It's that time of year when I am again asking for your help to raise money for RAGOM so that we can continue to help dogs like my current foster Roxy 18-101.  The largest part of RAGOM's budget is the vet care that they provide to the dogs in their care.  We could not continue to help these dogs without donations.  This past year I have fostered two high medical needs dogs.  I would like to share their stories to illustrate the amazing work RAGOM does to help dogs in need. 

In March, RAGOM brought in a very sickly puppy we named Sunny.  He came into RAGOM via a dog auction in Missouri where he was the last Golden Retriever available and no one was bidding on him as it was obvious there was something wrong with him.  Despite being over 5 months old, he was the size of puppies born 2-3 months after him.  While we do not typically foster puppies, there was something very special about Sunny and he quickly captured our hearts.  Sunny's vet visits found both severe liver and heart issues.  With a guarded prognosis, but an element of hope, RAGOM agreed to surgery for him. The first priority was fixing his liver.  I dropped Sunny off for that surgery truly believing he was coming home.  Despite his medical issues, Sunny played and romped around like a typical puppy.  He was just enjoying all that life had to offer him.  Greg and I had talked and, knowing his heart issues could be lifelong, had decided we were going to ask to be allowed to adopt him once his liver surgery was completed.  Heartbreakingly, this was not to be.  Sweet Sunny did not wake up from surgery.  Yet, thanks to donors and RAGOM's commitment to giving every dog a chance, Sunny crossed the Bridge not as Auction # 210, but as "Sunny", a beloved puppy who enjoyed the true Golden life, even though it was for such a very short time.

Just two months later, RAGOM got the call about a young Golden girl who had given birth to a litter of puppies under a trailer on the White Earth reservation.  When she was rescued, with two of her pups, she was severely malnourished and covered with hundreds of ticks.  Would RAGOM take her in?  Of course!  Roxy 18-101 entered RAGOM and we committed to doing everything possible to get her healthy.  Her puppies were healthy and quickly adopted.  Roxy, however, had other medical issues.  Perhaps due to her severe malnourishment since she gave everything she had to her puppies, or due to the tick borne diseases she was diagnosed with when she entered our care, Roxy's health began to quickly deteriorate.  When she was rushed to the vet due to severe lethargy, it was found that her platelet and red blood cell level were virtually nonexistent.  RAGOM was not ready to give up on this incredibly sweet girl.  She was rushed to the nearest internal medicine veterinary specialist where she was diagnosed with two auto immune diseases - one that attacks her platelets and one the attacks her red blood cells.   For the last 2 months she has been on immunosuppressant drugs and we are now  hopeful that they are working!  Her last blood check showed that her body was healing and we could begin slowly weaning her off the drugs.  Roxy will most likely be in our home for a while, but she would not have even had a chance without the generous donations RAGOM receives that allowed them to treat her and give her a chance.  We are so hopeful that the Roxy's future will include a loving home and a long,  joyful life. 

Please consider making a tax deductible contribution to RAGOM to help us continue rescuing these precious dogs. After all, Every Dog Deserves a Golden Life!

Goldzilla—RAGOM's annual Fun Fair and Walk for Rescue—supports our mission of rescuing and rehoming Golden Retrievers and Golden mixes of all ages. Your donation will provide RAGOM dogs with veterinary and foster care on their way to finding adoptive homes. So donate today and join us at Goldzilla to meet the many dogs you help!

Prefer to donate by check? Enter the name of the person you're pledging in the memo line and mail to: RAGOM, 5800 Baker Road, Suite 120, Minnetonka, MN 55345. NOTE: For pledges to be reflected on a walker's fundraising page, checks must be received by Thursday, September 6.