Shiso the Great.
Steph, author, and her boyfriend, Marcus, admire Shiso, a BMHS alumni, as he visits the shelter last month.
It was just this time last year the reality of COVID was really starting to set in. Seattle had been shut down for almost a month, and we were all starting to realize this thing wasn’t going away anytime soon. Our routines changed, our relationships changed, our activities and work patterns changed. It was right about this time that my boyfriend, Marcus, and I realized how much we desperately wanted a dog. Living in a one-bedroom apartment in downtown Seattle wasn’t super conducive to having a pup, so first, we attempted to just foster a small to medium-sized dog. We got on every list we could and waited weeks - not one inquiry. There were no dogs to foster because they were all being adopted because, like us, everyone was now stuck at home (which was wonderful, just not so wonderful for us).
Months passed and still nothing. At this point we were trying to adopt or foster; as time went on the more we wanted a pup. I didn’t want to go to a breeder, but eventually, I broke down because I wanted a dog so badly and I had recently fallen in love with corgis. I wanted a corgi, and so, after weeks of looking and multiple dead ends, we found a breeder in Bellingham that we liked. We were set to (finally!) get our pup in the next of two litters, which wouldn't be until November (at this point it’s early August - but at least we were on our way)!
Shiso and Marcus visit Montana.
In the time we were waiting for our pup to be born, we moved from Seattle to Walla Walla and Marcus was still checking every humane shelter within a couple of hundreds of miles of us for pups daily (just in case). One day in September, he looked up from his computer and said, I can’t stop looking at this dog. I took a look: “Call Blue Mountain,” I said immediately. He did and we were set to look at Shiso (then called Blue) two days later.
I swear as soon as they brought Blue out, I knew he was ours. He had kennel cough at the time and was on antibiotics making him a little groggy, but he was our pup and we knew it. We left with him and with the biggest smiles ever on our faces. Finally, after over 6 months, we had our pup!
After over 6 months with this little angel, I truly do not know how we made it without him. Shiso keeps us active and keeps my anxiety in check. Taking him to the dog park or to walk around Bennington Lake is always the best part of my day. This dog loves to run and be outside and I love it because it keeps us outside more. In the short time we’ve had him, he’s been to Seattle numerous times, Montana, dozens of wineries and so many more adventures. Thank you so much Blue Mountain, for helping us find our pup; our family was incomplete without him! If you want to see more of Shiso, check out the hashtag #ShisoTheGreat on Instagram, and follow me at @StephForrer. I love sharing what we’re doing!
Read more of Shiso’s adventures on Steph’s blog at: Home | Eat, Drink, Travel, Y'all!
See Shiso visit all over the PNW on Instagram at: Eat Drink Travel Y'all! (@stephforrer)