Sweet and stalwart Stanley

Once there was a girl who saw a stray dog in her neighborhood. He had been hurt and limped around with one back foot held up underneath him. But he was a handsome dog, and she started leaving food for him whenever she saw him roaming around, digging through people's trash to eat. After she had seen him four times in a week, she decided that God wanted her to have this dog. So with some help from her younger brother, she trapped the dog in her parents' backyard. It took some coaxing, but finally the dog ran to her open arms, and has not left her side since.

She named him Stanley, and slowly he started to help change her life. She was struggling in her marriage, trying to cope with a husband with alcoholism. Stanley allowed her to focus on something besides trying to "fix" her husband. Walking him every day allowed her to clear her head and feel less miserable. Stanley made her realize that not only did an innocent puppy not deserve physical and verbal abuse, but she didn't either.

She and Stanley stayed together all through the divorce, moving back home with her parents, and getting out on her own. There was some very low times during these years, but Stanley's Welcome Home!!! bark always made her feel better. His doggie smile and loyalty made her feel so loved, that she didn't feel loneliness after awhile.

By now there were more companions in the household. And with each addition, Stanley accepted them with patience and understanding. Even the cats! When Fred the kitten wandered into her driveway, no amount of coaxing from the girl could get him to come into the fenced part of her yard. But a couple of minutes with Stanley did the trick.

Even though Stanley was a mix (she finally determined he was Chow and Huskie), people would stop her on their walks and tell her what a beautiful dog he is. His golden color shined in the sun, and still does to this day, despite his age. His watchdog instincts were and are so good, that he barks if someone stays sitting too long at the stop sign outside of her house.

Stanley's biggest adjustment came when the girl finally met the man of her dreams. Stanley had always had trouble with men, because apparantly that's who had abused him when he was a puppy. But he adjusted to this new boyfriend who was spending so much time in her house, and the boyfriend was wonderful enough to adjust to Stanley and all of his friends.

The girl married the man of her dreams, and he started taking Stanley for runs and helping to feed him. They became fast friends. Stanley no longer had to worry about yelling and loud noises. This man was quiet and gentle, and took good care of the girl whose side he never leaves.

The girl realizes that Stanley has seen her through the lowest points in her life, and made it with her to the happiest time. He's loved her with all he has the entire time, and she's loved him right back. He's eleven years old now, and not a day goes by that the girl and the dog don't stop and share a moment, and realize how happy their life is because of each other.