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Tuesday, May 13th, 2008
For about a week, a dog has been hanging around our backyard, sleeping in the cool dirt underneath the shed and mostly staying out of sight. Another dog - a yellow Lab with a collar - was hanging around with him and barked at Darwin when we came out of the house. Our neighbors on both sides have yellow Labs, but we knew this one wasn’t Max, who would have come up to say hello.
Having strange, hostile dogs in the yard was not cool with us, so Darwin yelled at them and ran them off twice.
Not being the type who’s even capable of “running off” a dog, I tried to sweet talk them when I came out one morning to go to work and found the yellow Lab barking at me. The black and white dog under the boat didn’t move, and the Lab just kept barking. A little miffed that they’d resisted my charms, I got in the car and continued on to work, puzzling over in my mind what these two could find so interesting about our shed. I suggested to Darwin maybe there were puppies involved, but he didn’t think it was a good idea to go investigate.
On Friday night while hanging out on a neighbor’s porch, I spotted the black and white dog and the lab running around the neighborhood together.
Then yesterday morning I saw the black and white dog alone and out sunning himself in the middle of the backyard, so I decided to try to make friends. It was remarkably easy. At first he ran away to the safety of the workshop porch and sat there wagging his tail while I called to him. But when I came a little closer and squatted down, he came right to me.
Turns out he’s not hostile at all but a sweetheart, shy and affectionate. I patted him on his bear-like head, and he immediately flopped down and rolled around begging for a belly rub. When I stopped petting him and tried to walk away, he hopped up and scurried around in front of me for some more petting. He seemed to want very badly to jump up on me but was too afraid; he’d eagerly put one paw on my leg and then draw it back as if reminding himself of a past when that was a dangerous offense.
Meanwhile, Millie was inside the fence whining and barking, so I went over to pet her and reassure her that her mom wasn’t abandoning her for another dog. He followed me over to her, and the two dogs calmly touched noses through the fence.
I had to go to work, but I called Darwin and told him the dog was nice and had a collar on but no identification. I suggested he feed the dog when he got home - he was coming home early with a raging case of strep throat - and that we should take a photo of him and post flyers around town in case he was lost.
When I got home, the dog was thrilled to see me. I gave him some food leftover from a bag finicky Millie rejected, and he wolfed it down. I tentatively patted his head while he was eating, and he didn’t even flinch. Then I took his photo:
Afterward, while he was rolling around on the ground begging for petting, I noticed something was weird with his mouth. On closer inspection, I saw his teeth in front were very strange, almost like they were encased in the gums, or exposed higher than they should’ve been, or … ? It’s hard to explain, and I’ve tried to research canine periodontal disease online but I can’t find anything that looks quite like this.
Anyway, it upset me, and I began to feel this dog could not belong to anyone, despite the collar. Darwin noticed me crying and came out to see the dog, too. We gave him a bowl of water, and he seemed a little nervous about the hose until I crouched down and called to him. He skirted clear of Darwin and sat behind my leg with his paw on my foot.
I went out to visit him a couple more times last night, and when I took Millie out for her walk, they sniffed each other again with no dramatics. Millie - usually more than eager to defend her territory - seems surprisingly indifferent to him. He looked so scruffy and pitiful next to her sleek, healthy little body.
Darwin says he’s seen him wandering around the neighborhood for a while now, which makes me think even more strongly that he must have been abandoned. Now I just want to get him to a vet asap to get those teeth looked at and also because he’s dirty, covered in fleas, and unaltered.
I decided to call him Stanley. I said I wanted him to have a name that went with Henry, Alistair and Millie, and Darwin said, “Why does that matter? We’re not keeping him.” I said, “Oh, I know, but I just need something to call him.”
This morning I went out to feed him and couldn’t find him. “Stanley!” I called, and then I saw him dashing through the trees behind the house. He wheeled around the edge of the trees and barreled toward me, threw himself down on the ground before me and, writhing happily, showed me his belly, wet with dew.
“Oh, Stanley,” I said, feeling almost tearful with joy to see him, too, “you sweet boy.”
I gave him another meal of Millie’s rejects and refilled his water bowl. My mother used to say if you feed a stray, they’ll never leave. While I watched Stanley inhale his food, I hoped this was true.
Our dog Puppy found us, when he was a baby. We had no plans on keeping him, thus the lack of a normal name. We had two dogs at the time. Now, I cann’t believe that we were not planning on keeping him. He is the greatest, loyal, loving, protective, best-est dog ever.
Sounds like he’s chosen you, that’s for sure, and that’s the best way that you can get a new dog. And the picture…if I was anywhere near you I’d have a hard time resisting him myself. Those eyes…those brown eyebrows (hmmm, do dogs have eyebrows?). He looks like a real keeper to me.
Long-time lurker, had de-lurk for this one (both of our dogs were strays/abandoned): he’s BEAUTIFUL. Who could abandon him?! Oh, poor Stanley. (Great name, btw; it really seems to fit.) If I lived closer, I’d take him in a heartbeat. I hope you keep him.
He is so cute. If he really is sweet, and gets along with Millie, he sounds like a G-dsend.
Both of our dogs are rescues. They really are the greatest dogs to have.
And this picture doesn’t even show the true sweetness of his eyes!
oh, stanley, is so precious!!
I noticed the “collar” on Stanley’s neck - looks like he might have been tied/tethered at some point. Not a good life for a dog, for sure.
He looks and sounds friendly; hope you can keep him, give him the home he deserves.
Both my dogs are rescues, and all four of my cats too.
are you keeping him? huh?? huh??? I hope so. He is so cute and sounds so sweet. I can’t wait to meet him.
totally meant to be
Great story and gorgeous boy! Whattagoodoggy!!!
He is beautiful. He looks to either be mixed with border collie or an aussie. Stanley is a great name. That is what I named the first kitten I ever rescued, about 6 yrs ago. I think he is a keeper.