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Help Keep Blind Dog Caddy off the Streets
RAGOM is working to rescue Caddy from Turkey
Imagine if you were a senior dog—and blind—trying to survive alone on the streets.
That almost happened to Caddy, a blind, 8-year-old Golden Retriever. Caddy has had a tough life. He spent an unknown amount of time in a Turkish shelter and then stayed with a local woman. But after she passed away, Caddy had nowhere to go. He surely would not survive if abandoned to the streets, the fate of many dogs in Turkey.
Fortunately, Caddy was taken in temporarily by our Turkish rescue friends. Now they are asking RAGOM to help find a forever family for Caddy in the United States.
Caddy is an incredibly sweet and mellow dog who seems relieved to have a warm, safe place to stay. Although he is blind, he lives his life to the fullest. We know if we can help Caddy get to America, we can find a permanent loving home for him.
RAGOM welcomes Goldens in need from the Upper Midwest, but we have the capacity to rescue even more dogs—like the many homeless Golden Retrievers in Turkey that desperately need our help.
If we raise sufficient funds, we can act quickly and bring Caddy to America. Foster homes are lined up and waiting for him and up to nine other abandoned Turkish Goldens.
With your support, we can keep Caddy and other dogs off the streets and help them live the Golden life.
Spotlight: Sully the Therapy Dog Provides Love and Support
When Sully 16-027TD wakes up in the morning, he’s ready to go to work. He makes sure everyone in RAGOM volunteer Christie L.’s family is up and ready to go as well. He’s eager and focused, happy to visit patients, students, and anyone needing a reading partner or just a kind paw.
He loves people and he loves his new home in Minnesota. It’s a far cry from his early days living on the streets of Istanbul, Turkey, fighting for scraps of food or even his life.
A life of service, begun in loneliness and danger
Sully was just a puppy when he was found roaming the forests near Istanbul. He survived on scraps of bread and food waste provided by caring people in the area. The terrified puppy was cajoled into a car, then rescued by Devon T., a RAGOM volunteer who was documenting the plight of dogs abandoned by the thousands to survive on the streets and in the forests of Turkey.
RAGOM arranged transportation for Sully, who arrived in the U.S. on March 4, 2016. His huge heart was apparent to everyone involved in finding, treating, and transporting him from Istanbul to his foster home in Richfield, Minnesota. He was judged to be about 9 months old and his friendly, trusting outlook was a dramatic turn from the defensive approach required in his early life.
Early progress and rapid results
Sully was quickly paired with Christie, from Fargo, North Dakota, who had connected to RAGOM looking for a dog she could work with as Buddy, her therapy dog at the time, neared “therapy dog retirement.” Sully and Buddy became fast friends and the “new kid” learned a lot from the established veteran in this active, caring family.
About a year later, Sully’s training and early career as a therapy dog began under the tutelage of Pet Partners, the national leader in demonstrating and promoting the health and wellness benefits of animal-assisted therapy, activities, and education.
He excelled at his work visiting nursing homes, medical facilities, and schools in the area. He displayed his never-ending patience by listening carefully to students as they would read to him, either alone or in small groups.
Christie explains her motivation to keep going with her dog’s training despite a busy work schedule. “I know that he’s my dog and so does he,” she explains. “He’s mine, but it’s my job to share him with everybody that he can help or make feel better. A lot of people can’t have a dog, but they can get love from Sully. He loves everyone!”
One of the highlights of his week was working with a young boy needing occupational therapy to strengthen the grip in a disabled hand and arm. Sully happily received many hours of petting, brushing, and treats as the boy’s grip and dexterity improved.
Another move. Another home. More success.
When Christie and her family moved to the Twin Cities to be closer to grandchildren, North Star Therapy Animals came into the picture. North Star Therapy Animals provides therapy animal teams and services in the metropolitan areas of Minnesota. They became Sully’s connection to hospitals, schools, and other organizations that could benefit from his love for people.
