You may be questioning the meaning behind this blog name. After all, it doesn’t appear to be pet-related.
But let me explain. Bernie is my adorable, furry best friend. He’s six years old, and I named him after my grandfather. My grandfather passed away when I was just five years old, and I’ve always wished I’d been able to spend more time with him. When my parents got Bernie for me after I had gone through a rough time, I knew it was the perfect name.
And there’s never a day I’ve regretted that name choice. Not only does it remind me of my pop-pop, but the uniqueness of the name fits Bernie well. He’s stubborn and funny-looking. He snores like a man. He’s a mama’s boy. Oh, and did I mention he’s stubborn? There will be videos to prove it. Anyway, my mom came up with the name Weekdays at Bernie’s after the similarly-titled comedy “Weekend at Bernie’s.” If you haven’t seen it, check it out!
I’ve always had a connection to animals. My family had a dairy farm growing up, and from milking the cows, to feeding the calves, or playing with the many litters of kittens, there was always an animal in sight. I wasn’t, and I’m still not, fond of my dad’s love of hunting. (If you’re an outdoorsy person, check out Tight Lines, another ABC2 blog!)
In fact, he once took me with him when I was about 10 years old. I thought I could convince myself to be okay with it. But when we were back in that field, and I saw that deer, I couldn’t let it happen. I screamed, “run!” at the top of my lungs. Man, was my dad mad at me. That was the first and last time I ever went along on a hunt.
Fortunately, my love for animals wasn’t as short-lived as my hunting experience. I volunteered at a veterinary clinic during my teens, and thought for sure I’d become a veterinarian. I didn’t like the sad parts of the job though, like euthanizing animals because their owners didn’t take care of them properly. So this blog is a great opportunity to connect with other pet owners on a positive note!
I have a lot planned, but would also love to know if there’s anything specific you’d like me to focus on? We’ll be talking about flu shots, microchips, dog-friendly restaurants and vacations, Halloween costumes, Thanksgiving dinner for your dog, and so much more.
Before we dive into all of that, get in touch below. How did you come up with your pet’s name?
Katrina Neeper is an executive producer at ABC2 News. Email her at katrina.neeper@wmar.com, or follow her on Twitter @KatrinaNeeper.
