Golden Harley's story is a very special one. His San Antonian mom, Andrea Hanssen, contacted us in October 2006 about his tragic tale. The recent discovery of a brain tumor had been a devastating one, only compounding those difficulties she was experiencing due to being a widow, single mother, and nursing student. Wanting to do all that was being recommended by the veterinary specialists, the huge costs of treatment took her entire savings and more.

But, Andrea continued on, her positive spirit continuing to be present as she and Harley continued with his therapy visitations to wounded soldiers at the Brooke Army Medical Center.

When Golden Harley no longer could help others, Andrea spent her days and nights by his side comforting him. Harley's brave fight was beautifully detailed in the San Antonio Express-News. Want to learn more about Harley and the Land of PureGold Foundation's efforts to help? Well, then, just click below for . . .

  Andrea's & Harley's Story
  Story Updates
  Helping Harley Fund
  Harley Happy Times
  Valuable Resources

 

story





In the Beginning
Harley was born on May 6th 1995 in Columbus Georgia, and eight weeks later he became a member of our family. My 15-year-old daughter, Stephanie, was reading the classified section of the local paper and she insisted that I take her to see some Golden Retriever puppies that were advertised. As we drove to the location I reminded her that we were going there just to look.

After we arrived and I took one look at the twelve beautiful Golden Retriever puppies, I knew that one was destined to become ours. I told my daughter to pick one out and she chose Harley.  

Harley is a very special boy. As a puppy he was always well behaved and eager to please us and as an adult dog he has proven that a dog truly is man’s best friend.

After we took him home Stephanie would carry him around like a baby, which she continued to do until she moved away in 2005. She called him her “pudding boy” because as soon as she picked him up he would go limp like a bowl of pudding. The three words that best describe Harley are loyal, loving, and a gentleman.
 

Harley, Man's Best Friend
My husband Ralph (Ernie) was also very fond of Harley. He never owned a dog of his own and considered himself more of a cat person. That all changed when we got Harley.

Robert Benchley wrote, “There is no doubt that every healthy, normal boy should own a dog at some time in his life, preferably between the ages of forty-five and fifty.”

Ernie was forty-five when we got Harley. After Ernie retired from the Army, He was gone from seven to fourteen days at a time. Harley knew when his Daddy was coming home from one of his long trips. When Harley heard Ernie’s truck he would get so excited and I couldn’t open the door fast enough for him to get out to greet his Daddy. The bond between these two was evident and it was heartwarming to watch them together.  

Ernie became ill in 1997 and was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy. The only chance for survival for him was to have a heart transplant. We moved to San Antonio in 1999 for him to be placed on a heart transplant list at the Brooke Army Medical Center. During his workup the doctors found a malignant melanoma on his ear. We were devastated to find out that this diagnosis disqualified him to be on put on a transplant list.  

As I accompanied Ernie to his doctor’s appointments, we noticed a lady with a German Shepherd at the hospital. Ernie inquired why the dog was there and the woman told him that she was with Paws for Service and he was a therapy dog. Ernie looked at me and said “Harley would be a great therapy dog.” Little did I know that this statement would affect my life in such a positive way. 

In June of 2000 Ernie was admitted to the hospital. He was dying. He wanted to see his dog and asked me to bring Harley to the hospital to visit him. The nurses helped me “smuggle” Harley into the ICU so he could see his Daddy. It was hard not to be inconspicuous because Harley is quite tall and weighs over 80 pounds. When I brought Harley into the room, Ernie’s eyes sparkled and his face lit up. He was so happy to have his dog near him; and even if only for a short while, he forgot his problems.  

Ernie did not want to die at the hospital, so a few days later he came home. He told me that he wanted to be cremated and wanted some of Harley’s fur in his hand while he was being cremated. He wanted to have a little piece of Harley with him. Ernie died on June 14th. Within moments of his death, our daughter Stephanie went and cut off a handful of Harley’s precious fur and we put it in their Daddy’s left hand, because it was closest to his heart.


Harley, The Therapy Dog

Ernie knew that Harley would be a great therapy dog so I took Harley for training with Paws for Service to become a therapy dog. I was told that he was one of the best dogs that had come through the program, and he passed with flying colors. In memory of Ernie, Harley and I have been visiting patients for the past five years.

Harley is well known by the way as he carries his “baby” with him everywhere he goes. That is what any one of an assortment of stuffed toys, his favorite one at the time always having to be in his mouth.

