"When I first started taking pictures back in the early '70s, I traveled a lot with my sister Barbara Dewitt, who managed musicians on tour like Frank Zappa, Ike and Tina Turner, Iggy Pop and David Bowie.

I guess that gave me a taste for life on the road, which is how I've been lucky to live ever since except now the band is a pack of Goldens, some combination of 22 names and counting over the years. We caravan back and forth from New York City to Golden Beach, Florida, twice a year, four vehicles full of dogs and toy bones and pillows and water.

They love gazing out the windows, watching the American landscape roll by. Sometimes they get a treat of a couple french fries or a cheeseburger well done (Dr. Josie, don't yell at me!) before pulling into one of the dog-friendly hotels we've discovered over the years to bed down for the night.

Nan and I always cross our fingers that they won't bark too loudly at every passing sound.

People sometimes say to me, "In my next life, I want to come back as one of your dogs." Looking back on these days of golden freedom, I feel nothing but gratitude for the adventures, heartbreaks and moments of kindness we've experienced with our dogs."

Bruce Weber