Margaret Kopacz
of Chesapeake, VA
This entry is a Double
Winner as it also received the most audience votes!
"This is a picture of our sweet girl
Laura, keeping her angel watch over our son, Peter, who had
just had a seizure. She stayed there keeping guard over him
for 1½ hours until he felt well enough to get up. Laura
herself is a cancer survivor (see, no tail!) and she brings
joy to our lives everyday."
"Thanks
so much! We always knew Laura was a special angel, but are glad you thought
so, too! I've ordered even numbers of note cards, so I can share with her
puppy raiser. Without her, we wouldn't have the sweet angel we have today!
This comes at a wonderful time. Laura, a cancer survivor, has a lump on her
side. We are waiting to have it removed. We're praying it's nothing, but are
worried, too. This has brightened the day!"
L
ore
Heavilin of Oak Ridge, Tennessee
"Cody is laying next to our two year old daughter, Trisha. He is her
constant companion. As a result of Trisha's many medical problems she is
hypersensitive to anyone/thing touching her hand and face. As you can see
from the photo she enjoys having him lay in her lap and touching him. Cody
is Trisha's Angel in Disguise because he is gradually helping her overcome
many developmental delays and problems. Not only is Cody helping Trisha
overcome her hypersensitivity of touching and being touched, he has been
instrumental in encouraging her to sit up by herself. This is something the
doctors said she would never be able to do."
It was wonderful to have
this be the first entry, to lead off a contest that truly celebrates just
what our Golden Angels provide.
Heartland Golden Retriever Rescue, who helps homele
ss and displaced Goldens from Tennessee, SW Virginia, SE Kentucky & NE
Alabama, was responsible for this amazing union. Lore contacted Heartland
looking for a Golden that they felt could be a companion to and help for her
daughter who suffers from Spina Bifida and other health problems. Even at
their first meeting, Cody (then named Bentley) was not intimidated by
Trisha's huge stroller and the equipment that went with it. He merely walked
by her side as though he had been trained for the job. The true miracle,
that told all about this boy's understanding of his new mission, came when
folks were making room in Lore's van to take him home. After rearranging
things to make room on the back seat, this smart and proud boy didn't
hesitate as he jumped straight into the middle seat, squeezing in next to
his Trisha. You can click
HERE
to see more of this union.
Kris Campesi of
Manassas, Virginia
"This photo
was taken last year when Wile E met his *cousin* Rascal for the first time.
Everyone was trying to hold the cute new kitty and Wile E took to the kitty
from the start. He would try to protect the kitty and did not want us to
have a turn with the kitty. A dog taking a kitty under his *paws* to protect
him is an unusual sight. Only an angel would break down the species barrier
to love another no matter what he looks like or the differences they may
have."
David Mason of Florence, Oregon
"Our Goldens are indeed our angels. This picture of Elwood
was taken on his 14th birthday on October 19th. You could
say that this is Elwood showing his angelic Golden smile."
Click
HERE to see a special page that celebrates this grand
guy's birthday. What a treat!
Vernon
Rocco of Freeland, Maryland
"Every time I
look at this picture, I can't believe how angelic Duncan
looks (especially when I know how he normally behaves). It's
just something about the way the sun is hitting him that
gives that impression. Duncan really is a wonderful friend.
When a new puppy comes into the family, it is Duncan's job
to train and care for it. He protects all of the other dogs,
and keeps an eye on the household, just like an Angel
should."
Mara
Windstar of Portland, Oregon
"Whether I am across the lawn or outside
the window, my Golden Angel Freely is watching and waiting
for me, truly my guardian angel! An angel in disguise? There
is no disguise in life when it comes to my angel. I can not
write of her without tears coming to my eyes and heart. How
can I possibly put into words the gifts that this angel
gives me everyday? The gifts of freedom and of love. Of
wisdom and of joy. The gifts of simplicity, the gift of
life. I don't just have my life back. I have my life thanks
to this angel! Freely is in training to be my Service
*Angel* and I am training her with the assistance of a
Service *Angel* trainer. In her training, I am gifted by her
halo, which even when it falls, helps me to see the joys in
the simplest things in life. She helps me to laugh when life
feels unbearable and she helps me to move and to keep going
when I want to give up. She helps me up when I fall.
Being part of her training opens me up every day to
understanding the beauty of an angel. From the waves in her
feathers to the tip of her wings, I am forever safe with and
blessed by my angel. I am living more freely with Freely, my
Assistance Angel at my side. Freely, at my side — my partner
and my pride. Walking in all weather — we travel life
together. Be it work or play — you're my angel night and
day. I shall forever say . . . Freely, at my side — my
partner and my pride." Click
HERE to discover more about Mara and her Assistance
Angel in Training.
