In June of 1993, I was going through a very rough period in my life. I had just moved back into my parents home in Binghamton, NY to be closer in proximity to the man I was engaged to. This man was extremely independent (not to mention a jerk) and this often left me to entertain myself alone. I decided something was missing in my life and asked my parents if they would mind me bringing a puppy into their home. They reluctantly agreed but knew that I was lonely and wanted to help in any way they could.

After making inquiries around the office, I found a nice couple who owned a farm and had recently had a litter of Golden Retriever puppies that they were selling. When I arrived, they only had two male pups left from a litter of 11. The parent retrievers ran to great my car and guided me to the barn where the puppies were; as if to say, "We know why you are here - come take a look at our babies - we are so proud of them."

The pups were adorable; they were now three months old and full of spunk. The owners told me that one of them was spoken for so I took home the last one they had. It was love at first sight. He was a gorgeous ball of light golden energetic fluff. He was scared of the car at first but calmed down when I placed my an old blanket around him in the crate I had purchased for transporting him. He still has that blanket to this day; it's his favorite pillow/security blanket.

My mother named him Jake because it was obvious to her that Jake was "the" name for him - go figure. (I was not about to argue with a woman who was terrified of dogs yet was allowing me to bring a dog into her home) My parents, who are retired, fell in love with this little fluff ball I brought home. Two weeks after his arrival, I came home from work to find my father lying on the floor sleeping with Jake. (this is the same man who said, "Don't expect me to take care of this dog - he's yours"). I inquired about this scenario and my mother told me that they were both exhausted from attending an ice cream social at the church. Evidently, my father had taken Jake to the social and was showing him off to the entire congregation as well as any strangers who passed by. Jake spent most of the day on dad's shoulder like a little gold trophy.

The two of them have been best buddies ever since that day. I have never seen my parents happier and healthier than since Jake came into their lives.

He changed my life as well. Jake saved me from making the biggest mistake of my life. My fiancée's true colors showed through two days after I adopted Jake. He was completely intolerant of Jake's antics and basic puppy behaviors. I decided that this was not someone I should marry and have children with. BEST decision I ever made.

Two months later, I met the man that I am now married to; his name is (it's ok to laugh) Homer. When Homer and Jake met for the first time, I knew the match was made in heaven. . Homer was (and is) always kind, patient and loving with Jake; a very attractive quality at that time. Jake would follow Homer everywhere, including the bathroom. If Homer & I were seated on the couch together, Jake would go to the door, indicating to me that he needed to go out. Once I reached the door and turned to let him out, he would not be there. I'd find him in the living room, in my space on the couch, with his head on Homer's lap, looking up at him with love in his eyes. (Little Devil)

If Grandpa and Homer are in the same room, it is a complex problem for Jake. He will always somehow find a way to position himself so that at least one paw is touching each of them. It is often an interesting exhibit of gymnastics. If for some reason he cannot touch both of them at the same time, he will sigh heavily with a hint of whining until one of them moves closer to the other. (It's pathetic!!!!)

In March of 1995, I took a new job that required me to move and also required frequent travel. It was a very heartbreaking decision but my parents & I both felt it would be best if Jake stayed with them. He lives with them now and I send home child support every month to pay for his expenses. Jake is the center of their lives and could not be happier with them.

Jake goes everywhere with my parents, including the bank and the dentist. He actually goes into the waiting room at the dentist's office. They love him there. Interestingly enough, he will only leave the house if my mother is going or if my father is going to walk him. He has taken the role of protector with my mother. He feels the need to watch over her at all times, the only exception being his daily walks with his Grandpa. My mother has been very ill for years and often has difficulty with basic mobility. Jake watches over her when she naps in the afternoon. No one is allowed to disturb her, according to Jake, while she is resting. God forbid the mailman delivers his mail during her nap - Jake has a fit!

He also must know where Grandma is at all times. She has gotten into the habit of announcing which room she is going into, otherwise, Jake stops whatever he is doing (playing, eating, sleeping) and will follow her to see where she is going. She must tell him, "I'm OK Jake" before he will leave. She once bent down in the kitchen to get a pan she had dropped and could not get back up. Jake ran downstairs to Grandpa's workshop in the basement and barked until he followed Jake to where Grandma was in distress. The miraculous thing about this is that Jake would never go down those stairs. They are steep and open stairs - he is terrified of them, but that day he went down them to get help for his Grandma. We were so proud of him. Grandma calls him, "My knight in Golden Armor".

Every night after Jake and Grandpa return from their walk, they must play "the foot game". No one else understands this game; we do not know how to play, we do not know the rules, we do not know the object of the game. All we know is that there is much jumping and rolling around, touching of each other's feet and barking until you are exhausted and panting. They enjoy it - we just laugh at this male bonding ritual.

