A story from Kristi Fuoco about Skipper the happiest mutt posted 07/19/2010 I just finished reading Marley and Me, and with tears in my eyes thought back to the many wonderful memories that I had with my family dog growing up. Thank you for your beautiful story. We got Skipper, the brown-eyed fluffy white bearded collie/something else when he was 9 months old and I was 8 years old and he was a part of my life for the next 15 years. When I was sad, he would curl up next to me. When I cried he would listen to me talk. He slept by my bed every single night. He would patiently lie there as my sister and I french braided his long white hair, and he was always up for a long walk on the beach. Three years in a row at a local fair he won "Happiest Dog" and "Shaggiest Dog" and he was definitely both. Even at the end of his life, when he was going a bit senile, a bit deaf, and a bit blind (and a bit incontinent) he was always the most loving and happy dog you could imagine. I can't imagine growing up without him. Here's a typical Skipper photo where he is "driving" my grandma in the van. There's nothing like a family dog. Read More Stories > Begin Sharing Your Story >