Buddy 15-168 is very excited for Goldzilla this year, because Goldzilla weekend means he also gets to celebrate his very first Gotchya Day! Buddy was picked up as a stray on a reservation in North Dakota in July of 2015. Since the shelter was full, Buddy's clock was ticking when an angel offered to take him to her house and try to find him a place with a rescue. Luckily, RAGOM had enough space for this sweet boy and his friend Honey 15-167. He didn't know his story was only just beginning! 

When his transport van met his Foster Mom in a parking lot on that hot July day, driving through her town to their final destination, she wasn't quite sure what to make of him. He was skinny, possibly the stinkiest dog she had ever smelled, and he was covered in wounds, probably from getting beat up by the other, tougher dogs on the Rez. He also had a broken tooth, a toe that looked like it had been broken recently, and a belly chock full of worms. She hoped he didn't have an attitude to match his tough appearance, but she loaded him up and brought him home to meet his foster sister, Lucy. 

When they got out of the car at his foster home, Buddy felt pretty lost. He felt crummy, and he didn't know where he was, if the people at this house were nice, or if the little Golden waiting in the window was going to like him. He put on a brave face, and met his new foster sister with a polite sniff. He decided this place wasn't so bad. It was nice and cool, and there was a big bowl of water and dinner waiting for him. He ate a little, and then, exhausted from driving all the way from North Dakota, he found a place out of the way to lie down, and he slept deeper than he had in days. 

As the weeks passed, Buddy felt better and better. He got his tooth fixed, all his wounds healed up, his coat started to shine, and he gained weight with steady meals and plentiful treats. His foster sister warmed right up to him, and decided he was a great playmate. Buddy started to wonder when he was going to find a home of his very own. Then, one day, his Foster Dad took out a shiny new tag and clipped it on Buddy's collar. Instead of "Foster Mom and Foster Dad", from now on it would just be "Mom and Dad", and Lucy was going to be forever sister! He was finally Home! 

So, as you can tell, Goldzilla is very close to Buddy's heart, since it not only marks his Gotchya Day anniversary, but it also helps to ensure that RAGOM can give the same gift to so many other dogs. Every donation brings one of our dogs that much closer to their Gotchya Days, and helps us provide them with the care they need when they come to us. Buddy (and his mom and dad!) want to thank all of RAGOM for making him an "honorary Golden", and for making sure he got a second chance! 

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 8.