NATCHEZ — When The Dart landed on Homochitto Street, the Bland family was hard at work taking down their Christmas decorations, but one part of the holiday isn’t going anywhere.

Scarlet, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel puppy, was a present from Santa Claus this year for the Blands’ children, Sinnott, 9, and Lyden, 11. Mother Shannon Bland said Sinnott asked for the puppy.

“He just wanted Dudley to have a friend,” Shannon said.

Dudley is the Blands’ other cavalier. The family also has another dog, Sammy, a golden retriever.

But Shannon said Sammy’s too big to be a good friend for Dudley. Sinnott also wanted Dudley to have a friend who looked like him, and made his plea to Santa.

It’s not the first time someone in the Blands’ extended family took in more than one of the tiny dog breeds. Father Clay said his brother has five King Charles spaniels, and has repeatedly told him they’re social animals and you can’t have just one.

“We finally bit the bullet,” Clay said.

On Christmas morning, Sinnott raced to the window. A wrapped box was sitting outside, having been there for a brief period.

It was the same way Sammy and Dudley arrived years earlier. Shannon recorded the gleeful reactions of the children on her phone.

In the three weeks since then, and Scarlet’s feisty personality has blossomed. The Blands were initially worried about Dudley’s reaction to the new arrival but, just like Sinnott wished, Scarlet has become a close friend for Dudley.

“They’ll sleep together and they run around the kitchen,” Shannon said.

The two even look alike, with both sporting a brown spot on the top of their heads, an unusual occurrence.

“Out of a litter you might get one,” Clay said, referring to the unusual spot.

After approximately three weeks, the family is adjusting to the new routine. It takes more time to take the dogs outside in the morning now, Shannon said.

“You have to get up earlier,” Shannon said. “You take one and then you have to take the other.”

If she takes them out at the same time, then Dudley’s strength doesn’t match well with the tiny Scarlet.

But the family doesn’t regret Santa obliging Sinnott’s request.

“It’s fun,” Clay said. “It’s all fun. You only live once.”