MALLORY, Age 11
Grade 7 at B Hall in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Best Friend: Kapo, 1½ year old Golden Retriever
December 29, 1998

As scientists search new sources of renewable energy why don't they investigate the obvious? My Golden Kapo's tail never stops! It is a perpetual motion machine. Perhaps mankind would be more generous and loving if we all had tails. We would never be able to hide our true feelings, and dusting the house would be a breeze - literally. Pin a Golden's tail on everyone.

JAIMEE, Age 13
Grade 8 at Mackenzie School in Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada
Best Friend: Cookie, 2 year old Golden Retriever
December 1, 1998
    
Last year I lost my best friend Lady (shown below). She was a Golden Retriever. I thought that I would be sad forever. I got another puppy. Her name is Cookie. She, too, is a Golden Retriever. Cookie is identical to Lady. Cookie always makes me smile (which you can easily see in the photo)!
I will always love Cookie no matter what she does! One time she ran in the bush after a squirrel when I was taking her for a walk. It took me an hour to find her. I was just glad that her leash didn't get caught in any branches! By the time I came out of the bush, my legs were all scratched up. Those scratches reminded me how much I love Cookie!

JOSHUA, Age 10
Grade 5 at Northside Elementary in Palmyra, Pennsylvania
Best Friend: Chivas, 7 year old Golden Retriever
November 26, 1998

We have four dogs but Chivas is my best friend out of all of them. He was our first Golden Retriever and we got him when he was nine months old and I was about four I think. I have taught him lots of tricks. He knows his left paw from his right paw, he gives high five and will play dead when I pretend to shoot him with my finger and say bang. But his best trick is catching dog biscuits off his nose. I like to show his tricks to all my friends and he likes to show off.
He makes a great pillow when we are watching TV and he sleeps in bed with me every night. He is a big bed hog. He knows what time I come home from school and waits by the window for me everyday, then he helps me with my homework. I love all my dogs but Chivas is my best friend.

MELISSA, Age 11
Grade 6 at Dacula Middle School in Georgia
Best Friend: Lassie, 5 year old Australian Shepherd Mix
October 3, 1998

It all started kind of rough, but we got to be together, that's how we wanted it. I was at my cousin's Aunt's house, when I was asked, "Do you want a puppy?". And of course I replied "Yes!!" So we all went outside, and there were about ten of them. I had a small white dog picked out. When I saw her, she was backed up in the corner, looking lonely. I fell in love with her right away.
So that's the dog I took back to my cousin's house. When I talked to my parents about it, they first said no, but when they got there the next day, they saw how cute she was and had to give in. We could not come up with a better name than Lassie. But it seamed to fit her, she was petite and polite. So now, five years later, she sits and watches me type, waiting for me to stop and play.

STEPHANIE, Age 12, South Carolina
Best Friend: Sydney Bear, 12 year old Rottweiler/Pitbull Mix
August 9, 1998

My dog, Sydney Bear, was a very special dog. We had to give him away before we moved. My dog was very protective of me. He was by my side all the time. When I went to school he would get out of the car and walk me to the door. Then my school said he wasn't allowed to do that anymore, so he waited in the car until I got out of the building.
One day my parents said we were moving. I was sooo excited until they told me Sydney Bear couldn't come. I was mortified. Who was going to be my best friend?! How was I supposed to get piggy back rides from him if he was in California?! When we got here I adjusted well, but if his owners after us would e-mail me I would love to here from you about my dog.

KYLIE, Age 9
Grade 4 at Ceder Oak Elementary in Beaverton, Oregon
Best Friend: Daisy, 1 year old Golden Retriever/Samoyed Mix
August 4, 1998

I taught Daisy to shake my hand in two weeks. And I always give her a treat when she does. She always cheers me up when I am down. She brings her toy when she wants to play fetch. She tackles me with love when I have been gone!
I love her and she loves me and that is the way it is going to be. She is the best dog ever. She loves to catch popcorn when we throw some at her. I think she likes Air Bud like me. She seems to look at the T.V. when a dog show is on. She Is The Best!!

KRYSTIN, Age 13
Grade 8 in Seattle,Washington
Best Friend: Sam, 10 year old Golden Retriever
July 29, 1998

My dog Sam is great because she is so cute (everyone says that about their own dog, though, don't they!). When she was little, she used to sleep in this basket that we kept a blanket in! We still have the blanket and basket, but she is a bit big for it now! She has her own bed now.  She is also the nicest dog in the world. She rarely barks (only when someone comes to the door) and never growls. My little brother picks on her all the time and she just grins and bears it (she really does grin, too!). He can sit on her head and she doesn't care! Well, if she does care she doesn't let is show!
She's also really smart! She has a machine out of which she can get dog treats by pushing down a lever. She loved to do that! Well, she loves it still, probably, but we can't use it anymore because we moved and we can't find the right treats here. And the other day, I was teaching her her phone number (we were both hot and bored) and I decided to try something. I asked her to close her mouth. She did it! Maybe it was just an accident, but it was pretty cool! Sam and I pretty much grew up together. I got her when I was almost three. She was such a cute puppy! Her birthday is March 30, 1988.

RYAN, Age 10
Grade 5 at Richard Henry Lee Elementary in Glen Burnie, Maryland
Best Friend: Bronson, 2 year old Golden Retriever
July 28, 1998

My dog Bronson is my best friend because he plays basketball with me. He lays down and snuggles with me in chairs and on the floor. He does all the tricks I tell him to. He loves to give me good wet kisses. He also like to wrestle with me. But he usually wins when he gets on top of me and starts to chew on my hair.
He likes to retrieves any ball that I might hit or throw. He is real nice to my little sister. Bronson is a good car buddy when we take trips. He also cleans up any of my crumbly messes. He likes all of my friends. He likes to play tag with me but he usually wins that, too. Most of all he makes the perfect fuzzy pillow. He follows me like a friend should and he takes care of me.

REBECCA, Age 9
Grade 3 at North Elementary in Crystal Lake, Illinois
Best Friend: Bailey, 2 year old Golden Retriever
June 1, 1998

My best friend Bailey is great to play and tell secrets to. He's my best friend! He can be a little crazy sometimes like when he tries to catch a running squirrel and never catches it. But I don't care. I think Golden Retrievers are the best type of dogs ever! In my family we've only had two Goldens. Our first one was a Golden named Jasper, then Bailey.

SOO JIN, Age 10
Grade 5 at Bay School, Hong Kong
Best Friend: Lucky, 5 month old Miniature Schnauzer
May 7, 1998

My best friend Lucky obeys me all the time. He likes to run and play. He is my best friend because he can play fetch, he can play tug of war with me. Lucky is so special because he always greets me when I come home. And also, he looks out for me. I love Lucky and Lucky loves me.