My first home was unfortunately in a pet store. I was so glad the day Dad came to rescue me, I was sad to leave my sister, but I hope someone as wonderful as Dad picked her too. It has been hard being a pet store dog, I had severe hip displaysia and serious skin allergies. (but I was unavoidably adorable anyway). I was really lucky the day my Dad came to choose me, thanks to him I was able to have the surgery on my hips that I needed. When I was in the hospital Dad came to visit me every day. This did mean that I spent my teenage years with one or the other hip shaved, but I am much better now. I can run and play with Bear, and now I can even jump up on the bed when I am so inclined.

Speaking of Bear, life was pretty quiet at first with Dad . I had a big yard to play in; sticks were plentiful, even though I had to leave them outside and I learned early that a Golden Retrievers first love is of course the tennis ball. Dad took me out to play at the park a lot, but sometimes it was embarrassing because I had my hips shaved, and was not at my most attractive. I was the only dog around and got all the attention but eventually Dad had to move to an apartment. There were lots of dogs in the building, but no yard to speak of. One day on my daily walk we ran into this other dog. He looked a lot like me! Dad started talking to his owner, I wanted them to hurry up cause I had to pee!!! They just kept talking. The other dog was okay but he was too interested in playing and didn't seem to care that I had to pee!, his name was Bear. Even now, he always wants to play. Doesn't even understand that at 6am I want to sleep!!! (Dad and I are low-energy, Dad says) He will keep trying to stick his darn ball in my face all morning.