Rusty, now Lucy #2587
We adopted Lucy (Rusty #2587) in July 2015 (at the age of 8) from a wonderful foster mother in Corvallis. She was our second Golden Bond Rescue pup and a great addition to our family.
Lucy had many toys, backyard grass to roll on, and a patio to bask in the sun. She took long walks with her humans in the neighborhood, agreed to any and all petting situations and was protective and bonded with her humans. She provided an overjoyed dog greeting at the door when her humans came home, and she quickly learned how to jump on the couch or bed for sleeping close to a hand for petting. She knew the commands of sit, come, food, walk and potty. She learned how to catch treats and chase a ball. And Keisa, our rescue cat, had a best buddy again in Lucy.
Two years later, another rescue dog, Murphy, came to his forever home. Part Papillon, part Terrier, part whatever, Murphy was a 10-month-old puppy. Over the next few months, Murphy was a playful puppy and Lucy tolerated him. As time went on, Lucy abandoned some of her couch potato ways and her latent puppyhood emerged. Lucy, Murphy and Keisa were a happy pet family.
But Lucy started slowing down Fall 2018. One morning in late November she wouldn’t
eat or go outside to do her “business.” She slept most of the day and, again that night,
wouldn’t eat. We took her to the vet and, at 9pm, came home without her. She had fluid surrounding her heart and probable cancer. It was the humane thing to let her cross the Rainbow Bridge.
A Forever Home For Lucy
There once was a dog named Sammie, who lived in a house in Portland, OR, with two humans and a cat named Keisa. She came to the humans from Golden Bond Rescue, a wonderful organization that finds “forever homes” for Golden Labs, like Sammie, Golden Retrievers and many other dogs from unfortunate circumstances who need love and companionship as much as their humans.
Sammie became fast furry friends with Keisa, a rescue cat. The two would chase each other around the house, oftentimes ending with Sammie pouncing down on the floor, Keisa laying, belly up, between Sammie’s legs. At these times Sammie would put Keisa’s whole head in her mouth — gently — and then let go, Keisa slowly walking away with a slobbered head but no harm to either.
Sammie started to slow down when she was 12. One night in May, she had trouble breathing. Her humans took her to the emergency vet and, unfortunately, Sammie did not come home. She was just too sick. She wagged her tail as her humans petted her goodbye.
Keisa spent the next two months mostly upstairs, mostly wailing. She, along with her humans, were grieving the loss of Sammie. At first, the humans wanted to wait until Fall to get another dog; after all, nobody could replace Sammie. But, after just two months of no dog sleeping on the bed, no overjoyed dog greeting at the door, no dog barking ferociously in the middle of the night at a raccoon in the backyard — the humans decided to start looking for another canine companion. And where better to start the search than the Golden Bond Rescue website.
There she was: a Golden Retriever named Rusty. Those eyes, those ears, that soft fluffy fur — it was love at first sight. The application process was thorough, but easy — an application form, a home visit, and then the two humans met Rusty face to snout. After an hour or so of bonding between Rusty and the humans, the dog’s foster mom — another incredible part of the GBR program — instinctively knew that Rusty was going to a good forever home.
The humans didn’t think she looked like a “Rusty,” so they changed her name to Lucy — she took to it right away. At her new home, Lucy has a new, cushy dog bed, a new collar with her name and phone number, toys, backyard grass to roll on, and a patio to bask in the sun. She takes long walks with her humans in the neighborhood, is agreeable to any and all petting situations and is protective and bonded with her humans. She provides an overjoyed dog greeting at the door when the humans come home, and she quickly learned how to jump on the couch or bed for sleeping close to a hand for petting. She knows the commands of sit, come, food, walk and potty. She’s learning how to catch treats and chase a ball. And Keisa now has a best buddy again in Lucy.
This story that started with an ending, ends with a beginning. Lucy’s first seven years were somewhat troubled, with brief periods of happiness. With unconditional love streaming both ways now, Lucy and her humans are bound to have a long, wonderful future in their forever family.
Rusty was adopted on July 16, 2015.
Rusty’s Available Story:
Hi, my name is Rusty (#2587) and my foster mom says I’m a beautiful, 80 lb girl (about 7 years old) who is an absolute sweetheart. I’m really too modest to say I agree, but I’m willing to go along with her because I’m eager to please and make hearts happy.
I was rather overweight and out of shape when I came to Golden Bond, but with a good diet and regular exercise, I’m toning up and can easily walk a couple of miles and still have energy left to play with my foster brother, if he’s in the mood. As I’ve gotten more comfortable here, I’m learning that playing is fun, going for walks (especially in the woods) is interesting, and life is good! I’m a quiet, mellow dog who loves all people and kids (put prefer calm ones), other dogs and cats.
I tend to be quite sensitive and a bit insecure in new surroundings (plus I don’t like loud noises) so I need time and lots of gentle TLC to learn that I’m safe (some of my earlier life wasn’t so good but we won’t go into that), but I’ll reward your patience with invitations to give me belly rubs (I love those!), light licks to show you I appreciate your care, and unconditional love only a Golden can give! I like to have “safe spots” to escape to when I feel the need (in my foster home I frequent my crate or one of two bathrooms). I also like to lie outside in the sun (or the shade if it gets too hot) and I really LOVE to roll in the grass!
Maybe you’d like to meet me so we can see if we’re a match.