Muffin isn’t just a Golden Retriever. She is sunshine wrapped in fur. She wakes up each day smiling, ready and excited for whatever the day brings. Muffin is a rescue with a past no one fully knows. She carries only kindness forward, as if she has decided that love is the only story worth telling. She is so sweet and loves everyone, the kind of dog who makes the world feel softer just by being in it.

Muffin loves everything. Dogs? Instant best friends. People? Everyone is immediate family, though she has her favorites. Men, especially Ken and Noah, make her world go round and light her up with joy. Birds? She watches them like tiny miracles with wings. Bugs? Fascinating little companions she follows with careful curiosity. And toys – her greatest joy. She is completely obsessed. Every chance she gets, she marches over to her toy bucket, tips it over, and proudly scatters every toy across the floor like confetti. Then she stands in the middle of the mess, delighted, as if she has created something wonderful.

Muffin has a beautiful soul. She is a true flower child. She loves sunsets and the moon. Every evening, she sits beside me as the sky melts into gold and pink, then later searches for the moon, pausing when she finds it like she’s greeting an old friend. I start looking for it too, just to see what she sees.

She reminds me to slow down, to notice the small things, and to love without conditions. Muffin didn’t just find a home when she found me. I found mine too.

Annie, 11, moved right in and quickly made it clear she was here to stay.  She is a gentle soul with just the right touch of goofiness—and a very clear daily agenda. Each morning begins promptly with belly rubs, followed by outside time, breakfast, and a well-planned walk—bonus points if snacks are involved along the way.

Annie greets the day with enthusiasm and expects everyone else to keep up. She offers her signature “woo-woo” greeting to select dogs on her walks, though her criteria remain a mystery she seems content to keep to herself.  A devoted fan of car rides—especially morning coffee runs—Annie is happiest when she’s included in whatever the day brings. She approaches life with quiet sweetness and just a hint of mischief, best demonstrated by her now-legendary countertop cupcake heist.

Rescued later in life and deeply loved, Annie has settled beautifully into our home. She keeps things running smoothly, ensures belly rubs are never overlooked, and reminds us that the best days are made of simple things: a good walk, a cozy nap, and a little extra love.

Stevie was rescued from a puppy mill in the Midwest in the Fall of 2023. She was scared and confused, not understanding where she was going or what her future held. Her transporters named her Stevie Nicks and she decided to face each new day with confidence. 30 days with a loving and patient foster family and then she was placed in her forever home.

Her new family continued to be loving and patient as Stevie learned how to be a good golden. Slowly, she came out of her shell. Her family laughed at her antics and showered her with lots of love. Then it was on to bigger and better things: shopping, restaurants and her own Facebook page! She learned that all people are not bad and that most people are loving and wonderful.

Stevie knew that she had to pay it forward. She quickly learned about being an expert at home visits for RAG; identifying if a resident dog was open to another dog joining the household. After completing her training, she began her new career. At a new house, she meets the resident dog out front and they do the requisite sniffing; if all goes well they head to the back yard. They chase each other and explore every aspect of the yard. Stevie shares her love with the resident humans too. Giving back to RAG of AZ is something she cherishes. Stevie and her family are eternally grateful to RAG of AZ.

Grateful, thankful, and beyond blessed for Hunter. This beautiful big boy’s life suddenly changed when his previous owner passed away on Thanksgiving 2024. This tragedy ironically became a true blessing that ultimately saved this 6 year old Golden’s life. During the vetting process with RAGofAZ, it was discovered that Hunter had undetected testicular cancer that was successfully treated through surgical removal. How fitting to feature Hunter this November as the face in honor of Canine Cancer Awareness Month and all the fur babies lost to this horrible disease including my Golden Angels, Lucky and Bailey.

When RAG of AZ called me on December 23, 2024 and shared Hunter’s story, I instantly felt a bond and understanding as I too, had undergone a double mastectomy for breast cancer in October 2023. Hunter was delivered to us the following day on Christmas Eve and is the greatest gift of pure joy and love that keeps on giving each and every day.

We don’t have a large home and at 92 pounds, Hunter’s morning zoomies sound like a stampede rolling through the house. He learned very quickly how to go up and down the stairs and out the doggie door, but learned the hard way to pay attention to where he placed his big paws, otherwise he would land in the pool. Good news, he knew how to swim and found the steps! He loves his toys and shares the backyard with Freckles, our sassy 13 year old Jack Russell Terrier.

I was visiting the UK when I saw a Facebook video of the 15 pups rescued from Ohio. I called my husband to ask him to put in an application and a couple of weeks later we were told we were lucky enough to get to adopt one of the pups!

We named her Kirby and from the moment she arrived at our house she has been such a good girl. She loves her human and doggy brothers. Her favorite things are play dates at the PetSmart; weekly parties with her bestie Steve; watching the K-9 Cops TV show with Dad and eating carrots.

We are so happy that Kirby joined our family and we love her to the moon and back.