Maple Grove Hospital is one of Sully’s favorite spots to visit, with a weekly jaunt and visits with patients, staff, and visitors. Sully greets everyone he sees on his rounds, offering a nudge or cuddle to those in pain or just feeling a bit blue. Nurses, doctors, and other staff are treated to the same affection, bringing a bit of relaxation and love to their busy, often stressful days.
“Every therapy visit that we go on is different,” concludes Christie, “but one thing is always the same. I can see the positive affect that Sully has on people. Their eyes soften and their body relaxes as they pet and talk to Sully. I am continually amazed at his special gift, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to share him with everyone.”
So are we, Christie and Sully, so are we.
Special notes
Because of relationships RAGOM has developed with dog rescue organizations in Turkey and the overwhelming need to help Golden Retrievers abandoned and living on the streets of Istanbul, RAGOM leadership approved the rescue of Sully and several other dogs to provide a second chance at life and love for these homeless Goldens.
RAGOM has been rescuing dogs from Turkey since September 2015. To date, we have flown more than 100 dogs to the United States and placed them with forever families.
Sully was chosen by his owner to be trained as a therapy dog. These intuitive dogs understand whether you’re sad or happy, and give unconditional love not just to you, but to everyone they meet.
Want to help?
We need volunteers. RAGOM is always looking for dog transporters, home visit volunteers, fosters, and more to help achieve our mission of rescuing Golden Retrievers and Golden mixes in need. Learn more about our volunteer opportunities. If interested, email volunteerinfo@ragom.org or complete a Volunteer Application.
RAGOM Rescues Golden Retrievers from China’s Meat Trade
The only hope for these dogs is finding homes in other countries like the United States
An estimated 10 million dogs are killed and consumed each year in China. The majority of dogs who end up at slaughterhouses are stolen pets and retired breeding dogs. Dogs are rarely leashed in China and are easily snatched from their owners and forced into a waiting car. Golden Retrievers are one of the meat trade’s most popular dog breeds.
Volunteers in China are working hard to save these dogs from a terrifying fate. They approach butcher shop owners when they see a dog tied up behind the premises and plead for the dog’s release. Other rescuers watch for large trucks filled with stolen dogs en route to the slaughterhouses and do their best to stop them. But the volume is overwhelming.
In late February, a RAGOM volunteer traveled to Beijing to answer a plea for help. In China, rescuers are inundated with Golden Retrievers who have been saved from these restaurants, meat trucks, and slaughterhouses. Nicole was there to make connections with local rescuers and to bring dogs back to Minnesota.
Once rescued, dogs are housed by kindly volunteers in China. However, the facilities are full beyond capacity, sometimes housing as many as 500 – 1,000 dogs. Adoption of larger breeds, which are still banned in many areas of China, is not likely.
The dogs’ only hope is to find homes in other countries. Dog rescue organizations around the world are answering the call to get these dogs out of China and into adoptive homes. RAGOM has joined this effort.
Volunteer Nicole visited one of the safe havens for these dogs. They have clean water and food, but they are generally filthy and matted. Many have scratches and wounds from scuffles with other dogs. Because there are so many dogs, they receive very little human interaction. “You can tell that many had been family dogs who were loved. They just die for human attention.”
Nicole’s trip was a success, and in early March, five dogs rescued from China’s meat trade arrived in our care. Lottie, Liberty, Glory, Hope, and Spirit are now in the hands of loving foster families. When they are comfortable with their new lives here in the United States, they will be available for adoption.
RAGOM wants to rescue more dogs from the Chinese meat trade—dogs like the mama above are counting on us. We are planning additional rescue efforts, but the logistics are complex.
We are looking for flight volunteers to help with this effort. If you plan to travel to China this year and are willing to bring dogs back with you, please email patty.larson@ragom.org.
RAGOM will schedule the dogs’ travel and arrange for Chinese rescuers to bring the dogs to the airport. As a flight volunteer, you will meet the dogs at the airport and bring them back as part of your luggage. As with our dogs from Turkey, these dogs will travel securely and safely in a special cargo area.
