AMBER, Age 7
Grade 2 at Bushkill Elementary School in Nazareth, Pennsylvania
Best Friend: Shadow, 6 month old Golden Retriever
December 23, 1999

    I had a mutt before named Lucky. She would let me do anything. She got really sick and died. I thought I would never have a friend like her. Mom and Daddy took me for a long ride 2 hours and got me Shadow Homer. He was so little and I wanted a big dog again. In a month he grew fast.
    Shadow lets me lay my head on him and plays with me and I am teaching him more then Lucky. He always gives me kisses in the morning and when I come home from school. He is always loving and playing.
    I am so happy that I wanted Santa to bring me another Golden. Mommy said that Santa must give them to children that don't already have one. My life is filled with play now.

JESS, Age 12
Grade 7 at Valley Elementary/Middle School in Drums, Pennsylvania
Best Friend: Cinnamon, 2½ year old Golden Retriever
July 12, 1999                                               

"Friends Forever"

   Ever since the day we got our pure bred Golden Retriever, Cinnamon, she has always been my best friend. No matter how bad I feel she can always make me laugh when she comes over with the cutest face and a tennis ball in her mouth wanting to play fetch.
    Cinnamon is one special dog to me. I can't explain it, really. She's just so cute and adorable, especially when she is happy. There is so much to tell about Cinnamon, but it would take me a week to just type out the beginning of our friendship. All I have to say is she is the best dog a 12 year old girl could ever have!!

TARRYN, Age 10, Western Australia
Best Friend: Bella, 2 year old Golden Retriever
July 2, 1999

     I have a beautiful Goldie named Bella. She means the world to me and I worship the ground that she walks on. She sleeps on my bed at night were all Goldies should sleep! Bella is always happy, wagging her tail madly whenever she greets me.
    Bella also thinks that she is human. She is my very best friend in the world. I love my precious Bella Rose! (The picture above shows Tarryn and Bella. On the left is a photo that was taken of Bella and Shannon, when Bella was only an 8-month-old pup.)

HEATHER, Age 13, Georgia
Best Friend: Bear, 10 month old Golden Retriever
January 19, 1999

     I may only be 13 years of age but I have had experiences that I will treasure forever about Goldens. I had a Golden Retriever for thirteen years but two years ago she died. The loss of her was surprising. I never thought even for just one minute that this would happen to me. Between those years I spent hours looking in the newspapers looking up Goldens, and hours on the internet. Two and a half years have passed, and I now have a new Golden named Bear who is 10 months old. He is the love of my life. I can't bare to think of what it would be like without him.
     Bear is so happy to meet any one. He is crazy over people as much as I am crazy over him. Bear is my whole world. I am so devoted to Goldens that I am definitely becoming a vet or even a Golden Retriever breeder. The last thing I want to add is that GOLDENS ARE THE BEST! Anybody that hasn't had a Golden hasn't experienced life the right way.