Hailing from Luverne, the friendly and outgoing Kobe has been selected for this week’s Pet of the Week.  

Kobe is a one-year-old Golden Retriever owned by Taylor Grant from Luverne, who received Kobe as a gift.  

“Kobe was a Christmas gift from my girlfriend in 2023,” Grant said. “I had always wanted a Golden Retriever, and she made it happen. That year, she found a family in Elba who had a litter on the way, and that’s how Kobe came into our lives.”

Since becoming a part of the family in December 2023, Kobe’s friendly and outgoing personality has shined through.

Grant said that Kobe loves to play with anyone, and also loves to play with his brother Barkley and his best friend Lainey – a dog owned by Grant’s girlfriend’s mother – a pup  who sadly passed away last year.

“Kobe is obsessed with any kind of ball, but his absolute favorite toy is a plush worm from a Bark Box called the ‘Ghouly Worm,’”Grant said. “It’s his prized possession, and the other dogs know better than to mess with it.”

When he’s not playing with his friends or anyone he meets, Kobe loves to hang out outdoors playing fetch, catch or digging a hole in the yard. However, Grant said that unlike most golden retrievers, Kobe is not a fan of water and takes off running if he ever sees the water hose. 

When it’s time to wind down from the day, Kobe sleeps in his crate and dreams of a new day filled with fun, friends and hopefully one of his favorite treats: peanut butter. 

“Pet of the Week,” “Pet of the Season” and “Pet of the Year” are sponsored by Luverne Veterinary Hospital which offers a full range of veterinary services for both small and large animals, as well as grooming and boarding options. To learn more, contact them at (334) 535-0161.

To enter a pet or share stories of the animals that brighten life, visit www.luvernejournal.com/contests. If you have previously entered and have not been selected yet, please note that all submissions roll over into the next week.