For the love of retrievers 🐾

Golden Bond Rescue finds new homes for retrievers

A light tan Labrador retriever lays on a rug

Golden and Labrador retrievers are the main focus, but other breeds are sometimes available. | Photo via @goldenbondrescue

Picture the perfect family dog. Chances are, a golden or Labrador retriever comes to mind. Although the two breeds are well known for their good nature, it’s not uncommon for dog owners to discover that things aren’t exactly what they see on TV or in the movies.

“They shed. You gotta be prepared to have a lot of hair around. They’re very loving, can be slobbery, and are likely going to be energetic,” explains Jill Groves, co-president of Golden Bond Rescue.

Most of the dogs with the Portland-based nonprofit come from shelters, where they were abandoned by unprepared owners. Others come straight from puppy mills. An even smaller number are international rescues, saved from the unregulated dog meat trade in Asia.

But, with the appropriate situation and plenty of patience, building a relationship with one of these dogs is worth its weight in gold.

Golden Bond places dogs in homes locally, and everywhere from Sacramento to British Columbia, Idaho, and beyond in certain cases. Those interested in adoption must fill out a thorough application.

A golden retriever in the sand — Golden Bond Rescue started in 1991. | Photo via @goldenbondrescue

“Rescue dogs are rescue dogs for a reason,” Groves says. “A lot of people get these dogs as puppies and they give them no training, and when they get bigger, they’re like 2-year-olds with knives.”

Foster homes are Golden Bond’s biggest need, but it can be a hefty responsibility. Better-adjusted dogs will be matched with less-experienced fosters, while those with higher needs go to veteran fosters. Volunteers are also needed to transport the animals or participate in community outreach events, like those hosted at partnering Mud Bay locations. Donations are vital too.

On Tuesday, March 14, diners at Oregon’s Hops n Drops locations can mention Golden Bond and 20% of what they spend will benefit the nonprofit.

After sitting in storage with Restore Oregon for 6 years, the iconic Jantzen Beach carousel needs a new home.

Where would you like to see it land?

A. Oaks Amusement Park
B. The Lloyd Center
C. In Jantzen Beach
D. Somewhere else

WE WANT TO KNOW

Click here to have your event featured.

Thursday, Feb. 23

Portland Spring Home & Garden Show | Thursday, Feb. 23-Sunday, Feb. 26 | Times vary | Portland Expo Center, 2060 Marine Dr. W., Portland | $15 | Check out the 75th-anniversary show, which features remodeling ideas from experts, an urban crafters marketplace, a plant sale, kid’s area, on-stage demonstrations, and more.
Noon Concert Series: Sherry Alves Brazilian Quartet | Thursday, Feb. 23 | 12-1 p.m. | Portland State University, Lincoln Recital Hall (LH75), 1620 SW Park Ave., Portland | Free | Spend your lunch hour listening to rhythmic bossa-nova, samba, and baião music.
Starkbier Fest | Thursday, Feb. 23-Sunday, Feb. 26 | Times vary | Stammtisch, 401 NE 28th Ave., Portland | Price of purchase | Kick off the start of Lent with food specials and strong, monk-approved brews, including bock, doppelbock, and eisbock biers. Did someone let a chicken in?

Friday, Feb. 24

“La Sylphide” | Friday, Feb. 24-Saturday, Feb. 25 | Times vary | Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay St., Portland | $29-$130 | It’s your last chance to catch this romantic ballet filled with vengeful witches, magical forest spirits, and a powerful temptation that causes a soaring love to come crashing down.

Saturday, Feb. 25

Marquam Nature Park Volunteer Ivy Removal Event | Saturday, Feb. 25 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Marquam Nature Park, Portland | Free | Spend a couple hours in nature and tell this invasive plant bye-bye.
BIPOC Community Market | Saturday, Feb. 25 | 12-4 p.m. | Community for Positive Aging, 1820 NE 40th Ave., Portland | Free | Support small businesses selling candles, skin care products, cat toys, plant accessories, and more; attendees are invited to donate canned foods and other household goods for local older adults.
Indian Cultural Festival | Saturday, Feb. 25 | 1-6 p.m. | Lloyd Center, 1241 Lloyd Center, Portland | $4-$12 | Join an afternoon filled with traditional dance performances, artist interviews, a cooking demonstration, and more.

