A story about Blessit the dog.

It was 1973.  I had rented a house in Hanover.  My neighbor had a big, mean Cujo of a Saint Bernard that barked and growled at everyone, chasing the paperboy, the mailman and every car or truck that went by the house.

Most of all this dog got great pleasure out of harassing me every time I tried to go outside.  While in the yard, hanging my laundry out on the clothesline, the dog would corner me, growling, drool dripping from his big toothy mouth as I would cower slowly back into the house.

When I complained to the neighbor about this he would just laugh and rub the dog's belly as he rolled on his back saying, "This big baby wouldn't hurt anyone!"  I did not get along with this neighbor.

Meanwhile, we rented out a room to a young man named Eddie.  Eddie's mother had become ill and couldn't take care of their old family dog, "Blessit", so she came to live with us.

Blessit was a little mutt of a dog and she made herself at home right away. 

One day I said to Eddie, "Don't let that dog out, I think she's in heat."  Eddie said, "That's impossible, that dog is too old to be in heat." and outside went Blessit.

A month or so later I said to Eddie, "That dog is pregnant!"  Eddie said, "That's impossible, that dog is too old to be pregnant."

It wasn't long before poor little Blessit was waddling around the house looking like a beach ball ready to explode.

Meanwhile, the mean "Cujo" Saint Bernard dog next door was hit and killed while chasing a car.   The neighbor was heartbroken and although I felt bad for him, I was relieved that the dog wouldn't be harassing me anymore.

One evening, it was cold and snowing and I said to Eddie, "Don't let Blessit outside, she's about to deliver those puppies."  Eddie said, "No she's not." and out she went.

Around 2:00 AM, when she hadn't come back in, we were outside in a snow storm with flashlights looking for her.  We found her under an old chicken coop way out back and she had already delivered 3 puppies, all 3 frozen, and was in the process of delivering another.

We dragged her on a blanket back into the house, to a warm corner of the basement.  We put her on an old mattress and stayed with her throughout the night as she delivered 9 more puppies.  They were a variety of colors and sizes.  One of the puppies that she delivered was very large, she had a hard time with that one, and when he finally came out he looked just like a pure bred Saint Bernard!

With all those puppies to take care of you would think that would keep Blessit busy, but she kept going out back looking for the other 3 pups that were too cold to survive.

When the pups were 8 weeks old we found homes for them all.  I walked over to the neighbors house with the last one, the Saint Bernard looking pup, and handed him over to  my neighbor saying, "I think this one belongs to you!" 

His eyes opened wide and filled with tears as he took this puppy in his arms.  He laughed and thanked me and I guess we found peace with one another after so many fights over "Cujo".

And Blessit - well she was neutered so she never had to go through that again!