Truth be known, he has it pretty easy around here, but it wasn't always easy for him, and the circumstances that brought us together were not all that easy on us either.

It all started after a terrible loss to our family. I had lost a dear friend, Brandy, another Golden Retriever that I had for over thirteen years. Brandy was a great friend, loyal and true. We humans could learn a lot regarding love and loyalty from our four legged friends. She died rather unexpectedly from complications from sugar diabetes of all things, that we didn't even know she suffered from. After she had died, I didn't think I wanted another dog for some time. That was before I found Brandon.

Without my knowledge, my wife had made contact with the director of the local dog shelter (a good friend of hers) to ask if they ever had any Golden Retrievers come through to which she replied, "I have never seen one come through in all my years of working here because they are such a popular breed." My wife didn't mention this to me because she thought there wasn't much hope there. She also knew I wasn't really interested in paying several hundred dollars for another Golden. My wife (who knows me very well) knew that what I needed to find was another Golden who needed me as much as I needed it.

Much to my wife's surprise, she received a call from the shelter within a couple of weeks and was told they had a Golden Retriever that was in need of a good home. Once my wife told me his story, I knew I had to go see him.

Brandon belonged to someone who lived about an hour south east of here. This individual decided that they couldn't afford where they were living and a dog, so they decided to move. The only problem was when they moved, they abandoned him. They literally locked him on their enclosed front porch with no food and no water and left him behind. As near as the dog warden could figure out, he was locked up for over a week without help. Thankfully, a neighbor from that rural area came by and noticed the situation and contacted the dog warden.

Once at the shelter, They remembered my wife's request and we were contacted. After I met this guy and discovered how lovable he was, I couldn't believe that someone would do that to their dog, and I wasn't about to let it happen again.

My wife was right. Here was a Golden that needed me, and I needed another shop mate. The rest is history, we have been good buddies for years now!

© Copyright Gary Smith, The Village Woodsmith Custom Cabinetry and Shaker Furniture

Custom cabinets & furniture made from select hardwoods and the best cabinet grade plywood available. If you are of the do it yourself variety, you may want to try your hand at one of the many high quality woodworking projects featured on the Village Woodsmith Woodworking Videos that are made here on location.