New Year with love, dear woman!
Thanks to HB, we adopted our first dog ever. We lost Carmen in Msy 2013 and it was a loss we felt dearly. Again, thanks to HB, we found another dog, DeeDee, to add to our family. DeeDee is a wonder dog, full of love, just as Carmen was. What a role you have played in our lives introducing us to two such wonderful beings! We are very grateful to you for forming and leading HB and to all the volunteers who help keep it functioning!
Jody, your words warm my heart –
In a sense, you rescued me in 2005, when I found my new best friend at Homeward Bound. And this year, when she needed you, you rescued her (and me) again.
Thank you for all you do – I’m so grateful for you and Homeward Bound.
Best to you and all the doggies in the New Year.
Jody, your resolutions ring true. People come to Homeward Bound because they want to help someone–a dog, a loved one. Being welcomed and thanked strengthens their purpose. Thank you so much for all you do, so much more in the 24/7 than we each see, and thank you for giving us the success stories in the wonderful photos above. There are many more, and Kramer and Sophie will attest to that, just in case you need the votes recorded. Happy New Year!
Beautiful words and beautiful pictures! We are so grateful for so many people that we have met through Homeward Bound, some face to face, some over the internet. It’s wonderful to share the stories and the love of these dogs with people that understand and feel the same. To say thank you to HB for bringing Bob and Cuddles into our lives is just not enough. This rescue will always be a part of our lives and will always be in our hearts. We look forward to the new year and send good wishes and thoughts to all those that make Homeward Bound the success that it is.
Thank you for your unconditional love you give every dog that comes to the sanctuary.
Special thank for Jeremy and now Josie.
Happy New Year’s
Tori Parks
Will there ever be a day when I read a post or blog about Homeward Bound and not be moved? I am so proud to be a part of this wonderful organization. I have met the most amazing and caring individuals as well as fallen in love with each and every dog that finds it’s way to HB. The unconditional love shared between the people and these dogs is something I wish everyone could experience and understand. And because of HB, we now have our newest addition (but not our last), Riley. As the wise Roger Caras once said, “Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” Thank you Jody and Mike for making your dream a reality.
Wonderfully expressed Jody. We are also truly grateful to you for starting and working on making Homeward bound. Without which so many beautiful creatures would not find their way home into the hearts and minds of all those involved. And without which I would never have found my best friend Mia.
Thanks a Million and keep up the great work.
To Jody, Mike and all the volunteers… thank you for setting out on this journey so many years ago. Without Homeward Bound, our family would never have known the joy that Brinkley and the Bear …and now Max and the Bear have brought us. Every time those soft Golden eyes gaze upon us, those Golden tails wag their own joy, and those beautiful Golden bodies drape over us (yes, Golden’s are lap dogs) with such love…all the world is good. Wishing Homeward Bound a very successful 2014 !
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