Hunter

Please Note: The dog in the accompanying photograph is the subject of the story, but any persons shown are probably not those in the story.

My family has always had chow chows, and I was very used to their breed and temperament. So I never expected to have a golden retriever, but when I saw him running around the streets of North Hollywood, skin and bones and covered in mud, I had to pull my car over. He hopped right in, and off we went to my vet, who said he was less than a year old and extremely malnourished. I'm pretty sure I was the first one ever to give him dog food, and if you look at him now, nine years and 90 pounds later, you would never have guessed that he was surviving on eating birds, which is why I named him Hunter. The only thing that Hunter hunts now is tennis balls. We go to a nearby tennis court daily, and although I can't see or smell the balls, when Hunter sticks his head into a bush and starts wagging his tail, I know he’s scored!

I was always looking for something more for Hunter to do because he would get so excited whenever we would meet people on our walks. My neighbor told me about these dog teams wearing dark green at a hospital where he was volunteering and gave me a Love On 4 Paws business card. We went through the orientation, and next thing I know Hunter passed the therapy dog test! Hunter loves to go to hospitals, stretch out on the patients’ beds, and get belly rubs. Patients often tell me that Hunter made their day, and that makes our day too. I'm often told how calm he is, which is funny because he is such a goof at home. Hunter loves to roll in wet grass and mud and tries to make friends with skunks and possums. However, when Hunter has his green vest on, he knows he has a job to do, and he assumes a very professional persona. He’s become a fan of the nurses, too, at the various hospitals we visit. Many will call out, "Hunter!" when they see him, and he wags his tail in delight. Some of them even carry his picture on their clipboard.

Now that I have had the pleasure of getting to know a golden retriever, I can't imagine not sharing my life with one. Hunter is friendly, loving, and so much fun. Sometimes I think he rolls in the wet grass just so that I will dry him off when we get home. He just wants to be touched and loved. Hunter has changed my life in so many ways. I never imagined that I would have the honor to be Hunter's chauffeur as we visit hospitals, schools, and retirement homes. So I ask you, who saved who?