DANVILLE — Dan Petet told his wife, Debbie, firmly: “You’re not getting two dogs. It will never happen.”

That was four years ago.

Today, the Petet household is ruled by Yogi, a 7-year-old black Pomeranian, and Sala, 5, a white bichon frise.

“Our house is owned by these two babies and we are just allowed to live here,” Debbie said.

The couple had a dog, Gator, for 10 years, and when he died, Debbie was inconsolable. After a while, though, she knew she needed a dog in her life, and saw a newspaper ad for Pomeranian puppies in Cayuga, Ind.

Yogi was just an 8-week-old fur ball at the time, but he grew to be larger than most Pomeranians. He was supposed to be Debbie’s dog; instead, he attached himself to Dan.

Around that time, the couple met their first bichon frise at the home of her niece in Joliet. Debbie fell in love with the breed, but Dan insisted: No more dogs.

A couple of days before Debbie’s 50th birthday on Dec. 18, Dan asked to use Debbie’s car. When he got back from his trip, he went inside and told Debbie that he had hit a deer and damaged her car.

When Debbie went outside, Dan said most of the damage was inside the car.

Skeptical, she looked inside — and saw a white fluffy ball.

“Happy birthday, honey,” Dan said.

Dan had arranged to buy a bichon frise puppy in Joliet without Debbie’s knowledge.

“I never expected it in a million years,” Debbie said.

Sala and Debbie have a strong bond, just as Yogi and Dan do.

“She is the most loving dog. She is with me 24-7,” Debbie said of Sala.

Dan said, “She turns inside-out with joy seeing Debbie turn into the driveway.”

The dog waits in the window, looking for Debbie, while Yogi looks for Dan’s car.

Because of Sala, other members of Debbie’s family have adopted bichon frise dogs. Her sister, Jeanne and husband, Bobby, of Georgetown rescued a bichon frise who had been left at a groomer’s. A daughter, Nicole Hergert of Breckinridge, Colo., adopted a male, Jack. And, of course, her niece introduced her to the breed with her dog, Lila.

“We love our bichons,” Debbie said. “They’re so devoted.”

Sala gets groomed every three weeks. She’s all girl: She has an extensive wardrobe — mostly in pink — and she hates getting her feet wet. She can sit up on her back feet and wave with both front paws.

Yogi, on the other hand, is the big brother who protects her, and watches her every move. He loves to swim in the lake near the Petet home.

“He’s one of the smartest dogs we’ve had,” Dan said.

Debbie can’t say enough good things about the bichon frise breed.

“They’re the sweetest little dogs in the world,” she said. “I wish more people would see this and I would see more of them in the area.”

They have a good disposition and are easy to take care of. The only problem is that the breed is difficult to housebreak, but Debbie learned that bacon treats did the trick for Sala.

The couple also has four white pet ducks, which someone put in a nearby lake at Easter when they were ducklings. Neighbors have been feeding the ducks, but Debbie worries about what will happen to them in the winter.

She’d like to find them a home; interested people may e-mail her.

Dan retired from CSX Railroad last year, while Debbie is a retired nurse. They also have a daughter, Tara Miller of Brentwood, Tenn.

The Petets say they like coming home — thanks to the loving greetings they get from the “kids.” I’m sure both humans and pets are glad that “one-dog only” rule has been broken.

FYI

If you’re interested in giving four white ducks a good home, e-mail Debbie Petet at ddpetet@att.net.

If you would like to have your pet featured, contact Mary Wicoff at 477-5161, send an e-mail to mwicoff@dancomnews.com or write to Commercial-News, 17 W. North, Danville, IL 61832.