Sunday, Feb. 26

CSA Share Fair | Sunday, Feb. 26 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | The Redd, 831 SE Salmon St., Portland | Free | Meet 45+ local farmers and take in cooking demonstrations from local chefs at this event hosted by the Pacific Northwest CSA Coalition.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

THIRSTY FOR MORE EVENTS?

Weather

31º | Windy and cloudy | 12% chance of wintry mix

Sunrise + Sunset

Rise: 6:59 a.m.
Set: 5:49 p.m.

Community

Organizers of the St. Johns Parade, a North Portland tradition since 1962, are working tirelessly to bring the event back Saturday, May 13. But, they need more help than ever from neighbors — the city is requiring at least 106 volunteers, twice the requirement of years past. 🤝 (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Arts

In April, “Bodies” by London artist Ray Young will make a splash on its US debut at Portland’s Swim 3 Diamonds swimming pool. The immersive sensory performance blends light and sound, putting audience members in the water. Boom Arts will produce it as well as Young’s at-home experience “Thirst Trap.” 💦 (Willamette Week)

Coming Soon

Stack is back, alright! At the end of March, former “Top Chef” contestant Gabriel Pascuzzi plans to reopen his lauded Stacked Sandwich Shop in Northwest Portland (across the promenade from Mama Bird). The restaurant will also contain a second location of Feel Good, known for its vegetable-laden quinoa bowls. 🥪 (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Eat

Yippeeeeee. We imagine that’s what the lucky person will say when they find Nico’s Ice Cream’s golden ticket. Next month, the business will randomly hide the shiny prize inside a half-pint at one of its locations. Find it and win a year’s worth — that’s 365 scoops — of ice cream. 🍦

Outdoors

The process of removing 243 light poles that pose life and safety hazards to the public is underway at 12 parks across Portland. Many are over 100 years old and have structural anchoring issues. Replacement will occur as funding allows. 💡

Festival

“Smiles for Miles” — that’s the official rose of the 2023 Portland Rose Festival. Its fruity aroma and petals that fade from yellow to pink would enhance any garden. For $39.99, you can purchase the plant from Portland Nursery; $2 of which will go toward the festival’s nonprofit foundation. 🌹 (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Closing

Walmart will shutter two Portland stores — one at the Delta Park shopping center and the other at Eastport Plaza — on Friday, March 24. Overall, 580 employees will lose their jobs, and customers with prescriptions at the stores’ pharmacies will have to transfer them elsewhere. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Listen

Calling all bibliophiles. Level up your reading routine with an Audible Membership. Why we love it: we can listen to our favorite books and discover new titles while doing everyday tasks like commuting, walking the dog, cooking, and cleaning. Sign up for your first 30 days free. 📚*

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Cool, calm, collected + protected 💪

Learn to protect yourself with Rose City Self-Defense

A group of women with Rose City Self-Defense flexes for a group photo.

Rose City Self-Defense is managed by the city of Portland’s Community Safety Division. | Photo via city of Portland

Registration for free introductory classes from Rose City Self-Defense is now open for the months of March and April. The program “empowers girls, women and the LGBTQ+ community, with a focus on engaging communities of color, people with disabilities, folks with unstable housing, as well as safety for sex worker.”

The city of Portland has offered classes like these since 1979, teaching skills to ~40,000 women and teenage girls. The holistic approach incorporates listening to your intuition, negotiating consent, boundary setting, and assertiveness, with fighting as a last resort.

Additional personal safety workshops are available. Through non-physical discussions, attendees will go over attack prevention strategies, how to recognize warning signs, deescalation training, and more. Sessions can be tailored to your specific affinity group.

If you’re interested in volunteering as a self-defense instructor with the Community Safety Division, send an email with your name and qualifications.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Ben.

Editor’s pick: As far as I know, Bigfoot and Frida Kahlo have never commuted on TriMet.

That didn’t stop Portland-based urban artist Hampton Rodriguez from painting their and other well-known profiles (more than 500) on paper transit tickets from his rides on buses and the MAX.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Learn about Portland’s cast-iron past.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Cambrie Juarez, Ben McBee, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Julie Brown | Advertise with us.

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