This story is more about how Shadow rescued me. I brought Shadow, a German Shepherd/ Golden Retriever, home when he was 3 month's old. My husband was furious. I slept on the kitchen and bathroom floors with him every night for a week, so he wouldn't disturb my sleeping husband. Shadow quickly found his place in our family as time went on. He was the mascot of our favorite state park. His favorite place was Sacandaga Lake, where he could swim with us, as he could not at a state park. He loved to dive for rocks. He would put his whole head under water and pick up the biggest rock he could find in his mouth and bring it to shore. Never really understood why he would roll on them though. Maybe something our chiropractors don't know? Anyway, one day, my husband and I were snorkeling along the jetty at Sacandaga Lake. Shadow was swimming nearby, in water very deep. He could go on and on forever. My water shoe slipped off my foot. As I was trying to retrieve it, I lost the jetty and started panicking. I am not a swimmer and probably should not have been out so far. I was tiring fast. And Shadow sensed that I was in trouble. He swam over to me, and he let me hang on to him all the way in to shore. Shadow was a hero that day. My hero. Shadow was two months shy of his 13th birthday, when that awful decision had to be made. He had that horrible hip displasia. It was the worst thing I ever had to do. But, I know. If there IS a "Rainbow Bridge," he's there. And I will find him. Love your pets well, they love you.

Deborah Mechlowitz
Saratoga, NY