Mandy was supposed to be a foster dog. I volunteer with Retrievers and Friends and occasionally foster. I had picked her up from the North County Humane Society and she was so happy to get out of the kennel.

I figured she would only be with us for a few weeks. She was a nice, active adult golden retriever. I thought she would find her forever family quickly. Well, every family that applied was just not good enough according to my husband. Clearly, Mandy was not going anywhere.

Mandy was my husband's dog. As soon as he would get home from work, she was there with a smile and a tennis ball.

He was quite happy to sit on our patio and toss the ball for her.

Mandy loved to retrieve. Even when sleeping, the tennis ball was not far away.

Mandy also loved to swim. She could 'catch air' and she would have made a great dock diving dog. It is not the same in our house without Mandy. We miss her very much.