A couple was uncomfortable sleeping in their bed with their rescue pups – so they had a gigantic mattress constructed.
When Chris and Mariesa Hughes spent another sleepless night trying to share their bed with their seven rescue dogs, they finally decided to make some changes.
They decided to do something not many other couples have thought to do – instead of banning the dogs from the bed, or putting more dog beds down on the floor, the Upstate New York couple actually decided to build an enormous bed which was big enough to sleep everybody.
Chris Hughes said that because all of the dogs wanted to share the bed with their humans, it often got so crowded that he and Mareisa wound up getting pushed off of the bed or even slept on the couch. And this is what prompted them to build the “megabed.”
The bed – nearly 14 feet long and 7 feet wide – is made up of one king-size mattress and one full-size mattress turned sideways.
To give you an idea of how immense this bed is, consider the fact that a normal king-size mattress is only 6.6 feet long and about 6 feet wide.
The bed took 6 months to construct. It has built-in stairs for the dogs who can’t jump, along with spacious drawers where the couple stores everyone’s bedding and blankets. It’s also adorned with hand-carved paw prints, modeled from the dog of the man who built the bed, Mike Ford. He said that he wanted to use his senior dog’s paw prints to decorate the bed, because the Hughes have such a heart for senior animals.
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The couple has a huge heart for dogs in general. Chris and Mariesa Hughes founded The Mr. Mo Project. This non-profit organization pays for senior dogs to get out of shelters where they are at risk for euthanasia, and gives them foster homes for the rest of their days. The Mr. Mo Project covers the senior dogs’ medical expenses, and all the care they will need in their fospice homes.
The Hughes’ great love for pets combined with Chris’ size alone (he’s over 6 feet tall) meant there was no answer for their sleeping space issues other than creating a bed big enough for everyone to be comfortable.
When the couple first set out to build the bed, they have seven dogs. In the beginning stages of the bed’s construction, they added another to the mix: a senior pit bull named Gremlin.
All the dogs have their favorite sleeping positions. Some go between the humans’ legs, others hog the pillows, and another sleeps in Mariesa’s arms.
“He uses his paws as we use our hands and he pulls the covers down or grabs my head and turns it so he can kiss me,” she said. Meatball, a bull terrier, snuggles up against Chris while snoozing.
The Hughes’ have not only an enormous bed, but enormous hearts. Many people don’t let their dogs even sleep in their beds. The fact that this couple spent a lot of time and money building an impossibly large bed to make sure their rescue dogs are completely comfortable says a lot about their ability to empathize and accommodate the needs of their pups.
This wonderful couple thought outside of the box to permanently improve their difficult living situation, instead of doing anything to negatively impact the happiness of their canine companions.
Now that there is room for everyone, the Hughes say they wake up these days feeling very well-rested and refreshed, unlike before. And with all the wonderful life-saving work they do, that rest is well deserved.
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