2022 End of Year Letter
“Not all homes should have a dog, but all dogs should have a home.” Anonymous
Dear Golden Bond Rescue Supporters,
This past year all across the Country, the collective atmosphere has not only been politically tumultuous but financially unsettling as well. We’ve all become numb with the constant barrage of political melodrama, as well as the increased cost of necessities steadily chipping away at our savings.
Although the political fervor has not affected GBR’s efforts to rescue dogs, the return to the workplace and the rise in the cost of living have hit us hard. At the height of COVID when so many people either lost their jobs or began working from home, many, many dogs were adopted (Hurray!). However, at the beginning of 2022 as people began returning to their workplaces, we saw a sharp uptick in owners relinquishing their newly adopted retrievers. This year, we have rescued over double the number of local dogs than in previous years. We’ve also experienced a drastic increase in relinquished dogs needing extraordinary medical care, such as orthopedic surgery, eye care, neurological care, etc.
What made rescue more difficult this year was not just the combination of the sharp incline of number of dogs needing rescued and medical care, but in addition to that, our donations took a sharp decline. Since our mission and volunteer dedication have not altered, we feel the scare of inflation and the rise in the cost of essentials is the probable reason for the decrease in donations.
Before we tell you what we need from you (financial help, of course) which allow us to continue in 2023, let us share with you a few things that kept us busy in 2022 and what we’re facing in 2023: Operation Northern Exposure (O.N.E), Oodles of Fun and the PR 18 Goldens:
O.N.E
In 2021, we were committed to transporting via air cargo from China 30 rescued goldens. However, before they could be transported, the CDC placed a ban on dogs from China entering the USA. After considering our options, we determined that the dogs could enter Canada but would be required to remain there for six months before continuing to the USA. Project Operation Northern Exposure began to take form. In partnership with No Dogs Left Behind, we arranged boarding and care for 12 of the 30 goldens. On March 30, 2022, Otto, Ozzie, Otis, Orli, Orvil, Oscar, Opal, Olive, Orlando, Owen, Ollie and Odell landed in Toronto, Canada. For the next six months, they stayed at the No Dogs facility. All of the O.N.E. dogs’ boarding expenses were pre-sponsored by You, our wonderful supporters; however, GBR paid for the dogs’ air cargo transport, China medical costs, export/import fees, as well as the unforeseen expenses once they arrived, e.g., neutering (three arrived intact), revaccinating, lump removal and diagnosis, Leishmania testing and treatment, dental care, injury treatment (we had a few tussles). Once their six-month waiting period was over, GBR had to get them from Toronto down to their waiting families. We flew them on Air Canada cargo to Vancouver, B.C. then drove them south via vans to their forever families in Oregon, Washington and Northern California.
PR 18 Goldens (2023 Project)
Once 12 of our 30 China goldens were safe in Toronto, our thoughts turned to the remaining 18. In July, 2022, the CDC announced a modification to their “temporary” ban on dogs from countries with high cases of rabies. Rescue organizations were allowed to import dogs from China by meeting all of the following criteria: 1. Vaccinated for rabies; 2. Wait 30 days then have a rabies antibodies titer test conducted by an approved CDC laboratory, 3. Wait 45 days after receiving the results before flying; and 4. Only fly into either LAX, JFK, MIA or ATL. Once they arrive in LAX, for example, only a CDC approved kennel is allowed to claim the dogs and keep them until they are examined by a CDC vet and revaccinated for rabies.
Let’s look at a breakdown per dog of what it will cost GBR to bring those 18 goldens over in 2023 before they even get to their forever homes (these are estimates, of course there is always one or two unknown expenses which always crop up):
- Airfare as excess baggage: $800
- Crate and water bottle: $180
- China export fee: $150
- Broker fee: $250
- USA kennel and CDC fee: $400
- Vaccinations in China: $200
- Brucellosis and Leishmania (sand fly disease) antibody testing: $150
- Rabies titer test: $100
- Transport from LAX to Oregon: $400
Rounded grand total of $2,500 per dog. This does not include any medical expenses the dogs will incur once they arrive, e.g., fecal test, urine analysis, blood test, possible teeth extractions. Before we leave this topic, let us introduce you to the PR 18 (you’ll quickly discover why we call them the PR 18): Patty, Patwin, Penny, Pepper, Peri, Pierre, Pixie, Pomegranate, Prue, Raffie, Raiden, Rainier, Reli, River, Rocco, Rollie, Rory and Rosie.
Oodles of Fun
In early November, 2022, a goldendoodle breeder asked if we would be willing to take nine 3.5-month-old doodle puppies as well as a six-month-old. He offered the same nine puppies to the Central Oregon Humane Society (COHS). According to the breeder, he was unable to sell them and could not afford to keep them any longer. When GBR arrived to collect the puppies, we found there were actually eight puppies and the six-month-old. The little puppies were being kept outside in a wire enclosure with no protection from the elements. The night before GBR picked up the puppies, it had snowed. As the volunteers drove to get them, there was the expectation that some or all of the puppies would be dead from exposure. Since COHS had also committed to taking some of the puppies, GBR delivered three to them and brought five puppies (Stroodle, Snickerdoodle, Dipsydoodle, Flapdoodle, and Caboodle) plus the six-month-old (Cookie) to the Portland area. One of GBR’s hero foster homes opened her boarding kennel for the puppies and with the help of many volunteers, cared for them until they went to their forever homes two weeks later. Because the breeder had not given any of the puppies their distemper/parvo vaccinations, GBR chose to keep them isolated from other dogs until they were seen by a vet. GBR will be providing the following vaccinations for all six doodles: three distemper/parvovirus, two canine flu, two leptospirosis, Bordetella and rabies, plus neutering, worming and monthly flea/tick/heartworm prevention.
2022 Numbers
What would a GBR End of Year Letter be without a bit of bragging? We rescued and found homes for a total of 166 dogs (mostly retrievers but a few “retriever wannabe’s” thrown in) – that breaks down to 82 international dogs (China, South Korea, Spain and Mexico) and 84 local dogs (Oregon, Washington and Idaho).
And Now For The Denouement
If you read through this entire End of Year Letter, you must know that we really, really, really need your help in 2023. Bluntly speaking without your financial assistance, at some point in the year we will need to cut back on the number of dogs we rescue locally and internationally, as well as eliminate some of the medical assistance we can give the ones we do take in.
We know all of our personal finances are tighter this year than last; however, if you’re able to streeeetch those few dollars a little more in order to help us keep our doors open, we and our future rescued retrievers would be grateful.
You can donate by one of the following ways:
- Mail a check to Golden Bond Rescue, PO Box 25391, Portland, OR 97298
- Venmo @goldenbondrescue
- button on our Home page – goldenbondrescue.com
Thank you so much for you support over the years and thank you in advance for your support in 2023. Let us leave you with one last thought about rescue: “You can’t change a dog’s past, but you can rewrite its future.” – Agnes Carass
Golden Bond Rescue