From Shelter to Soulmate
The Brookline Labrador Retriever Rescue From Shelter to Soulmate program is dedicated to rescuing Labrador Retrievers from high-kill shelters, providing them with necessary medical care, and nurturing them in foster homes until they are ready for adoption into permanent, loving families. We rely on the generosity of our donors to provide these dogs with the care they desperately need. Without your support, many of these Labs will not get a second chance. Our ultimate goal is to give these deserving dogs a second chance at life and happiness.
Babe came into Brookline as a homeless puppy from Mississippi, along with his brother, Benji. From the moment he arrived, Babe captured hearts, especially that of our son, who quickly decided to “foster fail” and make Babe his own.
Our son wanted a hunting dog, and as luck would have it, Babe excelled at hunting. Mostly, he loved pheasant and duck hunting and lived for those special outings with his boy. After every hunting trip, Babe would proudly sit tall and still for a photo, posing beside the day’s catch with unmistakable pride shining in his eyes.
Whenever family or friends came to our house, the very first thing Babe would do was snatch a sneaker or shoe and trot proudly around the house with it. We believe that Babe was showing off. It was his way of saying, “Look everyone, I’m a great hunting dog!”
Part German Shepherd and part Labrador Retriever, Babe was 100% Alpha Dog. And boy was he smart! In obedience school, Babe won an award for Best in Tricks. His trainer commented on Babe’s intelligence as when tasked with navigating a maze, Babe simply knocked down part of the fence to reach the hidden object faster.
Along with hunting, Babe enjoyed swimming, even in our above ground pool! The pool stood 4 feet tall, but that didn’t stop him as he’d take a running start and jump onto our trampoline and then into the pool. After paddling around for a while, he’d climb up to the top of the ladder, jump back onto the ground, and race around to the other side just so he could dive in again. It was his own personal game of splash-and-dash!
Babe’s loyalty was everything anyone could ever hope for in a dog. Every day like clockwork, at exactly 3:30 p.m., he would sit by the window, waiting patiently for his boy to come home from work, never late, nor distracted, and always ready for his boy!
Always ready for an adventure, Babe loved going anywhere and everywhere! He didn’t know where he was headed, and he didn’t care, all that mattered was that he was going somewhere in the truck. The moment the door opened, he’d tear outside and jump right in, ready to roll! During the ride, Babe was always on the lookout for the deer that would cross our road. And when Babe wasn’t allowed to come along, the dejected look on his face said it all.
Like most dogs, Babe wasn’t too fond of the vet’s office and was known to hide behind his owner during appointments. But when his sister Sweetie became ill and needed emergency surgery to remove a mass on her spleen, Babe’s “love over fear” shone through. Knowing Sweetie might not make it through the surgery, we brought Babe to the vet to see her in case it would be the last time the dogs would see each other. When brought to the vet’s office, Babe charged through the doors with one mission: to comfort his sister. That day revealed Babe’s remarkable emotional depth as he put aside his own fear to be by his sister, showing a compassion few humans ever achieve.
Sadly, Babe suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. He had just turned five years old when he was found unresponsive by his family, a life cut far too short. Some say that dogs instinctively go off on their own when it’s their time to spare their families the pain of witnessing their passing. True to his nature, even in his final moments, Babe protected those he loved. He had been perfectly well that morning, and while his family was away from home for an hour, he passed away outside in the yard.
Five years is a short life, even for a dog. But Babe lived every moment to the fullest, packing a lifetime of love and happiness into those few years. During that time, our family was truly blessed to share our lives with such an incredible soul—one who brought us immeasurable joy and unconditional love. A tennis-ball fetcher extraordinaire and a loyal friend he is deeply missed, but forever in our hearts.
