Melissa Baldwin got her golden labrador retriever Georgia from a breeder in Orting, named For the Love of Labs 3 and a half years ago.

"We had a lab growing up, "Baldwin explained. "and I've always wanted one. She's a great companion, great to run with and keeps me active."

Her name comes from Baldwin's destination on business trips. "I was traveling to Atlanta, Georgia a lot for work and she's been on my mind for a really long time."

Most recently Georgia has been going to Doggy Day Care through Super Fun Happy Dog, a local group that "Picks her up and they go on a bus and take her down to ten acres of play and she gets a report card. She is worn out afterward. She has a lot of friends because of it. She's very social because of it."

"I always tell people that she is the light of my life," Baldwin said. She loves to be on her back for tummy scratching but mostly she's a big fan of her ball (she's a retriever after all) and loves to swim, even taking part in a Polar Bear Plunge at Lincoln Park on New Year's Day.

Georgia's diet is mostly Kirkland dog food from Costco and for treats she will get the occasional dog biscuit, "nothing too out of the ordinary," Baldwin offered.

Georgia's best dog friends are Mickey in Bellingham and a chocolate lab named Stella who lives on Beacon Hill and Finley another retriever.

Both Beach Drive and Solstice Park are places Georgia enjoys for running and ball chasing.

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