The benefits of traveling with your pet

Super Yorkie Stanley made a new friend in South Carolina.

By Michael Ertel

July 8^th, 2025

Always by Michelle's side

In February, 2016 there was a three pound yorkie in the woods near our old home.

Michelle took one look at the scrawny-haired, long-nailed, malnourished little guy and immediately fell in love.

We grabbed him up and took him to our local vet, who diagnosed him as in fine shape otherwise.

Michelle made it her mission to nurse the little fella we named Stanley back to a healthy weight. Along the way, she imbued in him a healthy zest for life.

The lethargy which dominated his early days with us has been replaced by an energy unmatched by his peers.

That chilly February day in 2016 our vet said our new friend was between two and five years old. as you read this story in the summer of 2025, Shelly stridently contends Stanley remains a healthy eight years old.

There is a great chance if you see Michelle, you'll see Stanley, loyally by her side.

“There is a great chance if you see Michelle, you’ll see Stanley, loyally by her side. ”

Stanley's New Job

Nowadays, it's almost as if the roles have changed, and Stanley is keeping Shelly young and looking towards each new day with wonder and hope.

Whether they're off on a bike ride, sleeping on the road in the No Cure Caravan, or simply sitting next to each other while Mike writes this story, Shelly and Stanley are an inseparable team.

Michelle often says Stanley has kept her happy through the past several years of loss in her life.

She lost both her parents to their illnesses.

She lost her ability to work, because of her illness,

She's even lost some "friends," who would rather not hang out with someone who can't drink wine with them anymore.

Stanley, however, has always been loyal.

And that's why Stanley is always with us in the No Cure Caravan.

Stanley made a friend in South Carolina

And yet, as close as these two are, Stanley still likes meeting other pups like himself.

Thus we were excited to spend the evening parked at the Gorget Distillery in Lugoff, South Carolina.

While we're no longer drinking, we did hop out of the van to meet not only the proprietor, Nikki, but a couple of loyal customers celebrating their anniversary.

Yet, the highlight of the visit was Stanley meeting a little dachshund pal named Artie, Gorget's "Director of Operations."

Stanley explained to Artie that he's the No Cure Caravan's "Director of Puplicity," and they clearly were swapping stories of the trials and tribulations of being small pups in the dog-eat-dog world of today's business environment.

Being a true operations fella, Artie shied away from a photo, since he had work to do in the back. Their meeting was short, but they both had a great time!