As nearly everyone I meet knows, I have a thing for golden retrievers. Since the late 90s, I've had at least one form of golden retriever in the household--and more often than not, more than one form. Since 1998, I have been a volunteer for Retrieve A Golden of the Midwest (RAGOM), fostering who knows how many dogs over those years. And "foster failed" who knows how many times. On Sept 10, RAGOM holds its biggest fundraiser of the year, Goldzilla, which is a glorious outdoor gathering of people dogs and so much fun. It's a critical event for an organization that rescues and rehomes dogs from all kind of circumstances--dogs from puppy mills, dogs whose owners pass away/get divorced/have health crises, and then, those who "are moving to an apartment that doesn't allow dogs." (Ahem.) Then there are the heartbreaking stories of dogs whose medical issues are more than what their family can bear, dogs who have challenges that  stretch the famiy's ability to care for them, and, of course, dogs that are found as strays or in shelters. RAGOM takes these dogs in, vets them, fosters them and finds them a perfect place to land. And all of that costs money.

For the past three years, I had a foster hospice dog, the lovely Sally Ann who came to us from the Red Lake reservation, where she had been a stray but then lived outdoors with a family until the mass that developed on her belly became serious enough to require medical care, but the family didn't have the resources. Sally Ann came to RAGOM (where I fostered her), had the mass removed, and shortly afterwards, it was found to be cancerous. She was given 3-6 months to live. She lived for 34 months, and we just lost her a few months ago. During that 34 months, she transformed from the scrappy, scabby, matted lovely dog that she was upon arrival, to the sweetest dog ever, a RAGOM celebrity, and the sweetheart of everyone she met. But she also developed a secondary cancer, had kidney disease as a result of the Lyme disease that she had when she arrived, and other medical complications. RAGOM took care of all of those things, and that sweet girl truly lived out her golden years in style. RAGOM makes a huge difference in these dogs' lives.

I'm doing a fundraising pitch to those who know me, those who know my dogs, those who love dogs, those who have a big heart, and those who want to make this world a little kinder place. If you're able, please consider donating to RAGOM and help make this year's Goldzilla the best ever. You have my thanks, RAGOM's thanks, and the endless thanks of so many sweet pups like the sorely missed Sally Ann. Thanks for considering this request.

And, if you're free on Sept 10, come out to Long Lake Regional Park in New Brighton. Bring your pup! Bring your kids! It's a free event; there is a silent auction, there's a lure course, there's a bunch of vendors, and there's a whole lot of fun waiting for you. As well as a whole of of golden retrievers, of every imaginable variety!

Goldzilla—RAGOM's annual Fun Fair and Walk for Rescue—supports our mission of rescuing and rehoming Golden Retrievers and Golden mixes in need. 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.