Harley also knows how to speak quietly in the hospital—it is a whisper of a bark. One patient said he was the Elvis of dogs, because his quiet bark resembled Elvis’s “uh huh.”

Harley also knows when it is time to leave. When he is ready to leave, he picks up his leash with his mouth and gives me a gentle tug. 

The first hospital that I took Harley to work as a therapy dog was Methodist Children’s Hospital. We were assigned to the oncology unit. I remember the first little girl that we went to visit. She was so excited to see Harley and spent quite a while with him. He was very gentle with her and enjoyed his visit with her as much as she did with him.

She did not want us to leave and asked me if she could buy Harley from me for five dollars because that was all the money she had saved. It was very touching to know that something that seems so insignificant to some can mean the world to others. 

In August of 2001, Harley started his therapy work at the Brooke Army Medical Center. At first, our visitation was primarily with retirees and service member’s families. After the war in Iraq, we have seen many wounded soldiers.

It touches my heart when a soldier thanks me for bringing my dog to see them. Knowing that I can help them forget their problems, even if only for a brief moment, makes me realize how special the work that Harley and I do is.  

When we arrive at the Brooke Army Medical Center, we are required to sign in at the Department of Ministry. It takes us at least half an hour to get from the entrance of the hospital to the Department of Ministry located on the lower level because we are continually stopped by patients and visitors who want to pet Harley.

They smile as they see Harley carrying one of his stuffed animals, his "baby," throughout the hospital. He is always carrying one of his babies in his mouth, it is his personal trademark.

Harley even has his own name tag with his picture on it identifying him as a therapy dog with the Brooke Army Medical Center. People are always amused when they notice it.
Harley takes wearing his badge and cape seriously. He knows that when he dons his cape he is working and is on his very best behavior. He knows to "speak quietly" while at the hospital.

Once we sign in at the Department of Ministry we accompany one of the chaplains as he visits the patients on the wards.

We see many wounded soldiers from Iraq. Many of them are hesitant and do not want a visitor, but when the chaplain tells them he has a visitation dog they change their mind and are open to a visit.

It is amazing how the presence of a dog paves the way open for communication.

One chaplain told me that if it weren't for Harley he would never have been able to have such lengthy conversations with some of the patients. It is heartwarming to see them interact with Harley.

I am unable to take many photos of Harley at work because of the privacy act. However, John, who is shown below, personally gave me permission to share this photograph here at the Land of PureGold.

John was injured in Iraq in July of this year. He was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED), and suffered multiple bone fractures—mainly on his legs and ribs.

A wonderful young man, John is from south Texas and is currently (November 2006] staying at the Fort Sam Houston Guest House while he undergoes physical therapy.
 

 


Below, I have a photo of Harley with Audrey, a BAMC Red Cross Volunteer. Audrey has a lot in common with Harley because she, too, has a brain tumor. As you would expect, Audrey bonded immediately with Harley and remains encouraged when she sees how well he is doing. And, Poppie is an elderly gentleman who is a friend of ours. He had undergone hip replacement therapy and was in rehabilitation. My friend asked me to bring Harley to see him. Poppie was so excited to have Harley visit him. He said it really made his day, and he couldn't thank me enough for bringing him.


Harley, a Pal to All
Harley is a favorite to children and animals alike, having a calming effect on all those who meet him. Where we live there is a courtyard where people congregate with their dogs. Harley usually finds himself a comfortable spot to lay down with one of his stuffed toys. One day, the other dogs were exceptionally rambunctious and were barking louder than normal. After a short while, to all of our surprise, all of the other dogs were quiet. They had surrounded Harley and were lying down peacefully.

This peaceful aura that he exudes is not limited to dogs. I rescued a feral cat and the only dog that he will let get near him is Harley. Sometimes I find him sleeping within a few inches of Harley. He is also very gentle with my pet bird, which is against his natural desire to hunt them.

This is Harley and Maddie, my friend's 7-month-old daughter. She just loves Harley and he loves her.  

This October 2006 photo here features my Shar-Pei Teddy and Harley. Teddy can often be found using Harley for a pillow. They are big buddies, Teddy just so LOVING his Harley. But, then Harley has been the perfect canine brother to all of our family's dogs and cats through the years.

Don't you just love the photo below of big guy Harley cradling his new kitty sister? This adorable little guy is Favi, my male Bengal cat. Favi is very special because I got him the year Ernie died. And, believe it or not, Favi is named for him. Ernie's real name was Ralph, but when he was a little boy he couldn't pronounce Ralph, instead, saying "Favi."

