THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 15, 1994 TAG: 9406140141
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LINDA McNATT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940615 LENGTH: CARRSVILLE
No pedigree. Unwanted. Handicapped. He doesn't do tricks.
{REST} But Josh is a ``Wonder Dog.'' That's what the man who adopted him in 1984 thinks, anyway. And he's spread the word so far to literally thousands of people.
That list of people increased recently when Josh the Wonder Dog visited Carrsville Elementary School. He brought his owner, Richard Lynn Stack, a former lawyer, along for the ride.
``This dog has every problem imaginable,'' Stack told the students. ``But he's a star. Too many people have great talents, but they don't want fame bad enough.''
Josh wanted it, and Stack helped him along the way, beginning with a book he published for Josh, ``Doggonest Christmas,'' soon after the stray was taken in as his partner.
And at his wedding, when he married a first-grade teacher in August 1991, Stack listed Josh as Stack's ``Best Friend,'' on the wedding program and Stack had wedding photos to prove it.
So far, Josh and his friend have visited more than 1,500 schools and libraries in 39 states. They have traveled together over 250,000 miles, telling Josh's story to children.
The dog was a 3-year-old mutt when he wandered into Stack's yard in Maryland in 1984. There was never anything amazing about Josh, Stack said. But when he was shot while Stack was vacationing in 1987, he became somewhat of a celebrity because of a miraculous recovery.
Doctors advised Stack to have the dog put to sleep. He took him for a last walk around the neighborhood. While walking, Josh seemed to perk up from his injuries. He still suffers some problems from the bullet that struck his spine, but he's otherwise healthy and active, Stack said.
``Being shot in real life isn't like on TV in the cartoons,'' Stack said. ``It hurts. And it's never going to go away.''
So far, Stack has published four ``Josh the Wonder Dog'' books: ``The Doggonest Puppy Love,'' about Josh visiting the White House and then-President George Bush's dog, Millie; ``The Doggonest Christmas,'' ``The Doggonest Vacation,'' and ``The Story of Wonder Dog,'' which tells about Josh's injury and recovery.
He's working on four more, including the ``Doggonest Olympics.''
Next, Josh plans to go to Kentucky, where he will run on the track at Churchill Downs and become an honorary Kentucky colonel.
Stack said he is working on having Josh included in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most petted dog ever. So far, he said, Josh has been petted by about two million children. He gets affidavits from every place he visits to present to the Guinness brothers, who publish the record book.
And someday soon, Josh may star in a Disney movie. On Josh's behalf, Stack is currently involved in negotiations. Stack will write the screenplay.
``We figure Josh is about 13,'' Stack said. ``That's 91 in people years. Next year, he'll qualify for Willard Scott and the Today show. He'll be old enough.''
As for Stack, 51, he hasn't practiced law since 1989. Since then, he's been riding on the tail of his dog's success.
by CNB