National Pet Week: Bear

Believe it or not, my blog has been around for over five years now. Y'all know all about Captain and the Grumpy Princess, and how they came to be with us, as well as all about the Pudgy Princess, but I do believe I have never told you about the first time I met Bear. I'd love to tell you about him in honor of it being National Pet Week.

I know I have mentioned I have had Pembroke Welsh Corgis for many years. I was Corgi obsessed as a little girl - I read everything I could get my hands on, and when a breeder my mother had befriended had a rescue Corgi that was the perfect fit for us - that was my 16th birthday present. I was in heaven! But time passed, and as we all know, our furry friends end up at the Rainbow Bridge far too soon. At this point, I was out on my own, and though it was me and my Old Man Cat, I wanted the pitter patter of little Corgi feet back into my life. I contacted the breeder, who told me as long as I continued to live in a place with a safe yard, she'd put me on the list for her next litter. I let her know I wanted a boy, as I didn't want to be comparing this next pup with my first Corgi so much.

It was a LONG wait - almost two years! I had almost given up hope, when the phone call came that a litter was on the way. I got my apartment in order, and impatiently waited. The big phone call came the morning after that 5th overtime game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers back in 2000 - I'll never forget it, because we were in a bar that night watching the game until they threw us out when it was too late. LOL I was so excited! (It made up for watching the Flyers win, LOL)

As though it was fate, Bear was the only little boy in a litter of six. He was two days old the first time I got to see and hold him. It was more than just love at first sight, I can't even begin to explain it to guys, but my fellow Mamas will know that feeling well. He was so tiny, he could fit into the palm of my hand, and his eyes weren't even open yet. I sat with that litter for several hours, holding Bear on and off. I had brought him a tiny little squeaky Cookie Monster toy, and a pretty blue and white gingham blanket. (I had slept with the blanket for a few nights, as per the request of the breeder, so it would smell like me and he'd be familiar my scent after I left that day). It's normal for newborn pups to whimper a little, but I was paranoid something was wrong! lol

I had handled many young Corgi pups over the years, and although it had been several years since the last one, I remember telling the breeder that Bear's fuzz felt different. She scoffed at me, and said I was losing my mind. (See? Always known as psychotic! lol) But Mama knows all - I was right! Bear turned out to be the only fluffy this breeder ever had! LOL

I was sad to leave that day, but I made the two hour trip to visit him and his sisters on a regular basis until the day he came home with me. Bear passed away young in 2006 from being very sick most of his life, and although I miss him terribly, I know the Pudgy Princess wouldn't have come into our lives - and she needed us terribly too.

This post written in partnership with Dog Fence DIY and their team of dog containment system specialists. The DIY team seeks to engage dog owners and promote positive and safe dog safety practices.