My message this month is bittersweet for me. First, I want to wish all of you a very happy New Year and tell you how grateful I am for your friendship and support over the last 15 years. I heard from so many of you over the holidays and most of you said to me "have a great new year but please take care of you. So I decided to take that advise. 

Each of you know AGA will be in my heart forever. For over a decade it has been my life, but I must take care of me now as most of you know I suffered a stroke a couple of years ago. Which, is why I am stepping down as president of AGA for a while and handing the reins of AGA to my dear friend of over 20 years, Amy Johnston. As many of you know, I chose Amy for this task just like when I picked her to start and run Adopt a Golden Knoxville. 

I hope you understand why I must do this. We have actually fulfilled our mission which is "to save homeless Golden Retrievers and find new loving homes for them, and thereby reduce the shelter and stray population. Compared to 2003 when AGA started,  numbers of Goldens found in animal shelters are significantly down in Georgia and across the country. That is a good sign that it's possible to put ourselves out of business. 

I hope that day comes, and I will have forced retirement.  I will not be totally gone from AGA as I still serve on our Board of Directors. 

With much gratitude,