I first saw Annie at the GRRCC kennel at Kathy Nixon’s. She weighed 89 lbs and bore a distinct resemblance to her name, which was then Pumpkin. She also had significant hip dysplasia which might require surgery. However, she was so overweight that the need for surgery could not be assessed, much less performed if needed, until she lost a significant amount of weight. Having taken a lot of pounds off of a lot of Golden Retrievers in my day, I volunteered to foster her and get her to the place where we could decide what the best course of care for her would be. Several months later she was an entirely different dog…in fact about half of the dog she was before. The combination of what seemed like hundreds of pounds of green beans, a cautious exercise regimen, and a little foster mom imposed will power (ably assisted by the wonders of Cosequin) had resulted in an adorable and petite little girl of 46 lbs. This dog that previously couldn’t walk down the driveway without needing to sit down now joyfully went on 2-3 mile walks and made a ‘sad dog’ face when it was time to get in the car and go home. And, somewhere along that journey to fitness, I came to the realization that this little girl had taken hold of my heart and would never leave there, or my home, again. Quickly renaming her Annie (since no dog should suffer the indignity of being named after a rotund squash) I adopted her in April of 2004 and we never looked back.

Annie steadfastly refused to acknowledge that she was under any obligation to retrieve. Although I tried in vain for years, whenever I would throw a ball for her she would look at me quizzically as if to say "I have absolutely no idea why you threw that round thing or why you’re looking at me like that. If you truly want it back, it might be a good idea if you walk over and get it yourself’. She did however love water of any kind, in any place and the smile on her face as she waded in a mountain lake or splashed through a tide pool at the beach could not be mistaken for anything but complete unadulterated joy.

One of the many things that never ceased to amaze me about Annie was her relentless passion for all things edible. The entire batch of scones, several packages of Pita bread, the large wedge of brie (we called her Brie Breath for several days afterwards), and the package of short ribs which she took off the counter, carried gently through the house and out the dog door and tidily ate outside – not sharing even one with her Golden brother, were impressive heists. They were nothing however compared to the notable day when she ate entire loaf of focaccia bread that she somehow managed to get off of the top of the refrigerator…really, I swear it’s true, I have witnesses! My lesson thoroughly learned was to never underestimate the resourcefulness of a woman of any species who is craving carbohydrates!

Even when planning her next illegal meal, Annie was the ‘Poster Child’ for everything that is wonderful about a rescue dog. She loved representing GRRCC at fund raising events, picnics and parades and was clearly proud to ride on the seat of the golf cart as we drove around greeting the participants in our annual Golfing for Goldens tournament. She also accompanied me on home visits when prospective families who had recently lost a dog needed a Golden ‘fix’. She was unfailingly friendly and polite to everyone she met on these visits and was only ever mildly curious about the other, often unusual, furry and featured friends that occupied their homes. She also welcomed countless foster dogs into our home; teaching some of them good manners and helping others to heal their bodies and spirits. It was as if she knew this was important ‘work’ because, not so long ago, others had helped her when she needed it most.

Annie was many things; more than these words can convey and all of them incredibly precious to me. Although not even close to the AKC breed standard, in all the important ways, she was the perfect Golden Retriever in my eyes. Although I only had her for four short years, they were wonderful ones…filled with boundless love and laughter and seemingly millions of smiles. Much to my surprise, writing this has been therapeutic for me. I now know that the right thing is not to dwell on the fact that she is gone. Rather, to celebrate her life; one well and truly lived.

Godspeed Annie…