My Best Friend is a tribute to a beloved pet named Goldie. It was submitted by 
Goldie's best friend, Rob Otteson. 

Please allow me a moment to tell you about our very good freind. 

We have known her for only nine short years.  In that time there
has been no one more loving or caring in our lives. There are few
more talented or loyal than her.  A true friend in every way. We didn't ask  
much of her. Just to sit for a bit.  Shake hands when asked, most
of the time.  She would roll over and lay down if bribed.  A true master at
tennis ball retrieval. A champion  at balancing a treat on her nose,
Just long enough to be good enough.  She loved to bark at dad when wrestling with the kids.  
Her greatest talent was to give a warm place to relax when we needed trusted friend.  
 
For the last few years she liked to lay around mostly. She would still bark at the dogs next door or if someone dared to walk on our street. 
The tennis balls were a little less active but still got a good chase. We enjoyed her presence at all times and she seemed to have enjoyed
ours.  But all good things must come to an end.  We knew it was near
when she no longer would meet dad at the door.  It was the hips.  
  I brought Goldie to the vet for the last time today.  I stayed
with her until the end.  We lay there on the floor together.  
I stroked her head and tried to sooth and comfort her in our last
moments together.  Then she just went to sleep....one last time. The years of joy that good friend has brought my family is more than
worth the few days of grief and sadness we are going through now.
We all have many different memories of her that we will cherish
all our lives. 
 
Goldie was a golden retriever and is the best friend I have ever had. 
That is not grief, that is fact. 
 
Rob Otteson is a client of Apple Lake Animal Hospital