Silver Bay and a Dog Named Boots, Part 1

This is my sister Karen's dog, a Pomeranian named Boots.  He's the second dog in my life, the first dog was a working Shepherd mix that herded cows and lived in our barn in Harris, Minnesota.

I don't think people bought beds for dogs then.  We couldn't just go to a Walmart or Target and buy one, spending time deciding the size, color, softness, etc. Boots napped and slept in a cardboard box.  When he was bad, someone would say, "go to your box" and he obeyed.  He weighed no more than fifteen pounds.  The box was maybe 14"X 24".  The important detail was the depth, the cardboard sides were no more than 7 inches high.  He would jump into the box on command or on his own.  But when he wanted to get out?  Someone would have to lift him out. 

He's not much to look at in this photo - it's cropped from another photo and the only one I could find of Boots. But in the spring or summer of 1958 or 1958, the Silver Bay Shopping Center hosted a "Best in Show" animal competition. Entering Boots in this contest was Daddy's idea... (to be continued)