Ever since my best friend Cinda and her family got a new golden puppy, I've wanted one.  Not necessarily a puppy, but a Golden.  I fell in love with her dog, 'Barnaby'.  He was the smartest dog I'd ever met. I loved him so much it hurt. And I've waited almost 4 years to get one of my own.

<<<<<<<<"Barnaby"

I work full time, and I have a teen-age son who drives me nuts on a regular basis, a 55 gallon fish tank, one nice old male cat and one old cantankerous female cat, and one old grumpy female American Eskimo dog who's loosing her teeth, eyesight and hearing fast. I also had 4 rabbits, and 5 cockatiels.

My parents also lived with us for the last 12 years, and they said; "I had to get rid of most of my other animals before they would let me get a golden". 

I refused to get rid of my cats, and my grumpy old dog and I've decided to keep my teen-age son. I could let the rabbits and birds go, providing I found good homes for them.

My mom Barbara passed away in November of 98 and even though I had my father and son to take care of, the grief of loosing my best friend, my mom, was unbearable. The summer of 99 I had garage sales and I found homes for my rabbits, and for all of my birds.

In the fall, I sent in my application to NORCAL. I had been checking the list of available goldens weekly, sometimes on a daily basis. I had been watching the list for about 3 years, and I had been doing some volunteer work helping with some of the "Success" web pages. 

I waited patiently, for as long as I could. I was torn between wanting one so bad, and waiting patiently, with a feeling of, "when the time is right, I'll get my golden".

It was so very hard to wait. Finally, I could wait no longer. I started calling around. The NORCAL Alameda county area coordinator finally came by for a house check visit (standard procedure) and that went well. We talked about what it was I was looking for, and why I wanted one and she checked out the house and yard to make sure I was ready for one.

Within about two weeks or so, she called me. On Sunday, December 19th 1999 and said they just got a new 2 year old male in another county and asked if I was interested. She gave me the number of a gal in that county to call. 

I called and talked to the Contra Costa NORCAL area coordinator Barbara

(coincidence?), who told me the dog was about 2 years old, un-neutered, that might have a barking problem, a skin problem, and she thought he was aggressive towards other dogs. She said the owners were relinquishing him because they didn't have time for him. (I don't think I heard any of this, except they were giving him up.) 

She asked if I was interested in going to see the dog. I dropped everything and went right away. I live in Alameda county and I had to drive to Contra Costa where he lived. I met Barbara and we went to where the dog lived together. Barbara explained how I would be fostering him on a temporary basis and if it worked out, I could adopt him officially.

When we got there, out of the front door came the cutest, wiggling little dog I'd ever seen. He was wiggling all over with love and happiness, and it was love at first sight. We bonded instantly. I was so happy and excited that I couldn't remember any of the questions I was supposed to ask. Barbara had to do all the talking and asking.

I just played and loved on this dog. He had the cutest face. He looked like a "mini Barnaby" and I decided right then and there, I'd take him right away. 

I put all his belongings in the back of my camper, and laid towels on the front seat because his tail was bleeding. Gave his previous owners a big hug and thank you, and off we went.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<A early Christmas Present to me!

Max's entire underside and tail was practically bald, his tail scabby and bleeding because he'd hit his tail on things when he was wagging it. I speculate that he was loosing the hair on his chest and belly due to the pesticides used to spray the yard. My vet also said if they had newly laid cement, it could be leaching lye and that would cause something like this to happen.

When I got him home I made him a bath, put my bathing suit on, and put him in the bathtub. I ended up in the tub with him because it was hard to wash him with the sliding glass shower doors. (Now he gets a shower in my downstairs shower)  I found scabs on his throat, (I’m guessing) from the anti bark collar they gave me.  L 

Max got neutered, implanted with a microchip, his teeth cleaned, and all his shots two days later. He rarely barks, and vet staff was amazed that he knows all his obedience commands including hand signals.  They told me he has mild hip displasia but I could give him glucosomine (sp??)

 It seems that he's allergic to something.  His previous owners said it might be 'chicken'.  I still don’t know.   He itching a lot, scratching, and soon he was pulling and biting clumps of fur out.  He started getting bumps, and when I took him to the doctor, he was diagnosed with a skin staph infection… He got a shot, and some antibiotics, the bumps are gone, and he’s not itching anymore.  I give him 1 prednisone pill every other day. 

To tell you the truth, I’m not sure if he is allergic or if he’s scratching, chewing and pulling the hair out because he’s left alone for a couple of hours a day.  I wish I knew.  It’s very frustrating not knowing what’s making him so miserable.  Anyway, now the scabs are gone, and his hair is slowly growing back in.  It would probably grow in a lot faster if he'd leave the cat food alone. 

Max loves stuffed animals, cornstarch bones, and rawhide chews. He's learning to play with tennis balls, and to leave the cat food alone. He hates the dogs next door and is very leash aggressive. He loves to go for rides in the car or truck (it doesn't matter). He takes more than his fair share of my bed at night, (at least he doesn't hog the covers). He loves to go for walks, anywhere, and he loves to watch "Animal Planet" with me. 

He also loves my dad, my son, my best friend Cinda and Me. He gets along fine with my old Cricker dog and my cats, but he's not too sure about Barnaby. We are working on that!! Grrrrrr.....

<<<<<<<<<<<<< The Love of my life... Max!! (Isn't he cute?) We've got so many places to go and people to see, and things to do... and.... we can't wait till summer!

Laurie 2/11/2000