Stark is a 7-year-old Labrador Retriever Service Dog that has a unique story.

Stark needs to undergo a 19-week chemotherapy at Veterinary Specialty Hospital in San Diego area which has become a significant challenge for his disabled combat vet partner.


Stark's story:

Stark's donor was a wonderful, delightful, caring lady named Erika Fry (maiden name Stark) that smiled so brightly. Unfortunately, Erika Fry has passed away but she was able to share her family's story and historical documents with Erich through the few years they got to know each other.

Stark is named after a Holocaust victim named Karl Arnold Stark (born in 1891 and died in 1945 by the Nazis). Karl's wife and his daughter Erika Sara Stark escaped Austria from the Nazis on the Holland-America Line Ship called the "Veendam" which sailed from Rotterdam, Netherlands on the morning of Friday December 8th, 1939. They landed in Hoboken, New Jersey on Christmas Day. Erika told Erich that she woke up that morning and went up onto the main deck of the ship to see the Statue of Liberty and all of New York's tall buildings as they traveled into America's port of call. She and her mom survived and carried on, without their family. Fortunately, Erika's brother, Egor Stark, was rescued by the U.S. Army in late 1944.

In the 2010's, Erika Fry attended her Lady Lions club in the San Diego area and met Carol Davis from Pawsitive Teams when she presented to the club. Erika told Erich that, in August 2012, she made up her mind to become a donor and support Pawsitive Teams after seeing the organization's great work with disabled children and adults with mobility issues. Erika stated that she wanted to, "do this as a memorial for my dad" and to honor the U.S. military for rescuing her brother from the fate of the concentration camps. From there on, Stark became the name for this amazing dog.

Stark was born on July 10, 2012. Carol Davis received Stark as a puppy at 10 weeks old to begin training him his special skills. Erika Fry was an amazing woman who loved to feed Stark treats and shower him with attention. Later, Stark would get excited every time he and Erich visited her. Erich was honored that he got to meet the donor and namesake of his service dog. In Erika Fry's memory, there is a new service dog named Erika, currently in training with Pawsitive Teams. What an important heritage Stark has in his majestic name.

Stark was originally slated for a different recipient but potential recipients do not choose the service dog, the service dog and the organization chooses them. In the end, Stark (and Pawsitive Teams) chose Erich as his partner. Erich was the first veteran PTSD/TBI/Physically injured recipient for a service dog through Pawsitive Teams. Erich will tell you he as been blessed that Stark is in his life. Stark has been his partner and service dog for the past four plus years; they are inseparable.

Stark also has helped so many others, including wounded warriors at Naval Medical Center San Diego, clients in retirement living, other disabled people, and those deciding on the difference between service dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support dogs. Stark has made several wounded warriors smile for the first time since their injury at the hospital.

Prayers for this pup and his human!

The first dog my service organization placed passed away last year from cancer. The recipient told us that he was doing well enough that he did not need a new one. After a couple of weeks, he called and told us he changed his mind and we placed a new dog with him.

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Originally posted by ChicagoSigMan:
Prayers for this pup and his human!

Thanks. I know they both appreciate it and needed it!