COOL I have additionally entered this sweet photo in the Images of Cattitude Photo Contest, so please do support my two guys by voting on their entry. Voting begins the second week of November. All of the entries can be found by clicking here.

 


A Brain Tumor is Discovered
In June of 2006 Harley began to stumble a little while he was walking. The veterinarian thought that he might have some slight hip problems and started him on Cosequin. On the 2nd of July Harley started to high step his right front paw and was slapping it down while walking. I took him to the emergency vet and he thought Harley might have a problem with his shoulder. The following day I took Harley back to my vet and he took several x-rays of Harley’s shoulder and ran some blood tests. He told me to come back on the 5th of July. Harley deteriorated drastically within the next 48 hours.

When I took Harley back to the vet he told me that it was possible that Harley may have a brain tumor and Harley needed a CT scan immediately. He referred me to the Texas A&M University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, approximately 200 miles from San Antonio. I immediately took Harley there and was told by the veterinarian neurologist that Harley needed an MRI. He referred me to Animal Imaging in Dallas.  

I took Harley to Dallas on the 10th of July for an MRI which confirmed that he has a brain tumor. I was devastated and heartbroken. Harley has given his family only the best and I felt that I could not do any less than the best for him.

I knew that Ernie would have wanted me to do everything for Harley as long as he did not suffer. I consulted with three different veterinarian neurologists and they all concurred that the best treatment for Harley was to have radiation therapy.  

On the 17th Harley started his radiation treatments at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists in Houston. The treatment protocol was going to be three times a week for seven weeks. The drive to Houston takes about four hours and in order to be there by 8 am we had to leave San Antonio at 4 am.  

By the end of the first week Harley seemed to be tolerating the treatments pretty well. Then, on July 23rd around 10 pm, Harley started to have clusters of grand mal seizures. I rushed him to the emergency clinic. Once the seizures were under control the attending veterinarian referred me back to Texas A&M.

I drove there while my friend, Carol, sat with Harley in the back seat of my car watching over him, and ensuring that he received his Valium through an IV drip. We arrived at the hospital shortly before 4 am.

After they took Harley into the ICU, I did not think that I would see my beloved dog alive again. However, on the 26th he was released, and to my amazement was walking. He took his leash in his mouth and couldn’t get out of the hospital fast enough!

Unfortunately our happiness did not last long and Harley had another setback. When he was released from the hospital Harley had aspiration pneumonia. I brought him back home to San Antonio for treatment and during the night he had another seizure. The veterinarian controlled the seizures with Phenobarbital and Harley’s pneumonia cleared up. 

Harley’s radiation therapy resumed on July 31st. During the remainder of his treatments, he did not experience any additional setbacks. He has not had any more seizures and has been progressively doing better.

I knew Harley was ready to start his therapy work up again when I took him for a follow up visit to the veterinarian, as he grabbed his “baby” because he thought he was going to the hospital to visit patients. 

Throughout this whole ordeal Harley had been so brave. All of his treating veterinarians commented on what a good boy he is! I am hopeful that Harley will continue to do well; he is a survivor and has a strong will to live.

We are taking one day at a time. The only comfort that I have with Harley’s illness is that when the time comes and he passes away he will be greeted by Ernie in heaven and will once again be in his Daddy’s loving arms.

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Story Updates and More
From Rochelle (Mar 13, 2007)


  

     I do not get out much these days due to illness, so it was a GReat surprise to get to the post office and see that donations were still coming in for Harley. There is no question that folks are truly concerned about the plight of our special furry companions.
     And, the fact that Harley, and his work with our wounded soldiers, will be remembered and utilized to help other working Goldens is inspiring.
     As a special educator before becoming a school psychologist and graduate school instructor, I am always thrilled when children become involved at our family-oriented site. I had worked at one of the schools in Maryland that had a large military population, so I can easily understand how a teacher at such a school in Texas would be touched by this story.
     Keri Robertson's class is very lucky to have such a GReat teacher. I will be sending a Golden plush pup to the class along with some other special Golden goodies. 
     I also received a donation to our Helping Harley Fund from Nancy Orth of Seaman, Ohio. It was bittersweet, though, as Nancy enclosed a photo of her Therapy Dog International certified Golden girl, Marriet.
     She had worked with Nancy for seven years doing therapy work, but sadly succumbed to hemangiosarcoma on December 3, 2005. Marriet was only 10-years-old at the time.
     Nancy also enclosed a second photo of 9-year-old Golden Oscar. This handsome boy was adopted from an Ohio rescue organization in April 2006. And, even with his senior status, we all know it is never too late to learn.
     Oscar started in January 2007 in a special therapy dog class at the local dog school. He has already made two visits to a nursing home, doing very well at his new job!


