JESSICA, Age 12
Grade 7, MGR-Lang School, Grand Falls, New Brunswick, Canada
Best Friend: Missy, 2 year old Golden Retriever
November 12, 2005

    My best friend is not a human being, but my 2 year old, female Golden Retriever Missy. Missy is a very special dog. My mom bought her when she was just a little ball of fur. The day of Missy's first birthday was the day the veterinarian announced to us that her hips were displaced and she had cataracts in both of her gorgeous brown eyes. I was devastated. She was only one year old!!!
    Missy is currently following treatments for her hips, but her eyes will always be the same, maybe even get worst every year to come...
    Even with her sickness, Missy is always the feisty, intelligent puppy that I saw two years ago. She loves to go outside to play and run. The only problem is that we have to train her to come to us when playtime is over:) At Christmas time, when my brother, my sister and I go play in the snow, she climbs on top of the hill, sits and watches us like a shepherd.
    And, maybe ten years from now, when I look in those sick, beautiful brown eyes, I will always see the friend that I had always counted on when I was down, who was the only one I secretly talked to and my protector of anything going on. And that friend is my "Bubba" wabba Missy.

ROBYN, Age 12
Grade 6/7, Home Schooled, Florence, South Carolina
Best Friend: Kaya, 2 year old Golden Retriever
October 3, 2005


    The reason Kaya is my best friend is because she's there for me. When I'm sad she lets me cry in her fur (even though it stinks sometimes). She fights through every thing. What I mean is she has kidney failure. Regular kidney numbers are two but hers are around seven. She was just sick last weekend. She hates being sick because she knows it worries me. But I can tell in her eyes.
    She isn't even supposed to be alive right now. She was suppose to have been very sick in the December of 2004 and was supposed to have not lived longed after. But she has.
    She loves playing fetch with a tennis ball and sleeping with me at night. I don't know what I would do with out her. She is my best friend and that will never end and no other dog could replace her. I love her more than anything!

MEREDITH, Age 10
Grade 5, Kings Scademy, Florence, South Carolina
Best Friend: Chase, 10 year old Chocolate Lab
April 15, 2005


    The reason my dog is the best dog in the whole entire world because he always cheers me up. His little face will always look at me like I'm the best person in the world. He always has enough love for every one in the family and a little extra for me. If I didn't have him I would have to go crazy. I think maybe if he didn't have me he would go crazy. But that's also in my mind.
    When he gives me a big kiss, I feel so happy because that's his love to me. His brown fur reminds me of chocolate witch is definitely my favorite candy. But his big brown eyes look at me like I'm a queen. But because he gives me that love all I can do is play with him. That why he is the best dog in the world. I love him so much.

EMILY, Age 12
Grade 7, Moss Landing Middle School, Salinas, California
Best Friend: Isabella & Sparky, ~2 year old Chihuahuas
March 31, 2005


    I have two furry little friends. They stand by me when I’m sad or depressed and wag their tails when I come from school. Some people say that a puppy is a dog that is one year old or younger but my dogs will be my puppies forever.
    My puppies are named Isabella and Sparky. They are almost two years old and they are pure-bread Chihuahuas. Isabella is a female and Sparky is a male. Isabella is a very interesting dog. She has beautiful markings and some say she looks like a Husky. I love both of them but I feel that I am closer to Isabella than Sparky.
   One day a few months ago, my mother and I were arguing. “I’m sorry I didn’t put away the dishes but I forgot!” I yelled. “I told you to do them when I called!” she shot right back at me. “Well, I was busy! I’m sorry!” I apologized.
    “Go to your room and don’t come out until you can apologize to me correctly,” my mother said in a lighter tone. “No!” I yelled. My temper had risen so high that it was impossible for it to come down.
    “Then your grounded!” my mother shouted. “What?” I exclaimed. “You know I have that major party this week!  I have to go to it!”
    “Well, you should have thought about that before you talked to me like that,” my mom said with a smirk and walked away.
    I was infuriated. I ran in my room and started to cry. I just lay there screaming and digging my head into my pillow. Then, I heard tiny little footsteps on my wood floor. I looked up and saw Isabella standing at my doorway with a worried look. I patted my lap and she hurried up onto my bed. She looked at my face and licked my tears off my cheeks. Then she jumped up and put her paws on my shoulder. She just looked at me and so I hugged her. Then she got down and fell asleep on my lap.

ROBYN, Age 11
Grade 5, Homeschooled, Florence, South Carolina
Best Friend: Kaya, 2 year old Golden Retriever
March 24, 2005

    My Best Friend is Kaya because she always their for me no matter what. If I'm sad she licks me face to cheer me up. If I'm hurt she makes me feel better. She knows when I'm sad, when I'm hurt, and when it's time to play ball. She might not be perfect or fit for dog shows, but she's is perfect to me. The reason I say she's not fit for dog shows is because she has kidney problems but she doesn't show it. If my mom didn't take her to the vet we would never know. If its bothering her you can tell in her eyes. But she always wants to play even if it is bothering her she doesn't want to let you down.
    If I ever lost her I would lose myself because she is the only one their for me one hundred percent. When I get in the pool she'll get right in. When you jump off the diving board she thinks your falling or are drowning in and swims over to you thinking she is saving you. I play tennis and when she sees me practicing she goes crazy trying to find a way out to me. If I didn't have her I wouldn't have myself. You can think yours is the best dog in the world I'm sure it is to you but to me Kaya's the best dog too.

COURTNEY, Age 11
Grade 6, Bay Shore Middle School, Bay Shore, New York
Best Friend: Cocoa, Black Lab/Terrier Mix
February 26, 2005

    My dog Cocoa is a Male and he is a Black Lab mixed with a Terrier. Cocoa is my best friend because he is nice to me he never bites me. I am never rough with him like my brother. I love him because he gives me kisses and Cocoa listens when we tell him to do something.
    Another thing why he is my Best Friend is because he is funny.He is cute and cuddly.The funny thing about Cocoa is everytime someone comes over or walks by he barks. He thinks he is the king of the block.

TAYLOR, Age 10
Grade 5, Penn Brook School, Georgetown, Massachusetts
Best Friend: Brady, 3 month old Labrador Retriever
February 26, 2005

    I have a beautiful white labrador retriever puppy. I know he is not a golden but he's still the most handsome thing known to man kind. My puppy's name is Brady he is 4 months old on March 24th 2005. Brady is the best thing that ever happened to me.
    Brady is home alone most of the day while I'm at school and my mom works. It must be lonely being in a crate all day. But, when I get home every day he's right there waiting for me.
    Brady is a big boy he is three months and weighs over thirty lbs. He's going to be huge and we rent. Brady is going to meet my dad's landlord's dogs which are two beautiful goldens, named Jake and Charley. Brady is really fit to be a best friend award winner.