Sugar, 11, surveys Downtown Cedar Falls from behind the street-facing window of The Main Street Exchange on a recent Saturday. (Anelia K. Dimitrova photo)

By Anelia K. Dimitrova

Her name is Sugar and she has a special spot in the window of a popular consignment store in downtown Cedar Falls.

Sugar’s job at The Main Street Exchange is to sweeten the day for the humans who happen to enter the store or just walk by the window headed elsewhere.

Most people stop for a moment if they happen to see the dog, as its very sight brings out an accordion smile on their faces.

Sugar, 11, surveys Downtown Cedar Falls from behind the street-facing window of The Main Street Exchange on a recent Saturday. (Anelia K. Dimitrova photo)

Sugar, who was adopted as a pup from a bad neighborhood in a big city, found her home here and she has been reporting for wagging duty for years, alongside her human, Tracy West.

Now 11 years old, most of the day, Sugar is observing the world from her perch in the window, where she often naps in her soft bed.

From time to time, the good-natured pup gets up to stretch her legs and walk around the store, where she is showered with love.

She gives it back unconditionally.

Sugar’s perch at The Main Street Exchange allows her to see everything happening inside and outside the store. (Anelia K. Dimitrova photo)

Walkers by stop to say hello through the window and those inside the store hope she will take one of her brief walks while they are browsing, so they can get their dose of Sugar for the moment.

She shares her love with whoever happens to be in the store and gets plenty of love in return. She sweetens the day for everyone who comes in contact with her gentle eyes or nose.

Then she returns to her spot with grace, adjusts herself on her bed and gets ready to keep a watch on the street, sharing her love with the world in downtown Cedar Falls.