 

I lost my dearest friend today, 
No finer could be found. 
My love for you is utmost true, 
It has no endless bound. 
So hard to say, 
"Good bye" to you, 
Forever, trusting friend, 
I'll keep you in my memories, 
I promise till the end. 


He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.

From Andrea (Jan 25, 2007)
     With great sadness and a heavy heart I write this email. Harley lost his battle with his brain tumor Tuesday morning. I am devastated, he was the love of my life. He will always hold a special place in my heart and I thank G-d for giving me Harley, he was my precious boy. 
     I have composed an album at webshots and would like to share it with you.

 

From Andrea (Jan 23, 2007)
     Harley had a really bad night and was suffering. I did all I could to help him. I took him to the vet and she told me that it is time. I also saw it up again as fast as when he was diagnosed. He was at peace this morning around 10:45 am. I can't write much now. I miss my boy and my heart is aching for him. I will write soon.


From Andrea (Jan 18, 2007)
     I would like to thank everyone for their prayers, well wishes, and donations for Harley. Harley's diagnosis was very devastating and came at a difficult time in my life. I truly appreciate all the support that I have received. May G-d bless all of you for what you have done for me and my Harley.


From Rochelle (Jan 9, 2007)

     We made it everyone! We reached our goal and are in the process of sending Harley and his mom a check for $10,300! The Helping Harley Fund, however, will remain a special part of our foundation. We are generating the parameters for a program in which we direct monies for cancer treatment. Applicants will need to be working dogs, such as, in the areas of assistance, enforcement, search & rescue, therapy, etc. Please do continue to donate as your monies will be directed solely to Golden working dogs in need of cancer treatment.


From Rochelle (Dec 15, 2006)

     On December 1st, I shared the news about having our winner for the huge Golden plush, Dr. Nora Wilcox having made a generous $200 donation! Here is the letter I recently received from Nora: "I got a call from the Children's Librarian today, and big plush Harley is a HUGE hit. He is the first thing all the kids, and many adults too, greet when they come to the library. The kids spend time petting him, talking with him, and posing him in various positions.
     It will be great publicity for the real Harley and also for our local R.E.A.D.® Program. Plush Harley has found the perfect home!
   

From Rochelle (Dec 14, 2006)
     A very special friend from Austin, Texas, Greg Korycki, did a wonderful thing. He took the time, along with his wife, to drive several hours to San Antonio to visit with Andrea and Harley. Greg is a tremendous supporter to and very much involved in Golden Rescue, and has similarly dealt with having medically compromised seniors.
     Things have been very sad as Harley seems to be suffering more. He is having severe reactions to the massive steroids that are being administered, and Andrea is wondering if the current regimen is too much for him to bear. Of course, no one can answer those kinds of questions. It is just one of the most painful aspects of loving these furry Golden souls. Well, back to Greg. Here is the letter that he sent to me about the visit (along with a photo of Andrea and her two furry boys, Harley and Teddy) shown below.
     "I drove down to San Antonio and visited with Harley and Andrea this past Sunday and what a wonderful visit. We met the whole family, Harley, Teddy (dog), and Favi (cat) and Richie (bird). We even met the neighbor's cat who Andrea is caring for while the neighbor is away!
     Andrea is a very humble and modest lady who just wants to help people. She and her furry/feathered family live in a small one bedroom apartment and she has been working part time jobs while attending nursing school, and taking care of Harley (her #1 concern right now). Harley has good days and bad, but his spirit is definitely here. He talks for his treats (his ears perk at the mention of "cookie") and is very alert. You guys would fall in love with him.
     Please send (tierlieb5 at yahoo dot com) Andrea a letter of encouragement. She appreciates (and needs) the support."


