Golden Retriever 11 of 1000

Happy

by: Heather D.

When I was a kid, I moved in next door to a family that had two Goldens and a St Bernard. I wasn't particularly interested in dogs, but I wanted to meet the Goldens. When I got the chance to, I was introduced mostly to Happy, a beautiful light colored Golden with the longest, thickest tail feathers I have ever seen. The other Golden was called Bucky, but I bonded the most with Hap. 

Happy was crazy about being brushed. As soon as I showed him the brush he would be so happy and lie down to be brushed. And I brushed him for hours. With each stroke, I bonded more with him. 

I also trained him, though looking back he trained me more. He taught me how to train a dog--he was so patient and wise. He taught me to not get angry, he would just ignore me if I was frustrated with him. And he wasn't afraid of anything. 

Happy loved fetching in the water, not so much on land. I remember throwing water balloons in the stream for him to fetch, and he never broke one, he had such a soft mouth. Once he accidentally dropped one on a rock, and was shocked when it disappeared.

I got to enjoy Happy for a year and a half, then my family moved far away from him. I was heartbroken, but a year later I got to visit my boy again for two weeks.

He remembered me. I was so happy to see him and he was to see me too. He remembered the days we spent together, me brushing and training him, and teaching each other. I spent those two weeks loving Hap, not knowing they would be the last time I saw him. I cried hard when I had to leave him.

Months later he stopped eating, and the vet found an obstruction of porcupine quills in his stomach. They took those out but he still didn't improve. Happy died 2 months later, from an unknown cause though the vet suspects cancer.

It hurt me to hear that he died, that I would never again see the dog that introduced me to the incredible love that is dog. I miss you and love you dearly, Hap. Thank you for all that you taught me, you are an incredible dog!

Comments

[Elizabeth & Luna]

Oh my, what a beautiful boy and beautiful story! :( sniff, sniff... I do hope she gets to experience the love of a Golden again!!

[Steph]

Beautiful story! One never will forget the love of a Golden..... it is the most loyal love there is.

[Abbey]

A lovely story. The love of a golden is the most remarkable kind of puppy love there is!

[Kimba's Mom]

Hap was an ultra gorgeous boy! I too hope she gets another Golden love.

[Hamish & Sophie's Mom & Dad]

Always keep your heart open to the love of a Golden. it is one of the most special bonds in the world.
We have been down the painful road of losing Goldens more than we care to recall, but we will never not have Goldens in our life.

[sophie]

So sweet. the love of a golden is bigger than life. We always say, that if anyone really loves dogs, it would be an injustice to never know the love of a golden.

[Sam]

What a beautiful story!

Sam and Cisco

[Janelle]

Very touching story. Just like a Golden to make you a "dog lover."