Annie and Her Hero

Our friend and agent Annie Brody never had a dog as a child, but always loved them. New York City was not the perfect place to begin life as a dog person, but at age forty-five, Annie felt it was time. She adopted the dream dog of her childhood, a golden retriever, who had been found in a parking lot in the Bronx without any identification. She named him Hero. He would come to change her life in ways both unexpected and unanticipated.

Annie cherished Hero’s companionship, and could hardly wait to get home after work so she could go outside with her new buddy. Morning and evening walks and forays to the fenced-in dog park were not enough. She began to take Hero out of the city on weekends to places where he could hike off-leash in the woods. Soon the weekends weren’t enough either. The turning point came one night in the city after a glorious weekend in the country.

It was raining and they were in a taxi driving down Park Avenue. Annie noticed that Hero’s perpetual grin was gone, and that he seemed to have become depressed. She wondered what the problem was, so she crouched down and put her head right next to Hero’s to see from his vantage point. All she saw were sharp angles and glass and metal squares of gray and black. They had just been in the countryside with lush fields and rolling hills and trees – lots of round edges and wonderful smells of nature. No wonder he was depressed.

Next: Annie’s Move

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Howard C.

5:03PM PDT on May 25, 2011

A great story, thank you.

send a green star

Roberta B.

7:02AM PDT on May 27, 2010

Good good story.

Ellinor S.

9:40AM PDT on Apr 8, 2010

thank you

Janna S.

12:52PM PST on Mar 8, 2010

great story!

12:50PM PST on Mar 8, 2010

Thank you or nice story

Judith C.

6:38PM PST on Mar 3, 2010

Yes I think Annie was brave to follow her heart. Not all of us can go and live an idyllic life though. Nice if we could.

Lenee L.

5:20PM PST on Feb 14, 2010

very touching story-thanks for sharing :)

Elaine D.

5:04AM PST on Feb 9, 2010

great story

Stephanie D.

2:43AM PST on Jan 10, 2010

Such magnificient story ! Pets bring so much, and its great to see that she took time to look at her dog and change for him in order he refind his happiness and gusto.
I couldnt do the same as Annie but my dog and me are the most of the day outside for a walk, in a park to play, i try learn him new things, we pay advantage to make long cuddles and once a week (the sunday), we leave outside of the city to visit other places in country and let him feel all smell of flowers, grass... and we stay all the day. He seems really happy but as soon as I can i will try to find and buy a house with a big garden. My cat, as most possible, I entrust him to my grand-parents but he seems to like more to stay inside the home but country really good for him. I make all possible to make him happy as I found him, he was a kitten aged of maybe a little less than 2 months i dont know exactly arrounded by a lot of carbages in the street at night. All my pets are wonderful and real angels and I want them happy. I love them a lot, they are my happiness and my joy.

Lori K.

11:57PM PST on Dec 29, 2009

Great story. Camp looks like fun. Thank you.