From Rochelle (Dec 1, 2006)

     First, for one lucky person, a donation of $200 or more to the Helping Harley Fund earned him/her this luscious plush Golden Harley. This plush dog ha
s a retail value (including shipping) of $60. The giant, soft and cuddly, dude is so lifelike and lovable, you will think he's real. And, he is perfect for play or display. The dimensions are 29 inches wide x 13 inches deep x 33 inches high. This Golden Harley donation has been made by Mary Jane Rizzella.
     We have our winner for the huge Golden plush, Dr. Nora Wilcox having made a $200 donation! And, we couldn't be happier with where this special guy will be and the job he will be performing in Pensacola, Florida. Here is the letter I received from Nora yesterday:
     I received my beautiful giant plush Golden, whom we’ve of course named Harley in honor of the true hero, in the mail today. Oh my he is so beautiful! The picture does not do him justice. And he is lifesize! I immediately drove him (sitting in the front seat of my Volvo) to our local library. He will help advertise our R.E.A.D.® Program, which we do every month there. I have plush Harley outfitted in the red bandana and on his collar is a little case of R.E.A.D.® appointment reminder cards with Molly’s (my Therapy Golden) picture.
     Harley is proudly sitting at the front desk now near the sign up sheet, and even in the first 15 minutes he was there, about 10 people have come up to comment and learn about the real Harley and his heart wrenching story. We printed out all the information about Harley from your Foundation Blog and it is on display with stuffed Harley there at the front desk. We are a military town, so I know there will be a great deal of interest in Harley. I do hope this will help publicize the story and bring in more donations to the Harley Fund. Many thanks for the opportunity to help this sweet hero, and the gift of this incredibly wonderful giant plush Golden.


From Rochelle (Nov 30, 2006)

     Happiness and fulfillment in our lives always revolves around our family members, furry and non-furry species both. So, with cancer robbing us of our loved ones and a war killing & crippling so many of our brave young soldiers, it is hard not to succumb to a pervasive sense of loss. I received the following message from Andrea yesterday and just sobbed. I just cannot get it out of my head.

Hi Rochelle,
I wanted to thank you for the plush golden retriever, it is beautiful and I will always cherish it. Harley is doing fine. He is still weak in his back legs due to the medication he is on. We have not been able to visit for the past few weeks. I did go today by myself so I could give a plush Golden Retriever that Lauren from San Antonio donated specifically for a soldier at BAMC.
     I gave the pup to soldier named Frank. He was injured in Iraq a few days before Thanksgiving. His vehicle was hit by an explosive and he lost both of his legs. He is a remarkable young man. I told him about Harley and about the donation. He was genuinely touched. To see the smile on his face that this gift brought was priceless. He held the pup and I asked him if I could take a picture to share with your website and was happy to agree. Along with the pup I gave him a card with Harley’s paw print which said “Get well soon, Love Harley”.


From Rochelle (Nov 21, 2006)

     Some people have wanted to communicate their good thoughts and prayers to Andrea. So, at Andrea's permission I am sharing her email address here (tierlieb5 at yahoo dot com). Andrea also relayed the following to me to share: "I  wanted to give a heartfelt thank-you to all those who are donating to Harley's fund. I was touched to read about Lawrence and his donation (it made me cry). What a precious young man."


From Rochelle (Nov 20, 2006)

     Although the response continues to dwindle, it was wonderful to receive a donation from a San Antonio youngster named Lawrence. The long-ago elementary school educator in me immediately recognized the all-upper case, penciled address, and was thankful that the extra digit in the zipcode did not affect delivery. Inside, there were seven one-dollar bills, accompanied by a torn scrap of paper with this message: "FOR HARLEY". 
     Most of our donations have come from big-hearted folks in San Antonio. Many who have made very generous donations have opted not to receive a gift as thanks for their contribution. One person suggested it be given to a soldier at the facility where Harley works. I will be sending it to Andrea who wrote this to me about her plans: "I would like to give the pup to John (the soldier in the picture with Harley). I am also going to put the picture of him and Harley in a frame and have Harley autograph it with an original paw print."  


From Rochelle (Nov 17, 2006)

Sadly, there has been limited response to Harley's story. Andrea and I have both contacted the local television stations in Texas and some national media, but no one seems interested in picking up on the story.
     If anyone has any media contacts or ideas about how the local folks in Texas or even National media can learn about this story, please do try to make something happen for this guy. The following letter is what I have sent out to the media. Anyone wanting to make further contacts can extract any or all of the information.

A recent article in the San Antonio Express-News [http://www.mysanantonio.com/salife/stories/MYSA111406.1P.harley.200c571.html] has detailed a very special boy who has been cheering up wounded Iraq soldiers at the Brooke Army Medical Center, despite the diagnosis of a brain tumor.

