Couple creates a condo for canines

Bill and Carolyn Beckham with Itsy Bitsy Mitzi, their chihuahua and the only dog of the five that lives inside their house.

By Anne- Kathryn Bultman

anne@thecolumbiastar.com

Most of the rooms in the Beckham's house were empty because the children had grown up and moved away. The house just felt too big so Bill and Carolyn Beckham decided to downsize. However, there were a few things to consider before moving into a new house.

"We are very close to our dogs. They are like children," Carolyn Beckham said. "We knew we would need a special place for them."

Beckham knew Tucker, her pomeranian; Trixie, Crissy, and Hobo, her shelties; and Itsy Bitsy Mitzi, her chihuahua; needed a place to eat and sleep just as she and her husband did, but the new house didn't have enough room. That's when she designed a two- story condominium for the four pedigrees. When the design was complete, Beckham enlisted her friend, Wyman Toole, to bring the design to life.

Trixie, Tucker, Hobo, and Crissy live in their canine condo that is in the backyard of Bill and Carolyn Beckham's home.

The condo is in the couple's backyard, and while it doesn't connect to the main house, it is right beside it. The paint is the same color as the Beckham's house and has hanging leather doors that lead to each dog's room. There is carpet throughout the condo, which Beckham changes and cleans.

"I'm constantly decorating it," Beckham said. "I put flowers in the little window boxes in the spring, and put up Christmas decorations as well."

The dogs have been living in the condo for six months, and each knows which room is its. In fact, when the condo was first built, Tucker picked out his room.

Four dogs sleep in the condo at night, which is heated by a 40- watt bulb; but Itsy Bitsy Mitzi stays inside because she is so small. A switch is located inside the house that allows Beckham to adjust the temperature as needed.

Beckham had the condo built for the dogs' benefit, and not to make a profit from selling them. However, if the opportunity came up, she would be more than happy to help out fellow pet owners.

"If I had requests to make them, I would. I love to encourage people to do better by their pets," Beckham said.