Trace's Fundraising Page

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Trace Hoekstra

RAGOM depends on its adopters, donors, volunteer and supporters to save each and every dog that comes into our care! The Goldzilla fundraising campaign is our biggst fundraiser of the year, and its the only time I ask you for financial support. :) You don't need to buy magazines, butter braids, wrapping paper, coupon books, cookie dough or anything else... Simply consider a donation of any size to help support our pups in need.

To understand the kind of amazing creatures your donation will impact, consider the story of Aruba (now known as Ruby). She came to RAGOM after a life of producing litter after litter in the windowless shed where she lived. At the time of her surrender she was again pregnant, and a month after entering foster care she delivered 3 puppies. Here is a small glimpse into her story as I recorded it at the time:

Once in a while you see something that just makes you catch your breath. As a first-time puppy grandma, I was doing my share of running around double-checking on things!

One of my big worries was little Mr. Hank 10-240. He was born first and was the smallest by a couple of ounces. By the end of the first week, Hank looked like a preschooler hanging out with high school kids. He was a bitty version of Ruby and Ernie, but he was awkward and his ribs stuck out, and a little nudge from one of them would send him flying. He seemed to try twice as hard and get half as much at mealtimes.

I was laying by the box reading one afternoon as the pups slept with Aruba. Without warning, one of the puppies began to wail in a way that would have brought me running if I had been anywhere but on the scene. As I watched, I realized Aruba had Hank in her mouth and was lifting him out of the box leaving the other two curled up together.

She wandered around the room with him squealing at the top of his little puppy lungs. I thought it was the moment I had been dreading. She was going to abandon him because he wasn't strong enough to make it. She pawed at some towels in a plastic tub on the floor and dropped him inside.

Then, as I watched, she carefully climbed into the too-small tub, wedged herself down beside him with her head hanging out one end and her tail out the other, and waited patiently while he found a spot to nurse.

Today, at almost two weeks, Hank is still a full pound smaller than his siblings, but he is gaining consistently. Most days she pulls him out for some private dining at least once, a chance to fill his belly without wrestling with Ruby and Ernie. He's going to be just fine.

And today, at almost 4, he is doing just fine thanks to the adopters, volunteers and donors that together make up the RAGOM community!

We continue to work on a daily basis to help dogs and are blessed to have shared our home and our hearts with Aruba (Ruby), Hank, Ernie (Huxley), Ruby, Charlie, Lily, Larry, Tessa, Gabe (Riley), BZ (Brody), Sunny (Clyde), Coco, Tex (Leo), Clementine, Louie, Max, Danno, Amber, Phoenix/Happy Jack (Jack), Jojee, Scooby, Max, Maizy, Harley, Chuck, Chevy, Shadow, Remmy, Duke, Marley and Auggie. Your donation DOES make a difference!

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