RAGOM welcomes Golden Retrievers and Golden mixes within the Upper Midwest. But we are also able to help other dogs in imminent peril. For these dogs in China, international rescue is their only hope.
Spotlight: Dayle S. Has Fostered More than 100 RAGOM Dogs
Will you be able to part with a Golden once you’ve started fostering?
As Dayle S. prepared to meet her first rescue Golden from Retrieve a Golden of the Midwest, she worried that she was getting into a situation she wasn’t prepared to handle. She’d had the RAGOM home visit, taken the foster training, and gotten comfortable with her mentor, but still. What if this pup was too much for her to handle?
That was 12 years ago and more than 100 foster dogs in her life, so it’d be hard to find anyone with more fostering experience than Dayle. Yet she still feels that same edge and anticipation when she’s preparing to welcome a new RAGOM foster pup.
“It’s amazing how much I learn from each new dog,” explains Dayle. “With each first night and first play time and first tentative training session. It’s never the same and I really, really enjoy it.”
Not only is Dayle an incredibly experienced foster parent, she’s also taken on a volunteer role as RAGOM’s Vet Services Manager, using her years of work as a registered nurse to the benefit of everyone—and every dog, in the RAGOM family.
“We manage all the foster dog’s veterinary needs,” she explained. “We see all the common medical issues and some pretty unusual ones as well. Our transport team even gets the foster dogs to their appointments and sees to their safe return home. It’s just a way that this organization has worked out to make life a bit easier for our amazing foster parents.”
From her first foster pup to her most recent though, Dayle has been continually amazed at the personalities and love she receives from the dogs in her care.
Her first foster, Stella 07-519 was a perfect case in point. After being rescued from a commercial breeding operation, she had all the classic fears and insecurities of dogs from that background. Shy to a fault, distrusting and timid, it took weeks for her to settle into the lifestyle she deserved.
Dayle’s own dog, Scout, was a great help. Commercial breeder dogs commonly will fear people, but know that if they follow another dog around, they’ll usually be safe. Doorways will be less scary, it’ll be OK to go outside, there’s safety in numbers.
One of her most fascinating experiences was with Roy 07-615. “He was blind,” Dayle said, “but it took all of three days for that guy to learn my entire house and yard layout, never running into an obstacle and romping just like any other dog. He taught me so much about confidence and the joy that dogs bring to life. He went on to live a very happy life.”
Her most recent foster, Doogie 18-281, was her seven-month-old “wild child,” full of energy, barreling through life. “But he learned fast! He’s going to be a great pet for his lucky adopters,” she beamed. “He was already doing a great job with ‘sit’ and ‘touch’ and he was really working hard on his fidgety ‘down.’ He’s smart and energetic and he was a lot of fun.”
With each challenge through the years, Dayle has learned from, trusted, and then become one of RAGOM’s mentors, who bring their years of experience to bear whenever a behavior or personality quirk has surfaced. The mentor’s focus is always on keeping the dogs safe and making sure foster parents have what’s needed to help each animal become a great part of their forever family.
How difficult is it to give up each dog?
The fostering community even has a special term for the situation—“Foster Fails,” a tongue-in-cheek way of saying the fostering parents have come across a dog they just can’t give up; and Dayle has added three members to her home over the years in that fashion.
That was one of her first concerns as she started down this path. “I wondered what it would be like to grow to love these dogs and then give them up, but three out of a hundred isn’t a bad record,” said Dayle, and it quickly became one of the best parts of the fostering job.
Seeing each Golden connect with their adopters and move on to the great life they deserve, is a terrific experience. And in her words, it is still exciting for Dayle to welcome that next RAGOM dog into her life.
“When they leave me, I can move on to help out the next dog that needs my help! And, I know this boy or girl will soon be home where they belong, with a wonderful owner—curling up in all that love.”
