Category Archives: Meet The Funny Farm

Scottie – funny farm resident

Meet Scottie Doodles. Also known as Scottie Big Head, Big Guy, and Bubba. He’ll answer to anything really. 

Scottie having a moment.

Scottie belongs to our youngest daughter and has been in and out over the years, joining us and saying hello to guests when he can. He absolutely loves people, long walks in the woods, chewing on his toys, getting in the way, and bones from the bone bank. 

The number one question people ask us is, “What is he?”

Well, first and foremost, he’s part of the funny farm here at the B&B. But to answer the question, Scottie is basically a mix and a Heinz 57 of everything no one likes — think bulldog, pit bull, and all the other power breeds of that nature.  He’s a barrel of love that for some, comes in a package they don’t like. That’s just how God made him. Don’t worry, we weren’t too sure about him at first either. 

Scottie & his lady

Scottie came into our world roughly four years ago when our daughter’s boyfriend passed away unexpectedly. Scottie was his dog and when given the opportunity to take this big boy and make him part of her world permanently, she did it in a heartbeat. Not knowing how he would do on property with the rest of the funny farm, she brought him here on a trial period. Fast forward four years later and he’s as much a part of the B&B as the breakfasts themselves. When asked, we often hear her gloss over the “Where did he come from?” question with a smile, lovingly telling guests she inherited him. 

And he has been quite the inheritance! The laughs and the number of smiles this lazy dog has brought to our world and to the funny farm is priceless. You can often find Ashlee walking this gentle giant and the two weenie dogs out on Beaver Creek road, which are quite the entertaining trio and a sight to see. She often refers to them as “Scottie and his girlfriends” or the “mod squad” as all three dogs bound around on property and bask in the sun on the deck.

Scottie & his girlfriends

Scottie might try and tell you that he’s allowed in the guest rooms, but he’s a liar. Due to allergies and guest preferences, there are no animals allowed in the guest rooms. He will, however, love to join you out at Camp Calvin or while you’re sitting at the fire pit enjoying the river or a glass of wine.  He loves people and thinks all the B&B guests have come just to visit him, but we joke that he’s an old man hermit. He already has his circle of doggie friends and is a bit protective and can be naughty when it comes to strange dogs. The funny farm has enough critters already and plenty fur friends to love on, so no other uninvited four-legged visitors please.

We absolutely love having Scottie as a part of our world and we hope you do too. If for some reason you’re not as taken with him as we are (or any of the funny farm for that matter) just pat him on the head and say the word and we’ll make sure he stays out of the way and doesn’t disturb you. There’s plenty of room here at the B&B for all to enjoy.

The entire funny farm welcomes you to the Arbor House Inn Bed & Breakfast on the River and hopes you have a nice stay while visiting South Fork. Careful, when you’re not looking, Scottie Doodles or one of the other funny farm residents just might try and get in the car and go home with you! 

Meet Elmo. 

Elmo is part of the B&B funny farm here at the Arbor House Inn Bed & Breakfast on the River. This lazy orange tabby is a rescue from the Humane Society in Pagosa Springs. Our daughter and her aunti were visiting Pagosa for the day and happened to swing by to take a peek at their kitties. They found this handsome guy and one other black cat that was in the running, and after much discussion, Elmo was the winner and came home with them. 

The first week here Elmo hung out on the top shelf on one of the book cases and just observed his new home. We laughed as a look of disgust came upon his face every time our two dachshunds entered the room. “Ewwwww, weenie dogs.”  It took a few weeks, but soon Elmo was part of the B&B crew and fit in just fine with the rest of the funny farm. 

The original intent was for Elmo to be the resident mouser on property and keep the outside critters in check, but mostly he just lies around the various patio furniture and is quite worthless. He’ll often tell you he’s allowed to go in the guest rooms with you, but he’s a liar. No animals in the guest rooms please. 

We absolutely love this guy and we hope you do too. 

Meet Boo Boo, part of the funny farm and one of the residents at the B&B. One of the very lazy residents.

Meet Boo Boo. She’s one of the residents and part of the funny farm here at the B&B. One of the very lazy residents.

We jokingly refer to all the animals here as the Arbor House Inn “funny farm.” At one point the property hosted three dogs, two cats, roughly ten chickens and a lovely horse named Jessie. That of course does not count the wildlife visitors, such as Fred & Ethel (the two resident geese that come in the spring), the occasional deer, and the humming birds that drain two feeders twice a day. There’s a section of the river that we lovingly refer to as the animal “highway.” 

When we first started the B&B seventeen years ago we initially allowed guest pets to stay for a small fee. As our menagerie grew we decided that the current funny farm residents were plentiful and we changed our policies and now no longer allow traveling four-legged visitors. Due to allergies and guest preferences, no animals are allowed in the guest rooms. Sorry, no exceptions. However, Boo Boo and other funny farm residents would love to join anyone going to Camp Calvin for a glass of wine by the river or out enjoying the outdoor fire pits. 

Careful, if you’re not looking, one of the funny farm residents just might try and get in the car and go home with you.