We like to say she was a family dog, so long as she wasn't doing anything naughty or making a mess with the garbage, or getting all muddied in the neighbor's lake-- when she did those things she quickly became "Angela's puppy." But she always was Angela's 100%.
One of the things Dad promised when we moved out of the development and into the country was that Angela could get a big dog, like she always wanted. Saint Bernard was at the top of the list, and highly recommended by our Aunt Judy, the dog expert. So the search began. And the "real asking" started. Dad told Angela if she could find some for sale she was allowed to call, and get information. Little did he expect that the very next evening he'd be coming home to a 6 week old Saint in the mudroom.
Angela had found an ad for Saint Bernard puppies, and when she called, she found only two were left-- one long-haired, and one short-haired, both females. She told the owner she would talk to her dad and get back to him soon. He told us when we picked Lucy up he never expected her to call back, let alone buy one of the pups.
The house was a hub of excitement all the next morning. Names were being tossed around, but the little ones jumped on Lucy, and Angela lost her chance at getting a more elegant name like "Mercedes."
So, within 24 hours we had a Saint Bernard puppy, and we were all smitten at first site.
Aliza was just about 6 months and 12 pounds when we got Lucy, who was 6 weeks and 10 pounds.
At 3 months she was the size of our Basset hound mutt, Lexie, and a fluffy little fur ball.
The after school activity became watching our new in-home entertainment. Lucy and Lexie would romp around for hours on the back porch. Lexie is affectionately called, "The sausage" and she would roll half way across the back deck, with Lucy pushing her onward. Our stomachs ached for laughing so hard some days.
Once spring came, she was putting some meat on, and trying to learn to be obedient. She never quite understood that obedience isn't obedience unless it's immediate... but we did have fun chasing her down (well, we laughed AFTER we caught her).
When we took family photos late spring 2006, we had to include her. I've cropped this photo down so you can see two things: 1) her tongue hanging down to her "elbows" and 2) Yes, she is sitting in Angela's lap.
She always thought she was a poodle. A teacup poodle, that is.
By her first birthday, October 26th, she had become quite a pretty dog.
Aliza givin' Luc some lovin's
Until Lucy's appetite became a real threat to Lexie's meals, these two made the best dog-friends. And they loved being free to roam until neighbors started complaining of missing cat food, and dogs in their garages.
She was always in her element in the snow. She LOVED it.
When we got our kittens Fitzwilliam and Georgianna (affectionately Fitzy and Georgie) Lucy was keenly observant. She never got along with these two much, but she did like Alice.
Her sweet brown eyes were always so expressive.
:-D
pretty girl, ain't she?
She had an exciting outing to Hudson Spring Park last summer for our church's annual picnic. Tyler loved her.
She had a good life, and we have lots of fun memories because of her. What kid doesn't want to grow up with a Saint Bernard? She was the best.
