Golden

By Edward J Kuehn and Linda Ruggeri

When Ty comes into the world, he is happy and having so much fun at Palm Pom Rescue Shelter because his life is so good. He has a mommy who cares for him and feeds him, and a pen to play in with all of his brothers. Then one day, Ty gets adopted, and moves into the life of his new family. Feeling confident he will be treated and cared for the same way, Ty is surprised when the life he has isn't quite what he expected. Even though he now lives in a big house and has a family, things are not the same. The words "relocation" and "deployment" are not familiar to him. He has different responsibilities and doesn't quite always understand what the humans in his life expect of him, and he struggles to figure out his place in this military family when things are constantly changing.

That is until he meets the Wide Old Man who comes to stay with him during Army Dad's deployments. Through daily walks around the neighborhood, the Wise Old Man shares with Ty what life is really about, and what his role could be in this family should he choose to accept it.

Golden, A Fairy (Dog) Tail is a book for young readers and their parents and grandparents. Ty warms are our hearts as we learn what it's like to live in a military family, from the pains and aches every family member goes through, and how sometimes a little patience, faith, and understanding can help make relationships work.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Insightful Editor
• Release date: Dec 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9781736420546

Edward J Kuehn

Edward J. Kuehn (Wise Old Man) was born in Ripon, Wisconsin. After completing high school, he enlisted in the Army and served three years on active duty, completing his six-year military obligation in the Wisconsin National Guard. After service he decided to take advantage of the GI Bill, earned a college degree, and pursued a career in teaching. This kindled Ed's curiosity for writing. Ed lives in Green Lake, Wisconsin, with his wife Sherri and their Bengal rescue cat (Tiny Tiger).Ed loves all animals and is an avid supporter of local animal shelters. To find out how you can make a  difference in the life of an animal, contact ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) or your local humane society or animal shelter. In his hometown, Ed supports GLAAS (Green Lake Area Animal Shelter).

Book preview

Boy and Dog Meet

Our day begins in our pen at the Palm Pom Rescue Shelter. That’s what we call the place where we’re living. My siblings and I spend our time tumbling around, biting each other, or chewing on our toys. It’s all fun and soothes our growing teeth. But then again, all we do is play, eat, or sleep. Mama Dog is lying in the corner dozing off. She keeps one eye open, watching over us and making sure we’re being good.

When the door to our room opens, Mama Dog perks up her ears. She raises her head, then gets up slowly, all while trying to observe who is entering the room. It’s Lady Palm Pom. That’s our nickname for the lady who runs the place and takes care of us.

Today she’s wearing her flowery Hawaiian smock and khaki shorts. Following her is a woman with long blond hair and a large handbag slung over her shoulder. She’s with a tall man dressed in a digital camouflage jacket and trousers. On one arm, he’s carrying a small person wearing a T-shirt, denim trousers, and sneakers. It must be the couple’s child by the way they attend to it.

As they move closer to the pen, they tower over us, so the only way we can tell them apart is by their feet. We recognize Lady Palm Pom’s comfy sandals. The mom has on white flip-flops, and the man is wearing tan boots, with the trousers bloused over the top of them.

We greet our visitors the only way we know how: barking.

Instead of Hello there, it’s Yip! Yip!

Mama Dog quickly gets up and pushes us aside with her snout so she’s standing between us and the people. As Lady Palm Pom kneels and reaches inside our pen, Mama Dog steps closer, sniffs her hand, then licks it.

Lady Palm Pom, while petting Mama Dog on the head, says, Hi sweetheart, these people are here with their child to take a look at your babies.

As the family nears our pen, the little person, who resembles the man whose arms he’s in, is excited to see us. The little one squirms in the man’s arms and makes screeching noises that sound as if he’s saying, Doggy! Doggy!

Grinning and pointing, the little one struggles to escape the man’s grasp, clearly wanting to get closer to us. Finally, the man puts the miniature human down but holds him back to keep him from climbing over the rail and into our pen.

"Isn’t he just a cute curious little boy?" Lady Palm Pom asks us.

So that’s what that loud, wiggly little person is called . . .A boy . . . Hmmm.

This is all so new! Besides Lady Palm Pom, we haven’t met very many new people, so my siblings and I look to Mama Dog to see if she thinks these strangers can be trusted. Before long, Mama Dog sits down, signaling it’s safe for us to waddle over to Flip-Flops, Boots, and the little boy.

The Hand of Fate

picture of Ty, a small white Pomeranian dog, in someone's arms.

My first selfie.

I LEAD THE WAY TO GET acquainted with the boy. There’s something about this little fella that seems interesting. He’s barely bigger than me. When I’m close enough, he grasps my golden fur in his tiny hand. It must tickle him because he begins dancing around and giggling. Now I’m the one trying to crawl out of the pen so I can be closer to him.

He’s sweet on you, says Lady Palm Pom.

By then, all the visitors are kneeling beside the pen. Lady Palm Pom picks me up so each one can take a closer look at me. The boy is first. When his hand touches my head, he turns toward Boots and Flip-Flops and asks, My doggy?

Lady Palm Pom sits down on the floor with me, then motions for the little boy to come and sit by her. She places me in the little boy’s lap and shows him how to hold me.

We need to be gentle to not hurt him, explains Lady Palm Pom. He wraps his arms around me, pressing me to his chest. I can’t resist. He’s so close to me and smells delicious, so I lick his face.

Each visitor takes a turn holding, petting, and rubbing behind my ears. Boots is the last one to hold me. When he stands up and hands me back to Lady Palm Pom, he quietly asks her a question. She tells him we need to stay with Mama Dog for at least two more weeks.

Many other families have come to visit us in the last few days. Each one is friendly but not quite for me. There’s something different about this family. I just can’t put my paw on it. I want to go home with them.

Then, the thought of leaving Mama Dog and my siblings enters my mind. Mama Dog has been preparing us for this day. When we try to nurse, she pushes us away—instead, she shows us how to eat and drink from a bowl on the floor.

Boots and Flip-Flops talk with Lady Palm Pom for a brief time. Then Boots reaches down, touches me on the head and says, See you soon, little buddy. I don’t know what that means, but it gives me a good feeling inside.

When Boots picks up the little boy and starts to leave, the boy glances back over the man’s