Missy Clifft of Germantown, Maryland
"I have attached a picture of Tanner and Brandy. Brandy is the
puppy, and Tanner is the other Golden. Brandy is the angel .
. . and Tanner is the one who has seizures. Brandy has
changed Tanner's life. She has taught him so much! He was
always the *supervisor* kind of dog and would watch instead
of participate. Since Brandy joined our pack, Tanner never
misses a puddle, never misses an opportunity to get dirty,
and never misses an interesting smell.
At two years of age, my precious baby boy is finally
learning to explore this fun and exciting world, thanks to a
Golden angel named Brandy. Recently, after returning from a
hard day of play at the park, Tanner & Brandy ran inside, up
the stairs, and on the bed. It only took a few minutes for
them to fall asleep. A little while later, I heard Brandy
whimper and whine, and her nose was nudging my hand. I
looked at her and asked, *What is it?* She looked over at
Tanner, who was twitching and whimpering. She knows that
after we play, Big Brudder usually has those awful trembles
and shakes, but he's on medication now which she doesn't
know. As I watched Tanner and prepared myself to comfort him
and stay calm, I realized that he was just having a nice
dream and not another seizure.
And then I
looked at Brandy and realized she was trying to tell me Big
Brudder was in trouble. She was panting and nervous, and
visibly concerned. Even though Tanner was just dreaming, my
heart soared that Brandy let me know he needed me and that
she loves him that much. I comforted her and explained that
it was just a dream, and that Tanner would be fine. She
wasn't convinced so I softly said, *Tanner.* He slowly
raised his head up and looked at us. Brandy barked loudly
and her tail started its thump, thump, thump. Everything was
okay, now, and she knew that. I grabbed her neck, cried, and
thanked G-d for my angel puppy. She has given so much to my
Tanner and I am forever grateful. G-d knew what He was doing
when Brandy picked us out. Thank you, Brandy. You are truly
a guardian angel and I love you so, so much! I can't wait to
watch you grow, to watch you bond even more with Tanner, and
to watch you take care of him. You are the light of our
world!"
Carol Papiez of Sterling Heights, Michigan
"Kalli is an
angel in disguise because she cheers up these and other
residents of the group home we visit as a therapy team. The
residents dote on her, but I'm sure it's me that gets the
most joy out of the visits. Just watching the interactions
that take place is very heartwarming."
Chandler Rudd of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire
"Bennie
CGC TDI, a
Yankee Golden
Retriever Rescue, was turned in by reluctant owners who
had bought him from a pet store as a Christmas present for
their children. After a short time they found that their
baby was allergic to dogs and rather than give him up and
*waste* the money they paid for him, they decided to chain
him up outside where he remained for 8 months. Poor Ben was
constantly picked on by wandering neighborhood dogs and
because of this he became very dog aggressive. Finally his
constant barking persuaded his owners to do the right thing
and they called YGRR.
We adopted him when he was 11 months old and found
that we had a lot of work cut out for us. It took almost 4
years of constant obedience training but finally in 1999,
Bennie was certified by Therapy Dogs International as a
Therapy Dog! Now 6, he has completely changed from his old
aggressive self, to a fun loving, happy go lucky Golden
Retriever. Bennie is a *cool* dog according to everyone who
meets him. He loves riding Jet Ski's, diving for crabs in
the ocean, and playing with anyone who will give him the
time. He is a natural at Therapy work. He seems . . . no, he
knows to *tune* his behavior to fit the patients he meets at
the Exeter hospital where we go with him and Lucy for our
Therapy work every Wednesday night. He watches over his
*sister* Lucy, making sure that she feels secure in all her
surroundings. He is more human than many people we meet! In
this picture, Bennie checks out his new nephew Sean. To him,
human babies must smell like puppies do to us. He gently
licks Sean as his tail wags slowly. He is certainly our
Golden Angel and Lucy's Guardian Angel!"
Adele Rouser of Greensboro, North Carolina
"Lindsay
was only one when our first Golden, Bowser, joined our
family. They had grown up together. He died last year at 13.
It was like Lindsay had lost her best friend. Several months
later, last New Years Eve, we picked out our new Golden,
Zoeydpaw — Zoey for short. It was love at first sight. This
was taken in October. We were camping in a small camper in
the North Carolina mountains. It was very cold and Lindsay
and Zoey kept each other warm during the night. They are
both my little angels. P.S. — Happy 1st birthday Zoey. She
turned one on Thanksgiving day!"
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