When I was growing up in the 70's, I wasn't allowed a dog, but my mum and dad seemed to have a soft spot for scraggy, stray cats that just turned up at the back door. Both of which we imaginatively named Pussy and Pussy II. Pussy I lived for 18 years! Pussy II, not nearly as long, but that's another story. However, I finally entered the dog world as a proud #GoldenRetriever owner in 2007; we bought a golden girl (more white than gold) in Buenos Aires, Argentina. #SheChoseUs

Service dog Sampson works as his owner's lab assistant at the University of Illinois. What an incredible dog. What we do without man's best friend #GoldenRetriever