The Story Behind Goldie

If you saw our recent post about blind Goldie ("The Lone Sentinel"), you''ll enjoy this story.  Dr. Karla  Mooers, a Seattle-area veterinarian who visited us this weekend (see post below), is responsible for helping save Goldie several years ago and bringing her into our life.  This was when we lived in Bellevue, Washington, a suburb of Seattle.  I took this photo of Goldie with Karla here at the ranch on Monday.  (That's blind and deaf Spinner in the background.)

I happened to be at Karla's clinic waiting in an exam room with another of our dogs, Dillon, when three guys brought Goldie in and said they wanted her put down.  They claimed she had been hit by a car, didn't want to pay for any X-rays, and had no interest in any medical care.  Yet Goldie was walking around the clinic, and although she had a swollen shoulder, she seemed fine.

The clinic staff were distraught.  She had been a patient at the clinic since she was a puppy.  Goldie was only 1 year old at the time, cute, affectionate, and sweet.  (She went blind later, when she was with us.)  The staff pressed the men, asking, "Are you sure you want her euthanized?"  They insisted they did, and one of them said again, "We just want her put down."  As he said it, he made a motion with his hand, thrusting his thumb downwards.  Then he added, "We'll just start over."

The staff at the front desk were livid, of course, but they had no choice.  The men paid the euthanasia fee and left.  A vet tech came and took Goldie into the back to prepare her for euthanasia.  Then another vet tech, Bindy O., pulled Karla aside and told her about the euthanasia case that had just come in.  Bindy said to Karla, "You know who's in Room No. 1, don't you?"  (Yes, we already had a reputation by then!) 

The next thing I know, Karla and Bindy had come into the exam room and were telling me what just happened.  Then they stopped talking and looked at me with this expression that said, "Well?"

Silence.

I finally said, "Oh, all right, we'll go ahead and take her."  I asked Karla to shoot some X-rays, find out what was wrong with the dog, and give her whatever medical care she needed.

Then they took me into the back so I could see her for the first time.  I went into the surgery area where Goldie was standing on a metal table, trembling with fear.  Three vet techs were holding her, all of them crying, while one had already scrubbed her leg where the euthanasia syringe would go.  Karla told them, "We won't be doing this.  Steve is going to take her."   Of course, their tears turned to joy.

The X-rays showed no broken bones or anything else that would suggest Goldie had been hit by a car.  We finally concluded that one of the jerks had just kicked Goldie to make it look like she'd been injured by a vehicle.  Apparently they felt the need to manufacture some justification for wanting to kill an otherwise healthy, young animal.

And here's the weird part.  Remember I said I had gone to the clinic with Dillon, one of our other dogs?  Well, I had just discovered that day a lump on his side and wanted it checked out right away.  By the time Karla came back to the exam room to look at Dillon, there was no lump.  We never found it again. 

(Click on photo for larger image.)

Comments

[Ellie R]

Wow! The last part of the story gave me the chills!

I hope those 3 you-know-whats were never able to "start over" and given the chance to abuse another wonderful creature. Ugh! Makes me so damn mad.

[Chloe]

Wow, what a story.

Beautiful angel Goldie. Flash forward to March 2010 and the story of Bailey's love for you lead me back to this entry.

So wonderful to know the sweet life you are having, Goldie.

[Lynne Parker]

Dillon's lump served its purpose: it got you into the vet's office to save Goldie. It was not necessary after that.
What an amazing and touching story. I just discovered your site and blog and have been reading the entire blog from the start. Your posts make my heart soar and break my heart.
They also made me realize that angels wear blue jeans.

[Sandy Walski]

Reading this brought tears to my eyes. What a wonderful new life for Goldie - blessed by angels!

[Leilani]

You're an angel for taking Goldie, Steve! Sounds like Dillon got a special, healing visit from his angel too.
Perfect ending. :-)

[Roz]

Bless you, Dr. Mooers, and staff when you all helped save Goldie and, of course, Steve was at the right place at the right time. We love you Goldie!

[Nina]

I loved reading about Goldie rescue! She is so precious! Keep up the great work your ranch does for these beautiful critters!

[ginger & Tobias (the greythound)]

What an amazing story! Goldie was meant to be yours, & she had devine intervention on her side.
ginger & Tobias

[Miranda]

"Things always happen for a reason" demonstrated once again. Dillon's lump and Goldie's jump, to you! Thank you for being what those three men were not. :-)