Brian and Bernadette

Mar 11

In August my friend Kathy and I were strolling down Pearl St. Mall in Boulder, CO.

We noticed a guy playing some nice music and with him was his dog. I approached and raised my camera with the expression of “can I take a photo” and he nodded yes. I walked up after taking a few shots, put a few bucks in his hat and started chatting. After chatting for a few minutes I asked if were taking up too much of his time and he said, “take as much time as you want. I’m not ashamed of who I am, ask away”.

He told us his past roommate found Bernadette with a pack of dogs on the street near a McDonald’s. The roommate scooped her up, put her in his truck and took her home. Two weeks later he was not sure he wanted to keep her so Bryan took her. He felt like he had the time needed to take care of a dog. He had her spayed and has always kept her vaccinated. He has had Bernadette 5 years.

They sleep in the woods, camping out, traveling the country. He plays music town to town to earn money. It was obvious that Brian loves his dog and they both had easy going personalities.

Here are some things he told us:

“Bernadette is good company and protects me from critters in any camp including ones that actually live in nearby bushes in which case I get woken up every two hours (when critters try to return to their bush and Bernadette chases them off again).”

“She has protected me from Fisher Cats in New England, Foxes in Arkansas . and she is provides great companionship and company, 24/7.”

“I get mixed feedback from people about me having a dog. Some people have yelled at me “stop playing music and feed your dog” or “what are you doing with a dog you can’t take care of yourself “, which I flat out deny. I have seen “homed” dogs that are hyperactive and bananas that become calm and well centered after hooking up with travelers.”

“I get a lot of flack from people saying I can’t take care of a dog but that is not true, I take care of Bernadette, and of myself. I feed her everyday and I feed her first. I know that dogs can go days without food, but Bernadette has never gone without food”.

The dog has protected him from Fisher Cats in New England, Foxes in Arkansas . companionship and company. 24/7 companion.

Bryan and Bernadette were headed to Washington, waiting for friends to pick him up in Boulder. He had recently been in New England and Arkansas . His plan was to visit with friends in Washington and either stay there to work on a farm or head to Alaska to work on a boat, Bernadette in tow.

Interviewed assisted by Kathy Kerr.