The American Spectator

TennesseeVolunteer| 6.23.09 @ 8:02AM

Our second golden, Max is a rescue dog. We got him when he was three, now eight. they are truly a gift from God to humans. Our first Golden, Rollie, was a gift from our neighbors, I miss him still.
I recommend a "rescue" to anyone. they come trained and are so grateful.

NavyBrat| 6.23.09 @ 10:11AM

I've never had a golden, but have had labs my whole life. The breeds aren't that different. All they want in their lives is to love you & to be loved. This is one of the coolest stories I've read in a while.

PS. TN Vol: What do you think Kiffin's chances are this year? I'm worried (I'm a transplanted Memphian living in Pittsburgh).

John| 6.23.09 @ 10:17AM

Labrador guy myself... My 6 year old chocolate is a real love and has a great need to bring gifts as well. She is also 75 pounds of fidget so, along my other dog, a Westie, she sleeps fitfully in the basement. Both to their own kennels.

There is no negative possessiveness, no dog hair in bed, and no opportunity for wet nosed wake-ups at 2 in the morning.

Neither the Lab nor the Westie will ever win awards but they sure make life a little better for there presence among us.

r/John - TMF

Sandra in Severn| 6.23.09 @ 10:54AM

We have a mixed pack at our house, all rescues, all well behaved and well liked in the neighborhood. And all spoiled with affection.

A full Golden Retriever that kept running away from her original owners (friends of ours) that never ran, except straight to us, the many times she stayed here. Until it was apparent, she thought "we were home."

Our original dog, a Labrador- German Shorthaired Pointer mix that is a real "princess," hence it is also her name. But she is also a very focused and task intent therapy dog. She has worked with injured patients retrieving balls.

And our last member is an "old tired" and hard living dog that I shudder to think of all he has experienced in his short life. But he started out well loved, we, and small children can snuggle up to this bear or lion of a dog and nap with him as a pillow. His only job, ensure that gravity works.
His only bad habit, he likes to snuggle up to you on the couch. Not bad in the winter, kind of hard to put up with in July.

Yep, rescue dogs of any type are the best dogs.

Anthony| 6.23.09 @ 11:06AM

Golden Retrievers are the most wonderful creatures on God's green earth. The only problem is getting enough leg room, sleeping around an 85 lb dead weight, with my wife's bunny slipper in her mouth. Talk about total peace of mind.

Goldwater Girl| 6.23.09 @ 11:31AM

I have to agree, they are the best of God's creatures. We rescued a 105 lb male 6 years ago. Had to get a bigger bed, and a Suburban to give him his twice daily rides to the marina. If someday I find myself widowed, I would probably never marry again, however, I would get another Golden in a heartbeat.

KyMouse| 6.23.09 @ 3:59PM

Goldens are indeed dear -- just don't let Brenna, my border collie-Aussie shepherd mix know that I said so.

Speaking of pet shows, this coming Independence Day weekend (I refuse to call the holiday "Fourth of July"), our neighborhood will hold festivities that include a pet "talent" show. It's always a hoot -- last year, one very little girl kept one fist closed during the whole time she waited for her turn to show off her pet. When the time came, she went up on stage. The emcee asked what her pet was, and she said, "A beetle." She opened her hand to show it to the crowd -- and it promptly flew away.

Another child, a little boy, brought up a goldfish in a bowl. The emcee asked if the fish could do any tricks, and the boy thought for a moment. "He can swim!" he announced.

Happy Independence, y'all, and have fun with your pets, golden or otherwise.

William Tucker| 6.23.09 @ 4:02PM

Don't know how this story ended up in the is on The American Spectator website, but here's my golden story.

I have an eight-year-old named Augie. We've gone everywhere together, hiked 120 miles in upstate New York, swum in lakes, walked him without a leash for years in heavy traffic in Brooklyn. He's so smart he once chased a cat and stopped at the curb when it ran into the street.

However, he had never seen the ocean.

A week ago we were in Asbury Park visiting relatives and he finally got a look. It was cold and cloudy all weekend but I went up on my bike on Sunday morning and we walked out on the beach. He was delighted but reluctant to go in the surf. I tested the water, found it wasn't so cold, so I stripped down to my skivvies and dived in. So he got up his nerve and splashed in after me. I body-surfed in on a couple of waves and then decided to take him out with me. When popped up near shore, however, he was gone. I looked around and realized he was already swimming out into the surf. I started after him, figuring we could catch a wave, but he kept going. I yelled at him but he didn't stop. All I saw was the back of his head. He kept going. I swam after him and soon we were out beyond where the waves were breaking, but he just kept goingk and going. I yelled and screamed but he was still about 20 yards ahead and didn't stop. The current started to pull us down the beach and the swells were getting stronger and soon I lost sight of him. I turned around and realized I was out about 150 yards and way over my head. I looked for him again but he was gone.

I saw a lifeguard type on shore with a dune buggy so I decided to swim in and see if he had a boat. It took me a long time to get in, though, and by the timeI did he was gone. I turned around and there was this very rough ocean, the tide coming in very fast now, and no sign of Augie. There was a rock jetty sticking out about 50 yards in the direction the current had been taking us so I tried to get out on that, thinking he might have washed up on it. But the tide was almost covering it now and the waves were getting very rough. I ended up just running up and down the beach for about twenty minues, shouting and swearing and writing his obituary in my head. How was I going to tell the rest of the family he had drowned at sea?

Then I looked way down the beach about a quarter-mile and saw a group of fisherman trying to pull a big fish toward shore. When they finally dragged it our of the water, it had four legs. I realized it was Augie! I ran down the beach shouting and waving my arms but by the time I got down there he was making friends and jumping up on everybody and having a grand time. He thought it was a big joke! "We saw this strange creature coming toward shore and realized it was a dog!" they said. They were surprised to find he had an owner.

So he's back home again now, playing with the neighbors' children and making friends up and down the block. I guess I've forgiven him. But I must admit I'm regarding him warily with a newfound respect. How many dogs think they can swim across the Atlantic?

Jim| 6.23.09 @ 6:41PM

My Golden is most amazing, he is conservative, enjoys the same, food,beer and music that I do and very seldom disagrees with me. The only fight we ever had was when I replaced the old sofa without consulting him.

Joanne| 6.23.09 @ 8:48PM

My golden girl, Phoenix, also rests her head on my knee to get my attention. If that fails, she has also been known to rest her head on my chest and give the occasional light lick to my face or neck. Dogs are my favorite species, and goldens my favorites among all dogs.

Congratulations to Simba, who is obviously a very special boy.

Anthony| 6.23.09 @ 9:07PM

Those of us who love dogs, especially our Golden's are blessed. Everyone of us has a special heart thumping story about our wonderful. glorious Golden's. My first sweetheart is buried in my front woods, near her favorite spot, complete with matching tennis balls, albeit a bit worse for wear. Tonight, my other Golden and I, on our way back from our evening walk in the woods, paid a little visit. I had to tell her I talked about her on Am Spec today, she would have been.... underwhelmed.
I hate these dog stories, they turn this hard nosed, no nonsense conservative into a blubbering fool. Enough already!!, can we get back to Iran, Obama and the Democrats before I run out of tissues?

jesscia bred| 6.24.09 @ 2:38AM

Amazing post,i like content of this article its so nice and wonderful.i get some interesting information.