Meet Walt and Lily, a nice married couple. The thing is, Walt wanted a dog, but Lily, not so much. Walt, however, was not to be deterred.

He brought home a book about different dog breeds and started to read it to Lily. Lily half-listened to most of the breed descriptions, but when Walt got to the Chow Chow, Lily’s attention was captured. If they had to get a dog one day, it should be a Chow Chow.

Walt actually bought a Chow Chow soon after, but he kept the puppy a secret until Christmas Eve. Walt put the youngster in a hatbox with a big ribbon and slipped it under the tree at the last minute. Lily, it should be said, was disappointed when the box was put in her hands because she liked to buy her own hats.

But then the box wiggled.

And then it made sounds.

And when the Chow Chow puppy stuck his head out, Lily shrieked in surprise, and then fell in love. The puppy was named “Sunnee,” and he was never out of Lily’s sight again, she was so taken with him.

This really happened, and most of you reading this have seen a reenactment of it because it was the basis of a famous scene from the beloved animated movie, Lady and the Tramp.  You see, “Walt,” was Walt Disney, and Lily was his wife. The incident was the inspiration for the scene when “Lady,” the Cocker Spaniel, pops out of a hatbox on Christmas, and it all started with a Chow Chow puppy. Enjoy the scene in the video clip below:

Image: Scene from Lady and the Tramp