"In 2012, Lucy Riles adopted Duchess, a four-month-old Black Lab from a lab rescue facility in Southern California. At the time, Lucy and her husband had two young children; a two-year-old little girl and a four-month-old baby boy, who happens to share the same birthday as Duchess. Playing fetch with her tennis balls in the backyard is where Duchess is her happiest. Duchess, now eight-years-old, has been a constant source of emotional support and unconditional love for the whole family, especially for Lucy and her child with special needs. However, the love for Black Labs is nothing new to Lucy. Growing up on the South Side of Chicago as the youngest of 12 kids, her parents, Jim and Barbara, always had at least two dogs in the house; one of which was always a Black Lab. So when Lucy started a family of her own, she knew exactly what type of dog to get...a Black Lab! It is in Lucy's most humble opinion that Labrador Retrievers make the absolute best family dogs. In addition to being the smartest, most loyal, loving, trusting dog breeds, they are absolutely incredible with children. Lucy lives in Los Angeles with her husband Tom and three kids. The Riles family recently welcomed a new dog into the family... one-year-old Duke, a 170lb Saint Bernard. And as long as Duke doesn't mess with her tennis balls, Duchess tolerates him!"