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A sea of golden retrievers, a field of pumpkins and one very huggable legacy
OregonLive.com • • health
Key Points:
- Around 60 people and their golden retrievers gathered at Yesteryear Farm in Wilsonville for PDX Goldens’ annual Halloween costume contest, enjoying a fall day among pumpkins and festive decorations.
- PDX Goldens, a Portland-area meetup group organized mainly via Instagram, was inspired by a therapy dog named Scout, known for his signature “Scout Hug” and his mission to offer comfort, especially to people experiencing homelessness.
- Scout’s popularity grew through community events, road trips across the West Coast, and a large social media following, turning his owner Melissa Heinonen’s focus toward therapy work and content creation.
- After Scout’s death at age 7, Heinonen continued organizing the meetups in his honor, fostering a supportive community of golden retriever owners that has thrived for over a decade.
- The group now regularly meets at dog-friendly locations around the Portland metro area and beyond, continuing Scout’s legacy of bringing people and dogs together through shared experiences and kindness.
