About a month after Tasha's brother Boris passed away we got a call from a couple of friends asking if we had seen the local Humane Society's pet of the week "Vader" in the paper. Well coincidentally we had seen his picture up on Pet Finder, but mind you we were not seriously looking for another dog - our interest was mildly casual. By the time the third reference to this "Vader" dog came to us we decided that it was at least worth a look. Well what we found was a very stocky, personable and funny Am Staff mix that had been in the shelter for over 5 months. He had the most intense gold eyes I had ever seen. They thought he was about 3 years old and he was brought in as a stray. The shelter staff went on to tell us that he was really good with children and other animals but we wanted to bring Tasha back to meet him and get her vote.
Well the next day after their meeting he came home to live with us. There was some adjustment period we had to get through as he figured out his place in the pack and our home. One of the adjustments was a name change. We did not feel that a dark and scary name like Vader was a match to his personality so he became Sparky which is a much better fit. He is the most gentle, obedient and eager to please pup ever. He loves to sit in my lap, your lap, well any body's lap. He just doesn't understand why at 70 pounds that is not always a welcomed option.
As is typical with most Staffies he loves to make us laugh. He is always the clown.
He also loves to go in the Jeep with us or go camping. He has a special harness that he wears in the Jeep so that he can be buckled in and not fall out. When we go camping he makes an excellent space heater and likes to sleep right between us to keep us warm. 
Sparky will always be the dog that got us involved with the Verde Valley Humane Society. After his adoption Nick became their webmaster and later a board member. We are now very involved in the operations of the shelter and Sparky is always a welcomed visitor to his old sanctuary. 
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