A World Without Pets
Last week since we had so much going on, namely business trips for both Jake and me, plus company coming and a party where there was going to be at least six kids, we decided to board the dogs. It wasn’t fair to them to keep them locked in their crates all the time and the noise and such would stress them out. So we sent them to their favorite boarding place, which they love so much they never seem to want to come home when we go to get them.
They were gone for almost a week. And we grew to love not having them here.
I hate myself for saying that. I love my dogs, I really do. But they are a source of great stress in our household. They bark, puke, shed and are starved for attention. I don’t see that they are terribly happy here. I think a home could be found for Robbie since he’s so young and affable and just a generally good dog. But Lucy is old, cantankerous, incontinent, and more than a little crazy.
Thinking about them not being here also really upsets me. I just want everyone to be happy and I don’t know what to do. Jake is pressuring me to reduce. I know in my head it’s probably the right thing to do. But I am not the sort to get rid of a pet, and I’ve already had to get rid of one cat earlier this year. When you adopt a pet, you make a commitment to it. Circumstances have to be extreme for it to be ok to get rid of the pet. And I’d have to find the perfect arrangement for them, which I don’t think exists.
I wish I just had more time and energy. More time and energy to spend petting and playing and walking them. But with a house, a baby, a job and a husband who is gone an awful lot, that just doesn’t work out. I have no desire to try to wrangle these two dogs on leashes while pushing a stroller. They aren’t good on leash. I can handle both of them by myself but not with the stroller.
I feel like if we can just get through the next little bit, it’ll be ok. I know that when Bridget is older, she couldn’t ask for a better playmate than Robbie. He already loves her madly and would sleep in her room if we let him. And Lucy may not be around that much longer, simply because she is getting up there in years. But can we wait that long?
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I love animals and very few people know this. I wanted to be a vet for the longest time, until allergies squelched that idea. I would hide baby mice, groundsquirrals and once I even brought back from the field a snake…
But. Pets need lots of love, attention and constant care and you are faced with a very difficult decision as we went through it as well. The younger cat went to live with the in-laws (and has become fat with attention), and the other older, sicker one was put to sleep even though Mr. DD was, and still is, quite upset about the loss.
Dogs need one-on-one interaction to remain happily domesticated. Maybe you can hold out a little longer and see which way the wind blows. Maybe you could put out feelers with the people who care for the dogs at the boarding shelter. You can always decide to not follow-through.
I know exactly what you mean. I could never get rid of mine and still live with myself, but I think about it daily. I love them, I really and truly do, but if I had to do Baby + 2 Dogs + 2 Cats over again, I would not.
We’re in the same boat as you. G-man HATES the Mini. He tolerates him, because he knows he’d be in a wheely cart if he so much as harmed a hair on that child’s head, but Miss M, loves him so much. I couldn’t part with her. Especially given that she’s so portable. G on the other hand, it would literally kill him, even with the decline in his quality of life since the Mini was born. They definitely lack attention. But there’s no way I could get rid of them.
Poor you!! I am feeling your pain. I am writhing in guilt that I haven’t walked the Little Dog in days. I feel like such a loser!!! I normally manage to get her out running with me three to four days a week and other walks… not even out lame stroller walks where I am utterly stressed out trying to juggle her and the stroller - not even that… but between bouts of illness its a no go… hang in there… I am sure you are giving your animals a lot of love and eventually it will get easier…
Its definitely a lot - baby, business, dog and two cats.. that said, I adore the dog and despite my guilt love her to pieces as does the Commander and I have been managing to get her out for runs and am training her to be a good stroller dog— before I got sick I did manage a few runs with kid, stroller and dog!!!
Ugh what a dilemma. It’s not easy. We considered getting a kitten when Iko died this summer, but we sat & talked about it and figured out that having a baby kitten AND a baby human at the same time just wouldn’t work. (one geriatric cat is enough for us right now!). Hopefully a good solution will come your way soon…maybe now that it’s ‘out there’ some force in the universe will supply an answer….hokey? Maybe but sometimes that’s all it takes….
I’m in your boat, too. Gorby is needing attention, but with not one but TWO babies he doesn’t always get it. It’s my cat Maggie that’s the problem. She’s getting old and crazy, and not only does she not (nor has she ever) like kids, but she’s seriously not liking us now too, to the point of hissing and attacking all adults without any prejudice. I’ve been wondering if it’s time to put her down, which makes me feel so horrible - my cat’s attacking people and she’s mental, and I can’t fix her nor do I have a moment to try to.