Jake CANNOT, WILL NOT consume any dog treats unless Grandpa has attempted to take it away from him. No one but them understands this either but the ritual of treat eating is a must. It consists of six steps:

1. Jake receives the treat and lies down in the grass or on the living room floor.
2. Grandpa must then lie down with him and touch the treat while Jake snarls and growls (tail wagging the whole time - this is just play)
3. Grandpa then successfully takes the treat away while Jake jumps around dancing and barking.
4. Grandpa throws the treat to Jake who catches it and then drops it to dance around it some more.
5. Grandpa must then applaud and say "Good Boy" over and over
6. Now Jake can eat the treat.

If for some reason Jake receives a treat and Grandpa isn't paying attention, he will lay there with the untouched treat and CRY until the ritual starts. In Jake's mind, this is a requirement.

He also is a big help to his Grandpa. Any time dad is working outside, in the garden, painting the house, building the new deck, Jake assists by supervising the work and handing Grandpa toys to use while working. Jake is convinced that his stuffed animals are essential to completing any chores that Grandpa has. We thought at first that he was asking for attention by bringing toys to Grandpa while he was working but we soon learned that this was not the case. He would bring Grandpa a toy and go back to whatever he was doing before - usually napping with Grandma.

Everyone who comes into contact with Jake simply loves him. His sweet face and personality win you over instantly.

I must tell you about the time I took him to the park back when I lived at home with Jake. Jake and I came upon a family with 3 children. The smallest boy was about 4 years old and he was screaming with fear. His mother explained that the child was terrified of large dogs. Jake found this unacceptable and he plopped himself down in the grass near the boy and whined quietly.

I told the parents that Jake was very gentle with children and it was okay if the other children wanted to pet him. They swarmed around him and rubbed his belly. Jake's tail was wagging but he still whined, looking at the little boy who still had tears in his eyes. The boy's mother said, "See, Michael, he's sad that you are afraid of him."

The boy cautiously approached Jake while holding his father's hand. Jake rolled over and gave him a gentle kiss on the hand. The boy giggled and asked his dad to help him pet Jake. As they were petting him, Jake licked the boy's face. I was apprehensive, thinking this would send him into another screaming fit. The boy's mother quickly said, "How nice, Michael, the doggie gave you a kiss."

Michael responded by grabbing Jake with both arms and hugging him around the neck, then much to everyone's dismay, he reciprocated by licking Jake on the mouth.

I ran into them again at the same park a few months later, they had added a golden retriever puppy to their family; his name was Jake.

Nick and Joyce are a middle aged couple with 5 grown children who live directly across the street from my parents. Jake plays an important role in their lives as well. In the past 5 years, it has become routine that Nick and Joyce must acknowledge Jake when they return home from anywhere. Jake hears their vehicle coming from a block away and asks to go outside. He stands in the yard with a stuffed animal in his mouth and cries until Nick & Joyce come over to pet him. Once they have done that, they are free to go into their home and Jake returns to his own porch, waits to see them go inside their house, then asks to come back in the house.

A few years back, Joyce became ill with cancer. Jake somehow must have sensed that she was ill because he is now satisfied if she simply yells "Hello, Jake" across the street to him. Nick still must come over to pet him but there are exceptions to the rule.

Since Joyce has taken ill, Nick has been taking her for Chemotherapy treatments. We have no idea how Jake senses this but if Nick arrives home with Joyce after these treatments, Jake does not bother him until after he has assisted his wife into the house. Once Nick has her in the house, he comes across the street to "borrow" Jake. Nick takes Jake into his home so he can see Joyce. Jake usually stays until she falls asleep then Nick brings him back home. Nick says that Jake is the best medicine for his wife; for the time Jake is visiting, she forgets about her pain and enjoys the love and attention from Jake.

My Aunt is 93 years old and lives in a nursing home. Every week, Jake and Grandpa go to visit her as well as the other residents in the home. Even though he is terrified of elevators, he braves them to go visit the residents in this nursing home. We have heard that residents try to reschedule events and even doctors appointments in order to be there when Jake comes. Jake and Grandpa visit every room and spend a few minutes with any resident who asks to see Jake. It amazes me to see Jake, who is typically rambunctious around new people, react in a gentle, calm manner around the elderly.

There is a small group of women who simply adore Jake and usually have raw carrots for him to munch on while they visit with him. They found it quite funny that raw carrots are a favorite treat for Jake. Thanks to Jake, my typically reclusive anti-social aunt is the belle of the ball on her floor. She has made many friends while walking around with Grandpa and Jake.

Jake is now six years old and still thinks he is a puppy. Unfortunately, he has been diagnosed with Hip Dysplasia (sp?) and a fused backbone which both cause him pain that prevents him from playing as often as he'd like. I tell you this because I think one of the funniest quirks about Jake is the way he takes his medicine for his pain. Every morning, Grandpa places each pill inside a small piece of banana; Jake LOVES bananas almost as much as he loves raw carrots.