Jennifer Langston–founder of Golden Ears Sanctuary and Rescue, a specialized refuge for senior and hospice dogs in Wesley Chapel, FL—recalls growing up in a house where dogs were always present, whether they be fosters, newly-adopted, or the family pooch. 
Notably, for the canine establishment she would create later in life, she recounts that her Mom
instilled in Langston and her siblings a sense of responsibility toward these pups that extended through the end of their lives. She remembers the first dog she felt a powerful kinship with, a Doberman rescue named Bingo. And, not surprisingly, Bingo was the pup whose passing constituted Langston’s first significant dog loss. And given the central focus of today’s show, it’s probably also unsurprising that I ask her to describe the impact of that loss. When queried about other dog losses over the years that affected her profoundly, interestingly, she instantly replied with an enormously recent one: Tyson, chow who arrived at Golden Ears paralyzed in his back legs, but wasn’t born that way. As she discusses Tyson, it’s clear that this dog stole her heart. As part of that description, she noted that when a stranger visited the 
Sanctuary, Tyson—when out of his wheelchair—would drag his body to a position
between the visitor and Langston, clearly aiming to protect her. Tyson passed away on April 12, 2024.Langston offers a narrated tour of Golden Ears Sanctuary and Rescue, which is located in her Wesley Chapel home, spread across one and a quarter acres. While she preferred not to say how many dogs reside there, Langston clearly has many mouths to feed, and many vet bills to pay. A nonprofit organization, 501(c)(3), Golden Ears relies almost exclusively on donations to underwrite the resident canines’ medical and surgical care, physical therapy and medication, as well as general care and feeding. The operation is additionally funded by occasional large events, including their 6th Annual Pins for Pups bowling fundraiser, taking place on June 22. (https://goldenearsrescue.org/, https://www.facebook.com/goldenearssanctuary, https://www.instagram.com/golden_ears_sanctuary/?hl=en, https://goldenearsrescue.org/events)
ALSO: I spoke briefly with Rachael Essex, Residence Coordinator and Staff Advisor of Pet Life, at Eckerd College, which, the previous day, had held its 12th annual Pet Graduation, which conferred diploma-like certificates on a slew of animals. As Essex described the ceremony, there were an enormous menagerie of graduates–mostly dogs and cats, but a host of others, too, including snakes, a bearded dragon, and a hedgehog. Essex observes that Eckerd has a long history of honoring animals and supporting their presence, highlighted by being the first college to accept on-campus pets. Currently, for the 2023-24 school year, Eckerd students registered 151 pets with the student-run organization, Pet Life Council. Which means of the more than 1713 students who live on campus, the better part of 9% reside with their pets. (https://www.eckerd.edu/housing/pet-life/)
COMEDY CORNER: Max Rosenblum’s “Dog People” (https://maxrosenblum.com/)
MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: We didn’t play “Name That Animal Tune” today.
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