[News] Yorkie Baby Shower Benefits Animal Shelter
 

HOLLAND, MI -- For those of you who think you have heard of everything, how about a big baby shower for teacup-sized twin terriers.

Zeelander Carol Zepik threw the party Saturday at Holland Church of Christ for her Yorkshire Terrier Sophie's litter, born Sept. 3.

Kids at church love carrying the 5-pound Sophie around as though she was a plush toy, and have been clamoring to cuddle with her two daughters, but the palm-sized puppies still are too fragile to be handled by young children.

Since Zepik just placed ads to sell the puppies, which she calls "Little Bit" and "Big Bit," she said she wanted to give the children a chance to see them before they go to new homes. Throwing the puppies a baby shower seemed like the perfect celebration.

"Everybody said, 'You're what?' " Zepik said with a chuckle.

"Some of the parents were rolling their eyes when they came in and saw the baby decorations, but the kids loved it. Why not try something that's not the same old thing?"

Fifteen children attended with parents, Zepik's mother and her adult daughter.

Instead of bringing gifts for Sophie's puppies, the guests brought enough puppy treats and toys to fill a box Zepik will donate to the Harbor Humane Society. Some of the presents even came gift-wrapped.

Besides visiting with Sophie and her puppies, the children decorated dog bone-shaped cookies, pulled lollipops out of a Yorkie holder, played "Pin the Yorkie on the Dog House" and played a lively game of "Yorkie Bowling." (A ball with Yorkie stickers on it is used to knock over pins shaped like cats.)

Each child left with a mask shaped like a Yorkie face, complements of Zepik's creative friends.

Sophie delivered the puppies at a good time for Zepik -- just as her youngest child, Sam, was leaving home for his freshman year at Rochester University.

Zepik said the nest did not feel quite so empty with Little Bit and Big Bit, who already have grown to 1 1/2 pounds each.

Yorkies may be tiny, but they are not timid, Zepik said.

"We also have a 65-pound border collie and a 20-pound cat, but there's no question that it's Sophie who rules the roost," Zepik said. "She's cute, but she keeps the others in line with a look."

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