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Sarge the St. Bernard living large in new house |
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Local Content -
Local News
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Written by Mike Ishman
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Tuesday, 29 December 2009 |
Sarge, a St. Bernard owned by Paula and Jim Swartz of Punxsutawney, lays in front of his newly built doghouse. The house, which weighs more than 800 pounds, is insulated and includes a heater, as well as a heated water bowl to keep Sarge comfortable in the backyard. (Photo by Mike Ishman/The Punxsutawney Spirit)
PUNXSUTAWNEY — Meet Sarge. He is 11 years old and weighs 175 pounds.
When he recently needed a new house, it needed to be top of the line: Insulated, heated and built with the finest materials. In addition, he would need a heated water bowl.
Yes, a heated water bowl.
Sarge is a St. Bernard owned by Paula and Jim Swartz of Punxsutawney. He has been with the family since he was a puppy, first living with their daughter and then son before Paula brought him into the home.
When Sarge’s old dog house fell into disrepair, Paula knew something must be done. But with Jim recovering from recent surgery, he was not able to construct a new house.
“I needed a dog house built,” Paula recalled. “I was going to fix the old one, and then Randy [Reitz] said he would build me one.”
What she didn’t expect was what Reitz — Jim’s cousin with Reitz Construction — built.
“I had no idea it was going to be like it is,” she said. “I just thought it would be plywood with a roof. When I saw that, I about died. It looks like a house, not a doghouse.”
Reitz said that the plans for the house “came right out of my head.”
After hearing how the size the Swartzes wanted the house to be (four-by-four feet), he decided to increase it and make it four-by-five feet so as not to waste any materials. He also added a porch with a covered roof.
The construction, which took about 10 hours, included making an insulated double floor and using treated lumber on the bottom to prevent skidding.
“I built it like a house,” Reitz said.
The house, which arrived a week ago, is a sight to behold. Aside from the wooden porch, the rest of the outside of the house is covered in soffit and fascia. Inside, the house is double insulated and includes hay and a heater, not that Sarge needs one.
“The thermometer said it’ll keep 50 degrees in there with just his body heat,” Jim said.
“It’s really insulated in there,” Paula added.
Not that Sarge minds the cold all that much. Jim said that when it rains, Sarge enjoys laying on his back and let it rain on him.
He is not a big fan of being indoors however. Paula said that the last time he was indoors — for Christmas photos — following the shoot, “He got right up, walked around and smelled and then went back to the door. He doesn’t like to be overheated.”
“In the summer, we’ll probably have to get the house an air-conditioner,” Jim joked.
To round out the special features, the outside of the house features a heated water bowl, to make sure Sarge’s water does not freeze outside of the Swartz home.
Jim said he believes the house weighs more than 800 pounds, which made transporting it a bit of an issue. In order to move it, it had to be attached to the back of a truck. Two-by-fours were then used to move it into place.
“You can’t get any better with the construction. Everything is within a 16th of an inch,” Reitz said, adding that he had never built a doghouse before, but is happy with the results.
The couple says Sarge is “spoiled,” receiving treats when Paula and Jim go to town.
But the special attention is deserved. Sarge, with his hips getting bad, will turn 12 in May. And according to Paula, that’s pretty old for a St. Bernard.
“I talked to someone in Altoona yesterday who had St. Bernards,” she said. “He said the ones they had never lived past seven years. He said if you have one that’s 11, you have a good dog.
“Hopefully, he will last another few years,” Paula said. “He’s been fortunate to live to be this old. He’s a good dog. “
The couple extends their thanks to Reitz, as well as Butch Heckler, for providing the garage to build the house.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 30 December 2009 )
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