Dayle is shown in the feature photo above with her “foster failures” Tannin (Hamilton 18-056TD), at left, and Sadie (15-157), at right.
Interested in becoming a RAGOM foster family?
To learn more about this rewarding experience, visit our Foster Care page.
Ladder of Communication—How a Dog Says “No”
Everyone who fosters or adopts a rescue dog is attempting to provide a safe and happy environment for their new companion. Often the dog enters the home and things go well from the start. Sometimes there are a few bumps in the road that are easily worked out between the humans and the animal.
However, occasionally the situation does not go smoothly and the dog communicates his or her discomfort with behavior that becomes disruptive. RAGOM receives a few calls each year from distressed fosters and adopters asking that a dog be removed from their home.
A small number of these calls involve bites to either a person or another dog in the residence. This circumstance is sad and dangerous for everyone. The dog has lost a chance for a happy new beginning, and the humans are disillusioned and may decide not to try again.
If the bite is serious enough and the injured person requires a trip to the emergency room or a resident dog needs to be seen by a veterinarian, the dog may be declared unadoptable and humanely euthanized.
When RAGOM receives a call regarding a bite, we often hear that the bite occurred “out of nowhere.”
But often there have been signs that the dog was trying to communicate his discomfort or fear. In the beginning, the signs can be very subtle and misunderstood. People do not usually associate a dog’s yawn or lip licking as a way to say, “Slow down here. I do not like this activity or approach.”
Dogs communicate in a manner that is very different from humans. Unless we learn to read a dog’s body language and recognize signs of stress, it is very difficult to bridge the communication gap when problems begin to occur.
The “Ladder of Communication” below is designed to help fosters and adopters understand the ways a dog tells humans to stop and consider what is happening before problems escalate.
If a dog’s signals are noticed and addressed at the lower rungs of the ladder, situations can be addressed and diffused before reaching the “red zone” of snapping and biting.
Learning to keep behavior in the lower rungs by stepping back and taking time to understand your new dog is a wonderful way of beginning the bonding process.
Being aware of what a new dog in your home is trying to communicate is essential to building a safe and mutually satisfying relationship. Download the Ladder of Communication (PDF .5 MB)
RAGOM thanks Oak Tree Animals’ Charity for their permission to use the Ladder of Communication graphic.
She Had Birthed 96 Puppies, But Her Breeding Days Are Behind Her
Her breeding days are behind her!
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, RAGOM was able to rescue the 8-year-old girl featured in our January 28 post (see below) from the auction. Her name is now Lady Lily and her breeding days are over!
We were able to rescue four other dogs as well. Joey, Greta, Tasha, and Elsa—a young pup with a mouth deformity—all joined Lady Lily on the freedom ride back to Minnesota.
We welcome donations to the Elisabeth M. Ljungkull fund, which is dedicated to the rescue of commercial breeding dogs. All donations to this fund will be used to rescue more dogs from their lives in commercial breeding operations.
Originally posted on Thursday, January 28, 2019
An 8-year-old Golden who has birthed 96 puppies in her lifetime will be up for sale at a commercial auction this weekend. We fear she’ll be sold to another commercial breeder and forced to continue breeding.
Other Golden Retrievers will also be auctioned off this weekend, with yet more being sold at additional auctions scheduled for February, March, and April.
We know we won’t be able to save them all. But we can save some.
With your donation we will travel to Missouri to rescue as many as we can. We hope to raise enough money to have the flexibility to attend upcoming auctions on short notice—in March, April, and later this year.
To support this effort, Friends of Flicka has provided a matching grant, designated for the Elisabeth M. Ljungkull Fund for breeder dogs. Every dollar raised—up to $25,000—will be matched, allowing us to help twice as many dogs.
It’s possible that we will leave empty-handed on Saturday, or with only a few dogs. The bidding at these auctions can get very competitive. Any funds not used this weekend will be designated to help other breeder dogs this year.
