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year and a half ago, riverside life was quiet and peaceful at Ross and Donna Pease’s home in Arapahoe. Leo, the chocolate lab, and veteran of Oriental parades, could chill for days at a time in his backyard along the Neuse.

A scene from early 2008 – at right is the then tiny puppy Stella. Leo (at left) peacefully tolerates the new arrival.

Then Stella arrived on Valentine’s Day 2008. It was only going to be for three weeks.

Someone had “dropped her off” at the Harley Davidson store in Jacksonville. Donna’s sister was visiting on business and decided that the 6 pound puppy needed a home. She just didn’t have one lined up, so brought the wee pup to Donna and Ross’s while she searched for a home for her. It was a short search.

“Ross and I were only going to keep her for 3 weeks.” Donna says. “It only took 3 days before Ross fell in love with her and said, ‘She is not going anywhere. She is home.’”

This is a dog that’s got it good. Here Stella naps with Ross… sharing a pillow.

Stella and Donna and Ross Pease. The golf cart is a big part of her daily activities.

A few names were tried. Harley. Valentine. They didn’t stick. Donna had a suggestion. “I had always loved the name Stella and had said that if I ever had anything again — (fish, bird, toad goat chicken) — that was a female, her name would be Stella.”

Stella, in one of her favorite spots on earth, the waters of the Neuse River.

The name fit. Just 6 pounds when the Peases rescued her, she was a bundle of energy from the start. The name means “star” and a year and a half later — at about 50 pounds — Stella shows little sign of burning out.

Splashing in the Neuse

On the grace of sheer perpetual energy alone, Stella is honored as the Pet of the Month.

She didn’t come with papers but her markings suggest some Australian shepherd or cattle dog in Stella. Lacking cattle to herd, she’s transferred that energy to herding (and romping with) the dogs from her neighborhood off of Hardison Lee Farm Road. In that, one particular bloodline comes through: Stella is definitely an Alpha Female.

“She hangs with the big boys,” says Donna. “Anything they can do, she will do bigger.”

Stella gets the ball before Ranger or Sam do.

From the start, Donna says, Stella’s “‘best-est buddy’ in the whole wide world” was Ranger, a neigbhor’s dog who is 80 pounds of pit bull mix.

“He was waiting for her to be born. I truly believe they are soul mates.” Donna says, adding that they do make “an odd couple.” When she was half a year old, Stella was the size of Ranger’s stuffed toys. But nowhere near as placid.

Perhaps she wore Ranger out, but in more recent weeks, Stella has been giving another big dog in the neighborhood — Sam, a yellow lab — a run for the money as well. Run is the operative word here. A visit to Stella’s ‘hood finds her and the boys on a constant romp.

Stella running out of the water with Sam.

They are her court and she is the queen. And an intriguing one at that.

Stella has that speckled, potentially Aussie, coat. She also looks out on the world through mixed-colored eyes. Her left eye is brown. Her right eye is a mix of colors. What first appears to be a blue eye, reveals itself on closer inspection to be blue below and brown above.

It can be hard to see this as Stella is in constant motion.

Ross and Donna say that she does eventually wind down at the end of the day. Ross, who is dockmaster at Oriental Harbor Marina and is as calm as Donna’s dog is rambunctious, takes Stella out for a golf cart ride after dinner. She hops on the front seat of the golf cart, with the other dogs piling where they can in the back. Donna says it looks like the Beverly Hillbillies, though it’s possible Stella thinks it’s a parade float and she, the beauty queen with her court.

It’s tough to stare down Stella.

Stella in December 2008. Her first Christmas, and first encounter with Christmas trees.

Stella – with Ross and Donna Pease – in a rare moment of sitting still.

Congratulations Stella – Miss May 2009.

Stella’s Bio

Celebrity Pet Most Resembles: Rita Hayworth – Smart, sassy and beautiful
Likes: Her buddies in Arapahoe. Daily walks with neighbor Lenice Kilborn. Getting the ball — or pinecone — or any tossed object — before Sam or Ranger do.
Dislikes: A “real” bath.
Fetishes Rippin’ the stuffins out of her pet frog toy.
Favorite Foods: (Don’t tell Dr. Sherry) It’s jelly beans and cheddar cheese.
Favorite Pedicure: Chews her own nails.
Hang-outs: Leather recliner at the Kilborn’s house
Favorite Beaches: Magnolia Lane Beach.
Hobbies: Sitting on top of Ranger’s and Sam’s head with one leg tucked under her.

Know a pet that is a standout? Send in some details and a photo to info@towndock.net. Tell why that pet deserves the coveted TownDock.net Pet of the Month Prize Package --- accolades, a pat on the head (snakes excluded) and a box of Milk Bones ( or snack suitable for the species). We regret that we cannot offer a college scholarship to Pet Of The Month winners. Animals caught near the HarborCam attempting to suck up to the judges will be disqualified.