Pandemic Puppy

Introducing our new little bundle of love, Ava the shih tzu!

About a month after the stay-at-home order went into effect, there was some chatter around our house about getting another dog. I mostly just listened to the chatter. I figured that the girls were bored and that searching online for a new puppy would be a fun distraction for them.

It turned out to be more than just a distraction. Steven and I eventually jumped on the bandwagon, too.

Shelters weren?t open due to Covid-19, so that limited our options. We had such a terrific experience when we got our yorkichon, Winnie. The lady we bought her from has a website where she posts photos of puppies that she has for sale. I started checking it multiple times a day to see what she had available.

Apparently, we weren?t the only people in search of a new furry friend. Within moments of a puppy being posted on the website, someone would click the ?buy now? button and place a deposit on it.

The girls had their eyes on bulldogs and pugs, but I was not on board with getting an outside dog or a dog that sheds. We kept checking back each day.

One evening, a new photo popped up. It was a shih tzu puppy. I showed the picture to Steven and the girls, and then I called the lady to ask a few questions. Moments later, Steven clicked the ?buy now? button, and we made plans to go pick up our new baby the next day.

Because of social distancing, we didn?t get to spend time with the puppy before bringing her home. She was handed to us through the window of the truck, along with her papers and a little bag of food.

Hope and Bryn took turns holding her on the way home.

Right from the start, Ava was the perfect puppy. She slept through the night and went potty outside like a pro.

Ava is now 3 1/2 months old. She weighs close to six pounds and is the most adorable little ball of fur.

Toby and Winnie had a hard time adjusting to a new baby in the house. Winnie eventually became friends with Ava and will play with her; our older shih tzu Toby wants nothing to do with her.

We will always think of Ava as our ?pandemic puppy.? In a time of uncertainty, she has added joy, love, and laughter to our home.