Sky is a beautiful two-and-a-half-year-old girl with curly hair and a giant heart. She was surrendered when her medical needs became too much for her family to manage. Testing revealed genetic deformities in both kidneys with already advanced kidney disease – likely the result of poor breeding practices. While her prognosis is grim, her spirit is bright. As of now, she has no idea that she is unwell. Sky was welcomed home by her hospice foster. It takes a special heart to take on a hospice dog and we and Sky were blessed to find her person. Homeward Bound will see to her medical and hospice care needs while her foster mom ensures her days are filled with lightness and love so she can go on about life just being a happy dog.

Bonnie was surrendered at one year of age by her owner early in 2020. She had been diagnosed with an ectopic ureter and inverted vulva, which could only be corrected through a complicated and expensive surgery at U.C Davis. The procedure provided Bonnie with an artificial urethral sphincter (hydraulic occluder) which required round-the-clock care for six months following surgery. Once her body healed, she underwent another complex procedure to end her urine leaking problem.

Bonnie’s first surgery, which was delayed by COVID, was performed in July 2020. She required round-the-clock injections. That’s when one of our dedicated volunteers stepped in. The plan was to nurse Bonnie back to health and return her to Homeward Bound ready for adoption. But her leaking never completely subsided, and it didn’t take long for Bonnie to pull at the family’s heartstrings. She now resides as a permanent member of the family who say: “What’s a little pee? No problem!” As her new family continues to monitor her progress, all future medical needs will be provided by Homeward Bound – thanks to you.

Laila came to us by way of another rescue that was not able to meet her medical needs. She was born with Hydrocephalus (water on the brain), is mostly blind and arrived heavily dosed with prednisone. We gradually weaned her from the drug but found, through a series of fosters, that she had ongoing accidents in the home. These were not medically caused, but a result of the Hydrocephalus. Full of life and joy, Laila is likely to have additional behavioral and medical needs as she ages.

It took three fosters, but Laila found her forever home. Her new mom has a huge heart for special needs dogs and has welcomed a long list of hospice and dogs with unique needs into her home. Laila has found a home full of joy, play…and a little pee! Now approaching age four, some additional behavioral and medical needs have arisen typical of her diagnosis, but she could not be in better hands, or more loved. Laila can be home as part of our permanent foster program; Mom provides the love…we provide Laila’s medical care for life – thanks to you.

Cooper came to Homeward Bound as a puppy named Capone in 2016. He was returned because everything changed for him and his family. Cooper developed insulin-dependent diabetes and cataracts that left him nearly blind. His family could not provide the support that he needed and – in keeping with our lifelong commitment to the dogs – he was returned to us so we could find him a better equipped home. He found that with his permanent foster family who carefully controlled his diet and monitored his diabetes. He will remain on insulin the rest of his life which Homeward Bound will provide, but their diligence paid off for Cooper. In 2021, he underwent successful cataract surgery. It’s a whole new sighted world for Cooper as he and his permanent foster parents travel the country in their RV. They – and we – are forever grateful for your support.

Kodos – now Murphy – arrived in 2019. Glaucoma had made him completely blind in one eye and he was losing sight in the other. Always an integral part of the family, he loved to cuddle and be by his humans’ side. But things changed with the arrival of a toddler and newborn. Because of his challenged vision, he was easily startled by the running child and largely ignored amid the chaos of a newborn in the home. For his safety and the children’s, the family had taken to crating him most of the time, but they knew he deserved better. They surrendered him at the age of six. He remained with us for several months waiting for the right match. When our applicant appeared with a preference for dog who loved cuddling and gentle walks, we knew we had found her. We sent him home as a permanent foster so we could cover the cost of the expensive eye drops he would need lifelong to reduce the pressure in his eyes. Now 12, he has also gone deaf. His mom guides him through life, while we ensure his medical care – thanks to you.

Apollo is a sweet four-year-old boy surrendered by a couple who saved him from a family member…but not soon enough. Emaciated and unable to keep food or water down, he was whisked to the ER. X-rays revealed masses in his lung, and his blood work was concerning. Further diagnostics revealed a type of Lymphoma that is not treatable by radiation or chemotherapy. Apollo was enrolled in our Permanent Foster program and sent home with his devoted mom who has been able to stabilize him and add some much-needed weight. Most importantly, she has surrounded him with the love he has always deserved but never received. With good care and kindness, Apollo will be OK – until he is not. We hope that day is a long way off, but his foster mom knows, as we do, that it’s not the quantity of our days but the quality that counts.

Sugar Bear was surrendered by a breeder at six months of age. He was the one and only surviving pup of the mother dog, who also came to us. Sugar Bear was diagnosed with a grade IV heart murmur caused by an abnormal growth of muscle in his right ventricle and bad breeding. Who knows how many others were lost before the mother dog was finally surrendered. Sugar Bear will be on medication forever, and he will likely have a shortened life – but who knows? We have had some dogs with Sugar Bear’s condition go on to live close to 10 years. Enrolled in our Permanent Foster program, he is receiving all the love and care he could possibly need with frequent checks to monitor his condition and devoted former adopters with a long track record of going above and beyond for special needs dogs.

To make a general one-time or recurring donation to the Golden Angel Fund, simply Click on this link.

If you prefer to send a check, please make it payable to: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and mail it to the address below, including a note about the dog or dogs you wish to sponsor. Thank you!

Golden Angel Fund
Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue
7495 Natomas Road
Elverta, CA 95626