Liberty Ford (1974-1984)

Golden Light #11 is Liberty Ford.

Liberty Ford was the dog of the former President Gerald Ford and his wife Betty. Her registered name was Honor's Foxfire Liberty Hume. Liberty was born on February 8, 1974 and given to President Ford as a birthday present in the fall of 1974. Ann (Avis) Friberg was Liberty's breeder. Liberty died in 1984.

President Gerald Ford mentioned Liberty in a speech honoring William W. Scranton in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 9, 1974.

As some of you might have seen in the last few days, either through the newspapers or television, the White House has a new addition. My daughter, Susan, and Dave Kennerly, our new White House photographer, got together a few days ago and surprised Betty and me with an 8-month-old golden retriever.  

This puppy has really taken over the White House. In fact, you may have seen some of us laughing up here during dinner. As I reached in my pocket to get a match to light my pipe, look what I pulled out of the pocket--some dog biscuits! [Laughter] 

Let me tell you the story about Susan and Dave and how they bought this dog. I first should preface that the Fords had had two previous golden retrievers. One lived 13 years and unfortunately died, and then another one died a year ago in August after 9 years. So we are fairly partial, I would say, to golden retrievers.  

Well, Dave and Susan called up a very highly recommended individual who had contacts with the people who raise golden retrievers all over the country. And Dave, as I understand it--who is communicating with the individual up in Minneapolis who happened to have a golden retriever about this age--Dave asked the individual if they had a dog and was it available, and the owner said that they had this 8-month-old golden retriever, but the proprietor or the owner was a little cautious--they're very possessive about these dogs-- and he asked in a very nice way who the dog's owner would be. 

And they said, Dave and Susan, that they had to keep it a secret. Well, the kennel owner said that they don't sell dogs that way. He would have to know who the dog's owner would be, and he wanted to know would the dog have a good home.  

So, Dave and Susan very specifically assured the dog owner that it would have a good home. They explained that the parents were friendly and middle-aged and they had four children. The kennel owner said, "That sounds fine. What kind of a house do they live in?"  

Susan and Dave said, "Well, it is a big white house with a fence around it." The kennel owner said, "This is a big dog. Will it have enough to eat? Does the father have a steady job?" Well, on that question, they were stuck a bit. [Laughter] 

Needless to say they got the dog and, in the appropriate spirit of the city of Philadelphia, we have named her "Liberty." One of those inquisitive reporters that we have in Washington asked Susan who is going to take care of Liberty; who is going to feed her and groom her and take her out each night or every morning? And Susan did not hesitate one minute. She said, "Of course, it will be Dad." So, I have this feeling--this is one Liberty that is going to cost me some of mine. [Laughter]  

But in a very broader sense, that is the true nature of liberty. It comes with both privileges and obligations. Freedom, we all know, is seldom free. (Source)

Other Links on Liberty:

• Liberty's Pedigree Page at Golden Retriever Weekly
• Liberty's Wikipedia Page

Liberty Ford is a Golden Light because of the awareness she raised of the positive traits of the Golden Retriever when she was photographed hundreds of times in her role as the Presidential pet. Liberty has been gone almost 30 years, but her well-known owners make her one of the most recognized Golden Retrievers in the United States.

Golden Light Honors the Lives of Golden Retrievers.

The photo in this post is in the Public Domain.

Henry Gardner

Golden Light #5 is Henry Gardner

Henry Gardner was a Golden Retriever from Scotland. He developed a healing relationship with an autistic boy named Dale Gardner. Henry Gardner is a Golden Light for his contribution to the life of a boy with autism.

Jim and Nuala Gardner had a lot of problems with their son Dale's self-destructive behavior. As they struggled with what they should do, they acquired Henry for Dale, and the dog changed everything. They were able to create a voice for Henry the Golden Retriever to facilitate their communication with Dale and other positive effects poured in over time.

Nuala Gardner wrote the book, A Friend Like Henry (2008) to document the dramatic change in her son Dale (now in his early 20's) as he developed a relationship with their Golden Retriever named Henry. The book is evidence of the positive effect that a dog can have on some children with autism. In Dale's case his dog Henry helped improve his behavior, communication, and self-concept. The following is the YouTube video made to give a brief glimpse at the story of Henry and Dale.

After Thomas was a movie based on the Golden Retriever Henry and Dale's relationship.  Henry is called Thomas in the movie because of Dale's love for the Thomas the Engine character.

The dog in this story called Henry died in 2006, but his legacy of having changed Dale's life lives on. Dale said, "He was my dog and I loved him. He died in April this year (2006) and even though I love our new dog (also called Henry) it was terrible for me. The first Henry was special (Source)."

Dale Gardner's parents are very proud of what he is accomplishing as a well adjusted young adult. After Henry arrived into their life, Jim and Nuala Gardner had a daughter Amy who also developed autism. More information on their family can be found in an article written by Daphne Lockyer.

Special thanks to Henry Gardner for being a Golden Light. The help he gave a boy with autism was a life-changer. Jim and Nuala Gardner were featured on the Autism Light blog. You may read their feature at their page at the Autism Light blog.

Golden Light Honors the Lives of Golden Retrievers.

B.J. Stokes

Golden Light #1 is Shalom's Benjamin Jacob (1999-2009).

Circa 2002, B.J. and Alan 

Shalom's Benjamin Jacob (B.J.) was born on January 17, 1999.  Alan and Anne Stokes purchased him from Diane & Joseph Cudo who were breeders who lived in Elk River, Minnesota at the time. He died on December 16, 2009 after a mouth cancer diagnosis. His illness was diagnosed by the caring professionals at Patterson Veterinary Hospital in Mason, Michigan. B.J.'s remains are buried in the Heavenly Acres Pet Cemetery in Howell, Michigan in their unmarked field.

B.J. was a mascot at the former Salvation Army Silver Lake Camp in Minneapolis, Minnesota for 5 years. Longtime Golden Retriever enthusiast and camp physician, Dr. William Carr, expressed disappointment one day that B.J. was neutered and wouldn't be reproducing because of the superior personality that B.J. had in representing the breed.

B.J. was a very gentle dog although he weighed in at 110 pounds. He moved with his family wherever duty called and despite his size didn't complain about spending a year in a one bedroom apartment. He was the first Golden Retriever that the blogger of the "Light Blog" Series owned and in tribute to him, he is being named the first Golden Light.

The poem "My Golden Retriever" was written in honor of B.J.

Golden Light Honors the Lives of Golden Retrievers.