In May of 2003, my 39th birthday was approaching and my partner and I decided, rather than a birthday present, I wanted to adopt a dog. From May through August, I made my rounds at the animal shelters, sometimes weekly. I knew the odds of finding a Golden Retriever in the pound were slim, but I kept my hopes up. In late June, I had injured my knee and had to walk with a cane, or crutches, but kept going to the pound.
     Then one August morning, I was walking through the cages of dogs that were due to be put to sleep at the end of the day. There he was, this big, dirty hairy golden barking non stop at the pit bull in the cage next to him.
     I hunted down a volunteer and asked to take him out. Because of my cane, my partner took him by the leash at first. When we got him in the back courtyard, he became quiet and when I bent down to talk with him, I could see the sparkle in his eye.
     Then, while I was trying to walk with him, he saw it. A wading pool with greenish brown water in it. Given a man with a cane versus a 112LB golden on a mission, I lost. He climbed into the pool and laid down. That was it, I had to have him!
     Within an hour, he was in the van, his head on my shoulder just licking my face because he knew what I was doing for him. Straight from the pound to the groomer, for a bath and a total shave down, Beau became a new dog. Little did I realize just how much this character would enrich my life.
     When I adopted Beau, he had weighed in at 112lbs. I remember the morning after bringing him home, I had my back turned as he tried to climb onto the couch. I’ve never heard a couch make such a horrible sound, I was sure it was going to break. Several vet visits, a lot of exercise and Thyroid replacement therapy worked to bring his weight down to a healthy 75 pounds.
     Over the course of that year, a very dear friend, who was ill with AIDS came to love Beau. Whenever Mauricio would visit, Beau would roll around on the floor with him and happily play with him.
     Later that year, after having made a turn for the worse, Mauricio was dying. I couldn’t believe the last thing he would say to me. He’d asked if I had given Beau a hug and a kiss for him the day before and then asked me to do that every day.
     For the next 5 years, Beau was given a kiss and hug goodnight for his uncle Mauricio. In the ensuing years, I left my partner which was very difficult. Beau made sure I never went a day without a smile. He had such a lovable face and only wanted to love and be loved. He was my overgrown lap dog who had no problem napping on my chest.
     This past June, at the age of 16, Beau really slowed down. After going on vacation with my boyfriend and I, Beau became sick. In a short amount of time, he developed lumps in his belly, which turned out to be adenocarcinoma of the liver.
     After 6 wonderful years, I had to let my boy go. His last day at home we had one last nap with him on my chest, one last cuddle before he left. When the time came, surrounded by my boyfriend and another dear friend, he laid with his head in my hands, staring into my eyes as he went to sleep. The last thing he saw was me, and I know he knew I was there for him until the end.
     When I found myself living without a dog, I couldn’t bear it. After some time and one failed attempt, I found yet another golden someone had lost and I had the fortune to find. I can’t imagine my life without a dog, and I can’t imagine having a dog that I didn’t rescue.
     Rescue dogs are so special. They come with a special connection, knowing that you’ve saved them from a life of insecurity and coldness and with that, bring just a little extra bit of love.