Share the Love!
Each year, beginning on Valentine’s Day, a group of family foundations, businesses, and generous individuals comes together to build a Fund of Love. Their donations stand ready to be matched during our spring fundraiser: Double the Gold Challenge.
Fund of Love and Double the Gold Challenge donations provide a large percentage of the funds needed to cover our medical expenses each year. They also help us support nearly 50 dogs with ongoing care in permanent foster or sanctuary with us at Homeward Bound.
Last year, Homeward Bound welcomed 540 dogs – many with significant medical issues or special needs. Throughout the campaign, you will learn about them and this year’s medically challenged dogs. Homeward Bound has always welcomed dogs regardless of their age, health, or special needs. Because we are one of the few Golden rescues in the nation with a facility, we can accept dogs that foster-based rescues simply cannot accommodate. It’s why our intake numbers are three to four times higher than most other Golden rescues, and it is why our medical costs typically exceed $400,000. Last year’s total exceeded $514,400.
With your support, we have been able to provide each dog with necessary care including ear surgeries, tumor removals, heartworm disease treatment, hundreds of spays and neuters, numerous orthopedic, obstruction, and miscellaneous surgeries, and countless treatments for various infections and illnesses. Among them is Finley – our 2025 Fund of Love poster dog. Thanks to you, we were able to meet all the dogs’ needs in 2024. We are asking for your help once again so we can continue our vital rescue efforts. We simply cannot do it without you.
Meet Finley
At nine months of age, Finley was abandoned in a shopping center parking lot. He wasn’t going to travel far because he could barely walk. Finley had lateral luxating patellas in both back legs. This congenital defect caused the kneecaps to ‘pop out’ of their normal positions. With a Grade III patellar luxation like Finley’s, the patella is out of the groove most of the time, but it can be temporarily manually pushed back into place. Typically, he used his front legs while his back legs would scoot behind him. Occasionally, he could stand briefly as things “snapped back” into position. The condition dramatically diminished his mobility and, over time, would result in severe arthritis and joint pain.
We’ll never know why someone chose to wait so long to simply abandon this amazing, joyful boy who has so patiently waited for a brighter future. We’re determined that he will have a full and rich life.
In December, Finley saw Dr. Katrina Castaneda, DVM, DACVS-SA, at VCA for an assessment. She specializes in orthopedic and reconstructive surgery – and we have kept her very busy! While awaiting surgery, Finley went to foster with volunteers Ed and Kerstin Morrell where he quickly attached to his family and the other dogs in the household. He could not be in better hands. Ed is a former paramedic and firefighter; Kerstin is a devoted dog mom. Both are repeat fosters of special needs dogs.
On New Year’s Day, Finley underwent surgery on both knees. Tackling both at the same time would make things difficult for his fosters, as Finley needed to be lifted to potty for several days. It’s good that Ed is a big guy! Addressing both knees at once would save a repeat surgery on the second leg 8-10 weeks later. Finley may still require a second surgery in April or May to straighten the left leg once his bones are fully formed. But Dr. Castaneda is delighted with his progress – particularly on the right side. For Finley, it is a whole new world already. Given the chance, he would like to try to run and play with his three dog siblings. Keeping him quiet and helping him to pace his recovery will be challenging, but Ed and Kerstin are up for it. And don’t get any ideas about adopting him. Once well, he will become an official member of their pack. Click below to see his amazing before and after video.
Homeward Bound will see Finely through his surgeries and provide whatever medical support is needed. Costs are now expected to exceed $20,000. We think he is worth every penny…don’t you?!
We can say ‘yes’ to dogs like Finley because of the generous donations and huge hearts of people like you. We can’t do it without you.
Amazing Grace arrived the day after Christmas. This beautiful one-year-old had been found by the Yuba County Animal Care Services with a draining side wound, hugely swollen joints in all four limbs, and suspected sepsis. We rushed her to our vet. Once stabilized, she returned for care in our newly completed medical ward, but the journey to identify the underlying cause of her obvious issues was only beginning. As the antibiotics kicked in, her incredible spirit surfaced. Except for the swollen legs and wound that would not heal, you would never guess that there was anything wrong with this girl who wanted to run, play, and beg for affection. Tests were conducted for fungal infection, x-rays were taken, and an ultrasound was conducted. It wasn’t until we were finally able to get her in for a CT scan that the source of the infection became abundantly clear.
Grace had a 12-inch corndog stick lodged between her ribs, penetrating her left lung lobe and barely missing her heart. The side wound was the result of her body trying to expel the stick which had been swallowed whole. Internally, the stick had caused her lung to collapse and resulted in fibrosis, inflammation of the lung tissue, and adhesions to the thoracic wall, mediastinum (the space that holds the heart), diaphragm, and the fluid sac around her heart. Dr. Castaneda led the surgery, and our own Dr. Mary LoCicero scrubbed in. It took four hours and multiple surgical hands to remove the stick and repair the damage. A chest tube and drain were inserted, oxygen provided, and a blood transfusion administered.
Grace miraculously made it through the first two nights, and by day three, she wanted out! But the road to recovery will be long, monitoring and protecting against infection. Will she be an athlete with a single lung? No. But she will still be AMAZING! And we hope she lives a long and happy life.
Grace’s care will exceed $20,000, barring any further issues. We were able to say ‘yes’ to Grace because we trust that you are by our side.
Please Sponsor Our Fund of Love
Finley and Grace are just two examples of the lengths we will go to restore dogs’ health and give them every chance for bright futures. Throughout this campaign, we will share their progress and the stories of other dogs with significant medical needs. We can be here for them because of your generous donations and the big hearts of people like you.
Please join us in our mission to continue providing the best possible care and chance for a happy life for deserving dogs by helping us build our Fund of Love.
The minimum donation for the Fund of Love is $250. You can choose to donate a greater amount or endow the entire fund. In the spring, we turn to a much wider audience to pool their giving and match your generosity in the Double the Gold Challenge. 100% of the proceeds of both campaigns are dedicated to the medical care of the hundreds of dogs who come to us each year seeking safety, health, happiness, and forever homes.
To contribute to the Homeward Bound Fund of Love, you may use the following options:
To contribute securely online, click the Donate button below.
To contribute by mail with a check or credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express), click here to download our printable donation form. Mail the completed form, including credit card information if applicable, to:
Fund of Love
Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc.
7495 Natomas Road
Elverta, Ca 95626
On behalf of the Goldens that will benefit by your generosity, our heartfelt thanks.