Volunteer Denise A. described her experience at an auction where RAGOM was present:
“To walk between the rows of makeshift kennel runs and know there was no way we could rescue all the dogs was heartbreaking. I concentrated on the dogs that spoke to me with their eyes… those whose eye contact seemed to ask me to help them, or who were so terrified they could not trust. I recorded their tag numbers and made a promise to them that we would get them out. And we did.”
We can help these dogs. But we need you.
Become a Foster and Help the Many Dogs Waiting to Be Rescued
RAGOM is a foster-based organization, and our capacity to rescue dogs is directly dependent on the number of available foster homes. We continually need new foster homes, even those that can accommodate only one or two dogs per year or temporary foster care.
As the face of Golden Retriever rescue changes we often have the opportunity to rescue large groups of dogs from commercial breeding facilities. Without our intervention, these dogs have no hope of experiencing life as a cherished family member. Through generous donations, we have the funds to rescue many of these dogs, but we first need foster homes for them.
Also, RAGOM is committed to continue its rescue efforts in Turkey, where thousands of Golden Retrievers are living in the streets, forests, and shelters. Every day they struggle to survive, and U.S. rescues are their only hope. RAGOM has a donor who is passionate about this effort, but we cannot bring these dogs to the U.S. until we have more foster homes.
In addition to the increase of multiple-dog rescues, RAGOM is being asked to help more and more dogs with special needs. Some of these dogs simply need to live in a home with no other pets or young children, some need medical care and rehabilitation, and some need behavioral training.
Learn more about fostering and complete our volunteer application. We will follow up with an interview and schedule a home visit. If your home is a fit, you will experience the joy of fostering and finding forever homes for our wonderful dogs! We provide training, mentors, and if needed, behavioral coaching.
Please talk to friends, co-workers, and family about fostering as well. With your help, more dogs can begin their journey to finding their forever homes.
Thank You for Giving to the Max and Supporting RAGOM Dogs
We are overwhelmed with gratitude!
Thanks to your generosity, the 2018 Give to the Max campaign raised $73,444 for the dogs in RAGOM’s care.
We’ve had an influx recently of commercial breeding dogs, puppies, Turkish dogs, dogs whose families can no longer keep them, and even a dog from Korea! Because of this your donations are especially needed and appreciated.
Thank you!
Posted on Thursday, November 8, 2018:
Schedule your Give to the Max donation to RAGOM today and it will count toward the Give to the Max Day 2018 event on Thursday, November 15.
A generous $10,000 match is offered by a grateful adopter in loving memory of Addie. Addie was rescued from a bad situation, severely sick and malnourished.
Addie’s family only got to enjoy two years with her before she passed of cancer. But they were two Golden years, filled with love and joy.
Your donation will ensure that RAGOM can say “Yes” to all dogs who need a second chance.
A RAGOM Miracle—A Special Angel Helps a Dog in Need
RAGOM seems to have special angels who watch over us and swoop in when we need them most.
Recently we received a generous bequest from a longtime supporter who passed away. After carefully considering how best to use these funds, RAGOM opted to set a portion aside for special circumstances.
For example, people sometimes surrender their dogs because they cannot afford necessary but costly veterinary care, and we hoped we could help a dog in need stay with its family.
A few years ago, a wonderful dog named Rio came into RAGOM. A very sweet dog, Rio 14-200 suffered from separation anxiety and needed special care. His foster family understood his needs and helped him make progress, but he was going to require a special forever family.
When Rio’s foster family needed to leave town, another foster, Elise, stepped up to temporarily care for him. Perhaps the RAGOM angels were already at work, because Elise’s friend Diana and her family happened to visit and quickly fell in love with Rio. Another family had already been chosen for Rio, but fate had other plans.
The adoption fell through, and Diana and her family stepped up. Diana has two wonderful adult sons who have autism, and they had already developed a deep bond with Rio. Equally important, between Diana and her sons someone is nearly always at home, which keeps Rio’s anxiety at bay.
