Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Olympic Gold Medalist + rescue Golden Retriever = FURever home


Steven Holcomb and the rest of his gold medal-winning bobsled team arrived at the Today show studio in New York City expecting to continue their media tour, business as usual. But as Holcomb walked backstage, he made eye contact with a copper-colored Golden retriever named Bailey.

"She looked over at me, I looked at her, and she stared at me as I walked by," Holcomb tells PEOPLEPets.com. He didn't know why she was there, but amid the chaos of the live-TV set, they had a moment.

Two-year-old Bailey, who was picked up in Harlem after being abandoned on the street, had come to the studio to tape a segment called Bow-to-WOW!, where shelter dogs from the city's Animal Care & Control get to strut their stuff on camera in the hopes of finding their forever homes.

She probably had no idea she'd be finding her new forever home that very day.

The show's producers decided to have the dogs walk out onto the set led by the four members of the bobsled team, and "sure enough, they handed me Bailey," Holcomb says.

"It was like an instant connection. All the people there were like, 'Whoa, you tamed her.' " On camera, Holcomb told host Matt Lauer that he might take her home himself — and later in the segment, he announced that he would be adopting Bailey.

Despite having just won an Olympic gold medal, Holcomb filled out an adoption application "just like everyone else," which has since been approved according to spokesperson Richard Gentles.

"She took to him almost immediately," Gentles says. "She calmed right down and this peacefulness came over her. She definitely picked him."

Holcomb still has a week left in his media tour before he can head back to Colorado Springs, where he trains, and prep for Bailey's arrival. He's excited by the prospect of sharing his home with a new furry friend — since losing his 14-year-old springer spaniel last year, he had been hoping to find a new dog.

"It's been lonely and empty," Holcomb says. "To come home after a really hard workout and there's nobody there waiting for you."

Once Bailey gets settled into her new home, the first order of business might be to teach her his world-famous Holcy dance.

"That'd be one great trick to be able to teach!"
National Canine Cancer Foundation

18 comments:

Teddy Bear said...

What a great story.:) I bet she'll get the Holcy dance down in no time.

Love,
Teddy Bear

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

A Golden with a gold medal!

How khool!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra & Khousin Merdie

^..^Corgidogmama said...

Sometimes falling in love hits ya' like that!!
Terrific tale!

Maxmom said...

Hey there, Mimi!
This wonderful story is affirmation that our canine's choose their owners...eventually.
Lotsalicks
MAXDOG IN SOUTH AFRICA
ps. Sending lotsaluv too!

The 'splorin' Wolfies said...

another heartwarming post from the crying blog. the eyes started going by line 4...

♥I am Holly♥ said...

Wonderful story! It was definitely meant to happen and they were meant to be together. I'm so happy for both of them! Love, Debbie and Holly

YD, sometimes with ♥June and ♥Angel Samantha said...

Aaawwww...Yay for the both of them! This is just GOLDEN!

Sam & June

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Now this sounds like a match that was just meant to be. Great story, and a happy ending.

Woos - Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

Kari in Alaska said...

Thats a great story! Hooray for Bailey!

Paco,Milo, Maya and mommy Simona said...

WOWOWOWOWOOOOOOO!!!
What a great great great story!!!!
Thanks for sharing it with us!!!!!
Bailey looks soooooooooooooo beautiful and sweet and we're very very happy Bailey found her furever home!!!!
YEPPYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!
Sweet kisses and licks dear friends!!!!

Paco,Milo, Maya and mommy Simona said...

WOWOWOWOWOOOOOOO!!!
What a great great great story!!!!
Thanks for sharing it with us!!!!!
Bailey looks soooooooooooooo beautiful and sweet and we're very very happy Bailey found her furever home!!!!
YEPPYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!
Sweet kisses and licks dear friends!!!!

Sagira said...

Love at first sight, how cute!

Anonymous said...

Hey Guys,
We loved rescue; especially Golden Retriever Rescue. Hooray for Bailey. GReat article.
- TBH&K

Frankie Furter and Ernie said...

I watched that happen on the Today show. You could see the thing unfolding. I just hope that it all works out as well as it seems to be.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

Its been a busy, crazy and hectic day for me, that has just been made a better by this great story that I really enjoyed!!! THANKS for posting this!! :-))

Unknown said...

Love at first sight! I loved this story. Thank you.
Twinkie

The Life of Riley said...

Proof you can never have too much gold in your life. I'm sure they will be very happy together.

Luv,
Riley (a Goldie too)