Celebrating the Life of Our Winner, Ladd
Our Cutest Pet Photo Contest is all about showcasing the most lovable pets in Music City, and this year’s winner deserves some extra-special recognition. Ladd’s mom, Kathy Carter, entered her sweet boy into our pet contest just three days before Ladd’s sudden and heartbreaking onset of illness and quick decline.
Adored by everyone who was lucky enough to meet him, Ladd’s remarkable legacy lives on far beyond the pages in this book.
As a tribute to the unforgettable Golden Retriever who touched hearts nationwide for nearly twelve years, we look at some of the moments that represent all the light and love Ladd brought into the lives of everyone he met. And what better person to share her favorite Ladd memories than his favorite person in the world, his mom.
The story behind the name
Ladd is named after my vet of thirty-five years, Dr. Steve Ladd at Hillsboro Animal Hospital. [Ladd] was my first male after three female Goldens, so the name worked perfectly to honor my longtime faithful vet and friend.
A personality with looks to match
Ladd was sweet, loving, loyal, protective and was always happy and smiling as long as he was with his mama. He was resilient— surviving cancer five times and other illnesses; undergoing nine surgeries. He loved people and would even snuggle right into strangers. Ladd loved wearing clothes and costumes, and he wore a bandana every day of his life. If it accidentally fell off, he would usually bring it to me so I could put it back on him.
A lifetime of memories
My favorite memory is of him carrying his Chance Dog with him in his mouth everywhere he went. He adored this fav PetSmart stuffie that he got his first Christmas, and every Christmas thereafter. He was known around Nashville and the U.S. for carrying his Chance Dog everywhere with him in his mouth; this included our travels to twenty-eight different states with Chance Dog in tow. If it was not for COVID, last year’s planned trip would have added fifteen more states for him. My specific favorite memory is a family without a dog asking if he could be borrowed to be in their Christmas photo with their two kids at PetSmart one year, as they said he was adorable in his Christmas PJ’s, antlers and with his Chance Dog. He happily complied.
Ladd’s legendary legacy
His service work was as an ambassador for the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, a national research study of 3000+ Golden Retrievers that we proudly supported for six to seven years. This included traveling from Michigan to Florida for numerous events over the years. Though he was too old to be in the study as a HERO study dog, he was so loved by this group of friends we had met in person and in our active Facebook group that he was made an Honorary Study Hero after his passing. This includes him being memorialized on the wall at Morris Animal Foundation in Denver, Colorado, the sponsor of this groundbreaking Study. In his memory, $2,000 was collected; a large portion of which was recently donated to the Giles County Animal Shelter after learning of their need. I received more than cards and countless gifts after he passed. He became so loved wherever he went. Gifts are still arriving in his memory. I am humbled by the legacy my precious boy left, and people are getting their Goldens Chance Dogs as yet another tribute to him.
In loving memory of Ladd Carter (04/26/09 - 02/05/21)