Trace Hoekstra's Fundraising Page

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!

ABOUT Goldzilla 2014

Goldzilla is RAGOM's annual Fun Fair and Walk for Rescue. Funds raised at this event supports our mission of rescuing and rehoming Golden Retrievers and Golden mixes of all ages. This year, RAGOM will take in over 400 dogs. Your support is needed to help provide the veterinary care, training and fostering each dog requires before finding his or her adoptive family.

Donate today to support this great organization. Then join us at Goldzilla to meet the many dogs your donations help. Together, we will make many Goldens smile!

Prefer to donate by check? Mail checks to: 5800 Baker Rd Suite 120, Minnetonka, MN 55345. Please write the name of the person you're pledging in the memo line. For pledges to be reflected on their fundraising page, checks must be received by September 12.

Supporters
Name	Date	Amount	Comments
Jill King	09/14/2014	$25.00	Thank you Foster Mom & family!!! Love, Hankie
Brian Bjonfald	09/11/2014	$100.00
Wade Beltramo	09/11/2014	$20.00
Shelley Clark	09/10/2014	$75.00	Thank you for all that you do!
Dean Safris	09/10/2014	$50.00	Thanks for all you do for the Babies.
Rachel Olson	09/10/2014	$25.00	For all you do for all of these special pups.
Kate Safris	09/10/2014	$50.00	Grateful for all that you do!!!
Julie Lock	09/10/2014	$25.00
Shirley Kimble	09/10/2014	$25.00	Keep up the good work!
Lynn Marie Anderson	09/09/2014	$10.00	From Miss Ruby (10-242)to her Foster Family!
Trace Hoekstra	09/08/2014	$100.00	In honor of Tessa, Aruba (Ruby), Hank, Ernie (Huxley), Ruby, BZ (Brody), Gabe (Riley), Sunny (Clyde), Coco, Tex (Leo), Clementine, Louie, Max, Danno, Amber, Happy Jack (Jack), Jojee, Larry (Shane), Scooby, Max, Auggie, Harley, Maisy, Charlie, Marley, Duke, Shadow, Chevy, Remmy, Charlie (#2), Marley (#2), Jack (#2), Lily, Flynn, and so many others who have drifted through our home on the way to their forever families!
Victoria Farley	09/08/2014	$50.00	Thank you Trace and family for all you do! We loved and still miss dear Clementine. She was a sweet girl.
Diane Morris	09/08/2014	$50.00	Thank you, Trace, for all you do for these precious dogs! We're blessed to have Coco as part of our family!!
Debra Stickney	09/08/2014	$20.00	Your donation page brought me to tears (again) as you described Ruby (Aruba). I am so honored and happy that Ruby found our home, and got to know Lucy.
Julie Skellenger	09/08/2014	$50.00
Judy Cornick	09/08/2014	$100.00	You and your family do so much for the dogs...If I was there I would be right in it.
Lynn Safris	09/08/2014	$100.00	Trace, all the dogs and puppies who have passed through your door thank you for all you've done for them and others like them!
Naomi Thomasee	09/08/2014	$20.00	My sweet Nell was a rescue no-hoper who had lived in 5 homes before ours, yet we never had a problem with her, except for pulling on leash! Thank you for loving these dogs!
Amy Winkler	09/08/2014	$50.00
Lynn Safris	09/08/2014	$100.00
	Total	$1,045.00