“Rio has added so much joy, light, and love to their home,” Rio’s former foster mom, Tracey, said. “This family has embraced Rio, and he has become an integral part of their family. They complement each other and help one another deal with their specific challenges. Rio definitely has special needs, and those needs are uniquely and lovingly met by Diana and her boys.”
Days after receiving the bequest, Rio showed symptoms of distress. A trip to the emergency vet determined Rio was suffering from an obstruction. Distraught, Diana called Tracey.
The surgery Rio needed was unexpected and costly—and more than Diana could afford. The idea of euthanizing him was devastating, and so was the thought of surrendering him to RAGOM with hopes of finding him a new family who could meet his needs.
Phone calls were quickly made and we were able to deliver good news for Diana. She should proceed with the surgery Rio needed—the cost of his care was being taken care of by an angel. Rio made a full recovery (turns out he’d snuck into the trash and swallowed a corn cob) and is thriving at home, thanks to the care of his family.
“I believe losing Rio would have been devastating for them,” Tracey explained. “I also believe they are the absolute, very best home for Rio. To separate them is unthinkable to me.”
The Golden Legacy Circle is a special group of supporters who have included RAGOM in their estate plans, helping to ensure the future financial stability of the organization and allowing us to go above and beyond our day-to-day work.
To learn more, visit our Estate Planning page or contact us at info@ragom.org or 952-946-8070.
Leo Gets a New Lease on Life and a Forever Home
The following article was first posted July 27, 2018, on the Friends of Flicka website and is reposted on ragom.org with their permission.
Last winter, Retrieve a Golden of the Midwest was contacted about 29 puppies in need of urgent rescue. With support from Friends of Flicka, they were able to quickly and successfully take each of the youngsters into their care.
It became immediately clear to the rescue team that nearly all of the puppies were extremely sick, suffering from kennel cough, giardia, pneumonia, coccidia, ear infections, and more. If their rescue had been even days later, many would not have survived.
Leo (formerly Reuben 17-273) was one of the suffering puppies. Just 10 weeks old, he was underweight and had an infection, respiratory illness, and digestive issues.
Very sick and in need of 24/7 care, Leo was welcomed into a loving interim foster home. With world-class veterinary and foster care, he recovered from his illnesses and his digestive issues improved. He gained weight and began to grow and play.
His foster family gently introduced him to other dogs, children, and as many new things as they could, helping to ensure he would thrive in a new adoptive family.
Before long Leo was ready for adoption. While Leo was playful and social, he would likely have ongoing digestive issues, so he needed a family willing to deal with any further complications.
Soon, a wonderful family came along looking for a dog who needed a special home. They knew Leo had been a sickly puppy and were willing to deal with any lasting medical issues. They welcomed the young pup into their home and loving arms.
In his new home Leo’s digestive issues continued until his adopters discovered a high quality food combination that proved to be a perfect match for him. Several months after Leo’s adoption, he grew from a tiny underweight puppy to a full-grown, very happy and content adult, with his joyful Golden personality fully revealed.
Leo is a very smart, intuitive and curious Golden who quickly learns new words and skills. Now healthy, he has a playful spirit and always wants his family to share in the fun, bringing them toys and inviting them to play with him at every opportunity. He loves to be close by his family, even resting his head on adopter JoAnna’s feet while she washes dishes.
Once a very sick puppy, Leo will now live out his life as a loved member of his new and very wonderful family. His days are spent playing, chasing squirrels, going for walks, and snuggling with family members who lavish him with love.
“I can only imagine the conditions Leo first lived in, and I’m so grateful that Leo and the other puppies were rescued and given loving homes,” JoAnna said. “If not for Friends of Flicka and RAGOM he likely would have had even more serious health issues, or maybe not made it at all.”
(View this article on the Friends of Flicka website)
About Friends of Flicka
Friends of Flicka is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt charitable organization created in memory of a beloved Golden Retriever for the purpose of providing funds to other qualified exempt organizations and individuals engaged in the rescue, adoption, and care of animals that have been abandoned, lost, or abused.