My name is Goldie and I’m a very good dog.
I like to wiggle my nose and close my eyes while the wind rushes around my face. I also like napping and playing in the grass.
I don’t like loud noises or water hoses. My last owner would yell at me and swing the garden hose at me. It made me feel like I had done something wrong.
I never knew why he did that.
My current owner is more like a dad to me. He is not very expressive, but his eyes are very kind and he treats me well.
I can tell he has been through a lot in his life. His kind eyes look old.
He never yells at me, but I still get scared when he bangs a bag of ice on the ground.
He has a son who doesn’t always pay attention to me, but that’s okay. I can tell he has been through a lot, too. I’m always there for him so that when he does need comfort I can lay my head on his knee and tell him that everything is going to be all right.
When it rains and thunder booms in the sky I always find him and he always comforts me until the loud noises go away.
Is the sky angry with me?
Every time my dad comes home I wag my tail and meet him at the door. When he sits down I rest my head on his leg and use my eyes to beg for him to pet me.
I really like to be petted.
My dad does not seem to age.
He still has the same brown hair and the same face from when he rescued me.
I, however, can feel the ache creep into my bone, and when I look in the mirror I can see the white hairs replace my golden ones.
I think there’s something wrong with me now. I’ve lost my appetite and my ribs are now well defined through my skin.
My dad keeps looking at me and I can tell there is worry in his face. He rubs his hands along my ribcage and sadly sighs.
He had his son take me to the vet.
I really do not like the vet.
There are too many smells, most of them unpleasant, and they poke me with needles that hurt.
He and the other people there petted me and gave me comfort while I waited to be seen by the doctor.
My dad’s son was quiet the whole drive home, but kept looking back at me with worried eyes.
I know something is wrong with me. The rain falls, but it can hardly hurt me now.
I keep trying to act the same way as I always have, but I’m starting to feel tired.
I can’t run as far as I used to and I have a hard time jumping onto the couch where I like to lay.
Today I couldn’t even jump. My dad’s son helped me onto the couch so I could be comfortable though.
I am glad that they are here for me.
I laid my head on my dad’s head when he got home.
It was my way of saying goodbye. I had to thank him for all the things he has done for me. I want him to know that spending time with him always made me happy.
I wish I had more time with him.
He stayed up really late with me tonight. He understood that now was the time for goodbyes and he petted me for hours.
Eventually he had to go to sleep and now I lay down beside his bed. I want to be here when he wakes up.
I’m feeling really tired. I think I’ll fall asleep now. I hope I’m still around to say good morning to him.
I see a light, but I don’t want to go just yet.