The Land of PureGold Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization, has set up the Helping Harley Fund [http://landofpuregold.com/harley/], but attention to it has been very slight despite the news article and the foundation’s best efforts. I feel this inspiring story desperately needs television exposure in order for it to make a difference.

An article in the December 2006 issue of Scientific American: Cancer Clues from Pet Dogs: Studies of pet dogs with cancer can offer unique help in the fight against human malignancies while also improving care for man’s best friend [http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa006&articleID=C9F7F979-E7F2-99DF-3D97694D2A702FED] details the importance of cancer treatment for our canines and how comparative oncology (study of cancers that occur similarly in humans and companion animals) is an important key for all of us, 2 or 4-footed.

The Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists [http://www.gcvs.com/oncology/index.htm], who provided cutting age therapy for Harley, are among the top veterinary oncologists in the country, also offering very valuable clinical trials as part of a network of National Institutes of Health [http://ccr.cancer.gov/resources/cop/] researchers.

Although Harley’s tale may seem to be merely a human interest story about a ailing Therapy Dog, it is truly so much more. For it can bring attention to some information that is valuable to all as statistics currently indicate that one in three persons, as well as small companion animals, will be diagnosed with cancer. It also details how some very special people, no matter the adversity, are trying to do their part to help assist our returning wounded soldiers.


From Andrea (Nov 16, 2006)

     I have been busy getting the word out on Harley's story. I would like to thank all those who have donated to Harley's fund. It is heartwarming to know that people care. Dr. Randall called me today concerning Harley's blood work. She was pleased to say that it was normal. Harley is doing well. I try to take him for a 'ride' in the car almost everyday. It is one of his favorite things to do.


From Rochelle Lesser (Nov 15, 2006)

     I have been hoping for greater interest and for Andrea's local television stations to pick up this story, but in the meantime want to thank the few folks who have donated. Not surprisingly, almost every contribution has been from Harley's fellow, big-hearted Texans!


From Rochelle Lesser (Nov 14, 2006)

     I have already had a couple of truly caring responses to this most inspiring story. One of our first donators asked that I give his stuffed puppy to someone in need of cheering up. And, Greg Korycki, a very special (Texan) friend who has done so much for Golden Rescue, wants to go down to San Antonio for a Harley visit.


From Andrea (Nov 13, 2006)

     I take Harley tomorrow for his blood work since he is on chemo. If it is normal, the doctor is going to reduce his steroids. The photo here is of me with Harley after he was diagnosed, and I thought I was going to lose him. That was July and here we are in November and the little guy is doing so much better than I ever imagined he would be. I saw Harley's other vet (Dr. Hanna) on base today, and he told me that when he saw Harley a couple of weeks ago it was heartwarming for him to see Harley with his duck.

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Valuable Foundation Resources
The Land of PureGold Foundation became a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational nonprofit corporation in February 2005. The formation of our organization follows a span of almost 10 years that the Landofpuregold.com has been a presence on the web, supporting and engaging in various charitable endeavors and providing numerous educational activities to promote the human-canine bond. We have personally seen this special healing power, time and time again, and have felt such joy as we continue to celebrate the wonders of The Bond. And, this 1,000+ page website is clearly testimony to this celebration.

Please check out the following comprehensive sections and pages
     Land of PureGold Foundation — Home page
     Foundation Mission Statement — Goals and information on Board membership
     Gotta Dance Documentary Film — Film exemplifying the human-canine bond
     Ways to Support our Foundation — Detailing of several giving programs and holistic & gift items
     Canine Cancer Awareness — Comprehensive 40-page section, including support resources
     Learning How to Say Goodbye — Comprehensive 14-page section, including nationwide resource map
     Four-Footed Therapists — Comprehensive 11-page section, including nationwide group listing 
     My Name is Buddy Book — For children, a Golden helps children understand brain tumors
     Therapy Dogs: Why Go Golden — Rochelle's 5 Golden Rings of Reason
     Helping Harley Fund

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happy
Harley Happy Times
The following are some photos that capture Harley's favorite things.


I call it photo Southern Comfort because it is Harley's favorite spot and he is my southern boy.



This is my favorite picture of Harley frolicking in the ocean at Corpus Christi. Can you see
the seashell in his mouth? He's getting ready to toss it in the air. He looks so happy.

 


 

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