Several people have presented stories about angels in their lives, and I would like to add mine. On October 3, 1996, my little black sheltie walked out the back door and disappeared. She had never left the fenced yard. Her beloved sister was in the yard. She had ID tags, license, heavy collar, she was obviously well cared for and loved, she just disappeared. I knew she was gone within ten minutes, we mobilized the neighbors and scoured the neighborhood. Despite posters on every tree, daily trips the pound, many phone calls, and newspaper ads, after one month we still hadn't found her. I still don't know what happened to Abigail. Anyway, everyone had different theories, but maybe her disappearance was for a reason. I am disabled, and use a power driven wheelchair for mobility, full-time. I have limited use of my hands and arms, and cannot pick things up from the floor. I had wanted to get a service dog for years, but the time was never right. We had the shelties, and knew that they would not get along well with a new dog. Abigail had been eight years old, and had a long life ahead of her. Shanti Was already 15 years old, and probably wouldn't live much longer. Now, with Abigail gone, and it looked like doubtful that she would return, maybe I should start looking into getting a dog to train for service work. Well, I applied to Top Dog Training program here in Tucson, and asked for their help in locating an appropriate dog for me. I put ads in the Tucson and Phoenix newspapers saying that I was looking for a golden retriever to train as a service dog for myself. I also answered ads that other people had placed selling dogs, but every time we had just missed out: the dog had just been sold, they had one last month, or the people who bought it were there 5 minutes before we were. We visited the pound and humane society and looked at dogs. We couldn't stand going back there any more, because the dogs were sweet but didn' t have the right temperament for service work. I thought about just trying to get a "Program" dog, already trained, but the waiting lists are very long, and I didn't want to wait years to get a dog. Then someone told me that the Tucson Kennel Club was having its all-breed show later that month. I made a sign on my computer that said, "Wanted: Golden retriever to train for service dog work. Sweet personality, training a plus, please call Roxie." I made copies of this sign, pasted them all over my wheelchair, and went to the dog show with a huge stack of copies in my lap. I went up to everyone I saw with a golden, gave them a sign, and asked them to keep me in mind if they heard of a possible dog. I met the nice people from the Tucson golden rescue, but they didn't have the right dog for me. I met lots of nice people on the other end of a golden's leash. I had no idea then what really special people "golden people" are! I met a lady from Phoenix named Dawn Hill, and she said she didn't have the right dog for me, but if there was anything she could ever do to help me, to just call her. I also met a man showing some of his dogs, and gave him one of my sign too. Several weeks later, after answering dozens of ads with inappropriate or unavailable dogs, and having virtually no response to the ads I'd placed, I called Dawn and asked if she had any ideas. I was getting so frustrated. My husband told me to just take this as a sign that I wasn't supposed to get a dog right now, maybe next spring. Well, a few days later, I got an email from Dawn saying that there was a breeder in Phoenix who might have an older female available, she would check it out. The next day, I was disappointed to get her email that he had decided not to sell that dog after all. Now, back to square one! My ad was still running in the Phoenix newspaper (I was rapidly going broke!), and a lady called me saying she had a golden/lab mix that she would love to place as a service dog. I called Dawn, who agreed to go meet the lady and "test" her dog to see if she met temperament criteria. She called me late that evening to say that the dog was way too aggressive for service work. The lady with the dog felt so bad that it didn't work out, she called me the next day and promised to help me get a dog. By now, 50 percent of Arizona knows I'm looking for a dog! Ok, so now Dawn calls this breeder with the older female and asks him to reconsider, she tells him all about my situation. He says he's already placed the dog with someone else, she's gone. Now we fast-forward a few days later. This man his driving on some street in Phoenix, and glances at the photos of some of his dogs. They have been in his car for some time, but he decides he should really get them framed. He drives into the nearest frame shop, and lays them on the counter. The woman looks at them and says, "oh, those are beautiful dogs. I know a disabled woman who is looking for a golden to train for service work." He asked her if she happened to be talking about Roxie, and she said yes, she had just spoken to me a few days prior. She had a dog that she wanted to give to me, but she was too aggressive. She said, "do you have a dog for her?" He said he didn't have it any longer, but maybe he could get it back! He asked to use her phone. He didn't have my number, so she gave him my ad from the paper. That night, I arrived home after Christmas shopping, and my husband said, "Call that man, his number is by the phone. He says he has your dog, you can come get her!" I had no idea what he was talking about. I soon found out that I had met him at the Tucson show, and I gave him a sign. Dawn knew he had this special female that was meant for me. She had no question that this dog was exactly what I needed. This man had sold my girl to a doctor just a week before, but convinced him to trade her back for a puppy from his next litter, so she could go to me. He had never been in that frame shop before that day, and doesn't know why he chose that time to take in the photos. Three days later, on the 21st of December, we drove to Phoenix (100 miles) to pick up Angel. From the moment I saw Gambit's Walks Like An Angel, I knew she was my dog! That was one of the happiest days of my life. And, I love her more each day. We have been through 11 months of service dog training, and will hopefully graduate in a few more months. She goes everywhere with me, and is learning more every day. I am so grateful to Dawn and the wonderful man that gave me by precious Angel! So, do I believe in angels? You bet!!