Chris and Mariesa Hughes are a compassionate couple with a shared passion: an unwavering love for dogs.
Their lives have been dedicated to providing forever homes to dogs in need, often welcoming these animals into their own home.
Their love for dogs is so profound that it led them to create a unique living arrangement that accommodates their eight rescue dogs.
When Chris and Mariesa met, they each had their own pack of dogs.
Mariesa had two, while Chris had six, some of whom he had fostered through his rescue organization, ‘Rowdy to the Rescue.’
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He was fostering Moses at the time then ended up keeping him.
Sam had a lot of fear and anxiety and was never adopted out and Meatball has been returned three times.
So then, he had the 6 [dogs],” Mariesa explained to ABC News.
When they decided to blend their families, they were relieved to find that all the dogs got along well.
Unfortunately, Moses, one of Chris’s dogs, passed away from cancer two years into their relationship.
To honor Moses’s memory, the couple started an animal rescue organization called The Mr. Mo Project, which focuses on helping old and sick dogs find forever homes.
The couple’s love for their dogs knows no bounds.
When they decided to move in together, they wanted to ensure that all their dogs could sleep with them.
So, they came up with an idea to build a special, one-of-a-kind bed that could accommodate all their dogs: Mabel, Gremlin, Meatball, Tejas, Money, The Stig, Sam, and Quinn.
To bring their idea to life, they reached out to a local craftsman named Mike Ford.
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Touched by their story and being a dog lover himself, Ford agreed to build the bed.
“I’m a dog lover myself, especially senior dogs,” Ford said.
“They came up with the idea for the king-sized bed and asked me to come up with the concept to make it all work.”
Ford constructed the bed out of solid cherry wood, sturdy enough to bear the weight of all the dogs.
He also added a staircase for the smaller dogs who might struggle to climb onto the bed.
Additionally, he incorporated three drawers into the side of the bed for storage.
As a personal touch, he carved a pawprint into the bed in honor of his late dog.
The bed was a hit with both Chris and Mariesa, and their dogs loved it too.
“I wake up and I think, ‘This is incredible. I’m like a contortionist with Stig spooning me and Gremlin between my legs and Sam sharing my pillow,’”
Mariesa said. “They love it. They love to just be near us. So however we can make that happen, they’re happy.”
Besides enjoying their unique bed, the couple and their dogs love spending time together.
They often visit local parks and enjoy cuddling on the couch.
They also frequently foster dogs, and their own dogs are always welcoming to the new additions.
Over the years, the couple has welcomed new dogs into their family and sadly said goodbye to some of their senior dogs.
But one thing remains constant: their love for each and every dog in their care.
Chris and Mariesa’s story is a testament to the deep bond that can form between humans and dogs, and the lengths some people will go to ensure their pets are comfortable and loved.
