"Her name is Lucy," I said as I pushed her closer to the boy. "Hi Lucy" replied the boy. "May I pat her?" "She would like that" I told him. I moved Lucy’s stroller closer to him so he could reach out and touch her. He stroked her head and allowed her to smell his hand. "She is so soft" he breathed. "Why is she in the stroller? Is she handicapped?" "Yes" I told him, "She has Spina Bifida" "Oh my G-d! So do I!" he cried. So began an amazing relationship between a young handicapped boy and his canine equivalent, a special four year old Golden Retriever named Lucy.
     Let me tell you a bit about Lucy and the circumstances that lead to this story. She was found abandoned in Middletown, Connecticut when she was only five weeks old. When it was discovered that she was paralyzed in her hind end, her rescuers were advised to euthanize her. Instead, they called the Golden Retriever rescue group in their area, Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue, and asked if they would take Lucy into their program. Yankee readily agreed and began an evaluation of poor Lucy. She was taken to Tufts Veterinary Hospital in Boston and there, several tests were performed. It was determined that she suffered from a form of Spina Bifida of which there was no cure. Again euthanasia was recommended.
     Yankee decided, instead, to give Lucy a chance. They brought her back to their kennels and began the daunting task of finding her a "forever" home. My wife and I heard about her through my affiliation with Yankee and we agreed to take her into our home and try to give her the best life possible. We also felt that Lucy was put on this earth for a reason. The fact that she was still alive was a tribute to her spirit and the devotion of all the people who worked with her. I envisioned Lucy working with handicapped children, showing them that a quality life doesn’t have to end with a debilitating injury or birth defect.
     I’ve been sharing Lucy’s life stories with a group of golden owners on an email list group for several years. The members are made up of a fantastic variety of people. Some are involved in Golden Rescue, some with breeding, and some are just loving golden owners. All are dedicated to this wonderful breed. We’re like an extended community, actually, more like a family. Every year, on Labor Day weekend, we all get together at a children’s summer camp way up in the mountains of Pennsylvania. There we share stories, renew friendships and make new ones. We even help raise money for Golden Rescues all across the country.

     It was at last year’s camp that Lucy was introduced to everyone. It was like a homecoming. We participated in some of the certification tests that were offered. Lucy passed her CGC test and was certified, with ease I might add, as a Therapy Dog by Therapy Dogs International. Later last year, we began visiting hospitals and Rehabilitation Centers where she gave hope and encouragement to the patients there.
     Her best work was with the children. They were captivated with her personality and motivated by her happiness. Because of her physical deformity, Lucy rides in a modified jogging stroller when we go for walks or make public appearances. We have seen many handicapped children, but the boy with Spina Bifida touched us so very deeply. Perhaps it was the similarity between the two of them. Let me continue the story . . . . .

     "My name is Joshua." The boy offered, holding out his hand. "How old is she?" As I shook his hand I replied, "She’s almost four." I noticed that his handshake was firm and he sounded very mature for his age which I guessed was around ten. Joshua, I must tell you, was also in a stroller, which was what captured my attention in the first place.
     His large brown eyes belayed an intelligence that transcended his age. He had a ready smile and a cheerful voice. "Can she walk?" Joshua asked. "Believe it or not," I answered, "Lucy walks on her two front legs!" "Wow! She sure is strong! I wish I could do that." Josh exclaimed with wide eyes. "I have to put on my braces. Then I can walk with my crutches."
     I watched as the two of them got to know each other. I noticed that they both had the same color strollers. Both of them were smiling and obviously connecting on the same level. I have always been amazed at the way Lucy communicates with the children. As Joshua leaned over and began rubbing her ears, Lucy began to gently lick his face. He let her lick him for quite some time, then laughed in delight. Lucy sneezed, which looked to me more like a laugh too. I felt a silly grin spread across my face.
     Just then, Joshua’s father came over and introduced himself to us. We told him about Lucy and how similar her life was to his sons. He smiled and told me that I was a special person to take care of a disabled dog. I replied that he too, was special and that Joshua was very lucky to have someone who obviously loved him deeply and was willing to go to great lengths to assure his happiness. He said that they needed to get ready for dinner but that they would see us soon. Joshua said his good-byes and they left, leaving us to reflect on the moment.
     They next day, my wife and I were relaxing on the edge of a grassy field. Lucy was out of her stroller and was lying on the grass next to us. We saw Joshua and his dad coming over to us. "Hi Lucy!" Joshua cried excitedly. His father pushed him over to where Lucy was and as he scratched her on the head, she eagerly licked him back. "I think she is happy to see you, Josh," I said. Joshua turned to his father and asked, "Can I get out? I want to get down and see Lucy." "Sure," said his Dad, and lifted Joshua out of the stroller. I noticed the same trusting look in Joshua’s eyes that I see in Lucy’s when I lift her from her stroller. Again I was overwhelmed at the similarities between these two.
     Joshua used his arms to move himself over to Lucy and the two of them were soon engaged in a conversation that was beyond my understanding. They were nose to nose, Josh rubbing the side of Lucy’s face, and Lucy was reciprocating with warm, wet kisses. Joshua looked up at his father and asked, "Can I put on my braces? I want to show Lucy how I walk." His dad then spent the next twenty minutes installing and adjusting the mechanical contraption that gives Joshua’s legs enough stability to allow him to stand on them. Josh was picked up and given his crutches. "Come on Lucy!" He called cheerfully, "Let’s go for a walk."
     We watched as the two of them walked away from us, Lucy on her front legs, holding her rear in the air, and Joshua with his crutches. It was a very moving sight, one that I will never forget. The two of them walked a short distance, then turned and headed back to us. Lucy, normally very devoted to us and not one to go with strangers, was following Joshua as if she were his dog. When they returned, Joshua made a statement. "Lucy and I are exactly alike. We were both born the way we are and we don’t know any different. She is happy and so am I!"
     I was amazed at the maturity of this young man. Somehow the two of them seemed to draw upon the positives in their lives and not dwell on the negatives. We all watched as the two of them enjoyed each other’s company. Soon, Joshua asked if Lucy could swim. I told him that she could swim very well. "I’m jealous! That’s one thing that I can’t do," Josh replied, but added, "I still love the water. Are you going to the pond later?" We told him that we would be there a bit later. "I would love to see Lucy swim," Joshua admitted, "I’ll meet you at the pond!"

     Later that afternoon, we walked with the dogs to the pond. What a beautiful day! Brilliant puffy white clouds drifted across the sky while below, the water was a sea of gold. There must have been scores of Goldens frolicking in the water! Some were swimming after tennis balls, some were jumping off the dock with reckless abandon. Even more were content to sit in the cool water and watch the other dogs play.
     We noticed that Joshua and his Dad were already there. Josh’s Dad was in the process of removing his braces. As we approached, Joshua called out, "Hi Lucy! Over here! When we arrived he said, "I can only sit in the water, but I want to see Lucy swim." He scratched Lucy’s ears and I watched as she gazed at him with affection, a big grin on her face. I handed him a tennis ball as his Dad carried him to the water.
     I felt tears welling up in my eyes, as again, the similarities between Lucy and him became all too obvious. I recognized the trust and love that glowed in his eyes. I saw no self-pity, no anger. In his eyes I saw Lucy, and my heart broke. I found myself wishing, as I do with Lucy, that he could be allowed to be normal, just for a while, to experience life as I know it without the encumbrances of his disability.