Sleeping with dogs can be…interesting. Usually they wake comfy and refreshed, while you feel exhausted and sore.
Chris and Mariesa Hughes understand this all too well – they currently share their bed with eight dogs!
The brood of rescue pups consists of three Pit Bull mixes, two Greyhounds, a Wire-Haired Terrier, a Bull Terrier, and a Chihuahua. Compounding the problem further is the fact that Chris Hughes is a 6-foot tall power-lifter.
Needless to say, the family needed more sleeping space than their average sized bed could provide!
So after years of dodging flailing dog limbs and retreating to the sofa for relief, the couple decided to take action. They commissioned New York furniture maker, Mike Ford of Michael’s Custom Interiors to create a massive dream-bed big enough to accommodate the whole pack.
Ford, a dog lover himself, dove into the project wholeheartedly. At one point he had to redesign the headboard and start from scratch because the piece was too big to fit through the door of his shop. Despite a few snafus, Ford completed the project in 6 months and presented it to the Hughes family.
The finished masterpiece measures approximately 14-feet-long by 7-feet-wide, and consists of the couple’s original King sized mattress turned sideways with an additional full sized mattress at the end. Superbed (as Ford calls it) has under-bed storage drawers, a built-in staircase to help the senior dogs climb up safely, and a 6-foot headboard complete with hand-carved paw print insignia.
Ford added the paw print detailing as a tribute to his own dog, Bailey who passed away last July at the age of 16. He knew that Chris and Mariesa would appreciate the custom touch of an elderly dog’s paw because the couple has devoted their lives to rescuing senior dogs.
They operate the 501c3 non-profit group, The Mr. Mo Project. Named for the beloved senior dog who stole their hearts and inspired their mission, The Mr. Mo Project rescues senior dogs from shelters and places them in new, loving homes. They also assist senior dog owners who are having difficulty affording their pet’s veterinary care.
If anyone deserves a good night’s rest, it’s this big-hearted couple; and nowadays that’s exactly what they’re getting. Despite the nocturnal comings and goings of their eight canine bed-mates, Chris and Mariesa report that they awaken rested and recharged thanks to their Superbed.
Follow The Mr. Mo Project on Facebook or check out their website to find out how you can help senior dogs live out their remaining days with love and dignity.
