by Julie Birkhimer
One day while I was living in Golden,Colorado....I went to the pet store to buy my Golden Retriever, Cinnamon, some treats. I walked into the store and there stood a couple looking at a 4 month old Golden Retriever to purchase. I overheard the woman say to the store employee..."You can put her back in her cage. She's not a very attractive Golden and we'd really prefer one a little younger!" I watched as the employee was putting the dog back into a cage that was so small that the dog couldn't even hold it's head up! I couldn't stand it! I immediately walked forward and said, "Don't put that dog back in there....I'll take it!" I couldn't believe they would put a dog that large into such a small cage!! I paid for her, took her home and upon closer inspection of her I realized that the tip of her tail was gone and bloody, the tip of her nose was rubbed raw, and there were no whiskers on her face! The vet said that she had probably been beating her tail against the cage wagging at all the folks as they went by in the pet store. The loss of whiskers and raw nose were also a result of her rubbing against the side of the cage. Poor baby! My older Golden was also a female and was thrilled with the new addition to our family. I took them both outside to let them get acquainted and the older Golden bounced around her trying to get her to run and play. Nugget didn't know how to play, nor did she know how to run. She had spent her entire first 4 months of life in a cage. It was so odd to watch her trying to figure out what my older Golden was doing. I watched in amazement as she would run a few yards only to stop abruptly to look around at me like she was saying........."Wow! This is great! How did I do that?" Her legs were wobbly and weak from never getting any exercise and she fell and tumbled quite a bit! It was so sad that she was 4 months old and this was the first time she could actually act like a dog!
Well...all that was 14 yrs ago! During all those years, she became my best friend and partner, my demonstration dog in my dog training business, moved with me to 5 different states, kept me sane through a divorce, and made up to my new husband like they were old pals! Last week.......my time with her came to an end. She had spent a year battling a severe case of arthritis and mild seizures. On Sunday, September 22nd she suffered a stroke that left her right side paralized. Monday we went to the vet's office and said our final good-byes. Her last moments were sweet! She loved children and while we waited in the vet's lobby a woman came in with a small child, about 2 years old! Nugget's eyes lit up when the child approached to pet her! By the time we went into the room she was calm and happy! I told her to put her head down and go to sleep and she gently laid her head into my lap and she was gone! What a sweet and wonderful dog she was! She adored people, especially my grandchildren, and loved to work! She would wag her tail ferociously when she'd see the leash come out and I'd tell her we were going to work! I miss her terribly, but I am at peace knowing she had a wonderful life and that she is with my other two Goldens and a Boxer who went before her! I have a Schipperke and a yellow lab/greyhound mix that miss her terribly! She will be missed by many........my family, our friends, our vet and my clients! Farewell for now, sweet Nugget! I will see you again soon.... for no heaven would heaven be, if you are not there to welcome me!