We used to go walking every AM through our neighborhood. The two of us liked to do a rather ‘ Brisk Walk’ for the 30 minutes we allotted. Well, what transpired was me walking in circles every five or ten minutes as my better half was stooped down petting one of our numerous neighbors’ puppies. The first one was our next door neighbor’s little white Pekinese Jin Jin. Once the girl saw Stacy Lynn that was it! She would waddle towards her as I was beginning my circles. Around one corner we would run into Ren, the five pound Chihuahua that our neighbor Neil had rescued . Ren’s tail would be spinning like crazy once he laid eyes on her. Once again, I did my circles as she visited with him. Across the street from Ren there was Bear, the little half Yorky half Schnauzer, who just pulled Kelli or Bob to get to Stacy. Nearby there was ‘ Wolfie Puppy’ as Stacy named the girl half Husky half German Shepherd. Ditto for my continued walking in circles. Now that was in our immediate location, all those precious pups. If we chose to walk down our street the other way, she would stop and play with Cooper, Theresa’s Dachshund, who would literally pull Theresa towards her. You know what I had to do, right? Around the corner we would walk around the cul de sac and, if lucky, get to see Bentley, the most adorable Shih Tzu you could ever imagine. Watching him just run off from his master and into the street to greet her brought joy to my eyes… and hers!
There were more puppies that my wife treasured. A year before her illness we would see Ed walking his baby Golden Retriever Sadie, who would soon be 90 pounds. Sadie would see Stacy and run for her, jumping onto her chest and almost knocking her down, licking my wife vociferously. When we reached Country Lane, ready to cross into the next subdivision, lots of puppies for her to visit with. All kinds of puppies like little Stella, the Chihuahua , and Yogi who I fail to remember his breed. And then we come to the ‘Piece de resistance’, the puppy Stacy just fell in love with… and ditto. Gus, the beautiful Portuguese Water Dog she had only first met a year before. Pat, his master, would just admire how my wife and his dog fell in love with each other. She did make it clear to me and to everyone that she loved ALL the puppies… but I knew this one was her favorite.
She became ill less than a year ago. No more walks through the neighborhood, so I made sure I invited all my wonderful neighbors to come visit her outside our home with their puppies. And they did, right up until the Big C devoured the ‘ Love of my life’ and she could not go outside anymore. At her memorial last week, or ‘ Celebration of life’ for her, I made sure that at least Gus would come to pay her tribute… and Pat brought him. All the other puppy owners came as well, and even if the puppies, other than Gus, didn’t come, Stacy was there to greet them all. The Puppy Lady lives on!!
PA Farruggio
May, 2026