Pandemic Pet Tales

Bringing home a new pet during the pandemic was a nationwide trend, even for the CBM Bay Weekly team. Below, find tales of a Bay Weekly contributor and our own executive VP who found their families growing a little bit last year.

My Pandemic Pony

By Jillian Amodio

We lost a lot during the pandemic. But amidst all that was lost, much was gained. One of the most valuable things my family gained was time. With many of our regular activities canceled, we had more time to spend outdoors. I grew up with horses and while I had not had my own for years, we enjoyed the company of my sister’s horse. As some of the restrictions began to lift, we were able to resume riding lessons at a local barn. It was there I first laid eyes on the most beautiful pony I had ever seen.

She had the shiniest black coat, one perfectly sky-blue eye, the other a deep soulful brown. She was spunky, spirited, and a bit misunderstood. She had acquired a reputation as being a handful, especially for young riders. Being an adult of small stature with fairly adequate equestrian experience, I asked if I could help school her into a more tolerable lesson pony.

The first time I rode sweet and spunky Jazzy, I knew this pony was something special. I began riding her weekly. As the weeks turned into months, she became my pandemic passion project. I eventually inquired about purchasing her. Thankfully they said yes!

This pony has brought us more joy than we ever could have imagined. She helped us realize the power of love and patience. She gave us something to focus on and cling to during a time of isolation.

The most challenging thing that comes with owning a pony is the amount of time and effort it takes to truly care for such a beautiful animal to the degree they deserve, but we wouldn’t change it for the world. She has brought endless love into our lives and made a difficult year all the more joyous.

Jazzy earned the show name Just A Little Love, because ultimately all it took to make her shine was just a little love.

A Foster Failure, Again

By Tara Davis

We started fostering puppies three years ago because our two daughters were asking for a puppy. We learned about fostering through a friend’s social media post. What better way to get a “puppy fix” than to have a temporary experience and then send them off to their “fur-ever” home?

We have foster failed now twice; the second time was one of our pandemic pups. We fostered three sets of puppies during the summer of 2020. Since so many summer camps were not happening, it was a great way to keep our girls engaged over summer break.

We fostered these last two puppies on a whim—totally due to the extreme cuteness of their photos. I signed us up as soon as I saw them.

They were tiny! Like tea cup tiny, and just so darn cute. They are a chihuahua/ miniature Pinscher/terrier mix. Their names were Kip and Kiwi. We knew their story—which is rare when fostering. Typically, you get what you get, and lots of fosters come in after being neglected and abandoned, but we knew these two were born in a foster home and raised by that family till they were six weeks old, which was old enough for them to leave their mama.

After a week with them I think we all knew we wanted to keep them, but none of us wanted to say it out loud—our foster rule was never to get too attached, but we were totally smitten.

One thing we liked was how much they loved our other dog—another foster fail—a 40-pound, 4-year-old border collie mutt named Tilly. Our Milo (as he is called now) would curl up on top of her and she would just snuggle up with him. He’s like her emotional support animal!

My Mom kept the female pup Kiwi, who is now Roo. We get the sibling pups together regularly to play together.

Small dogs are fun, and my girls love that we have a “portable pup” as they call him, a 40-pounder is not portable, as much as she tries to be.

Milo and Roo turned one on June 4 and their adopt-aversary is coming up on September 4.