Oh Boo, how you torture me you precious little cajun dog. Boo is now 11 months old and he is the most endearing, beautiful, loving, hyper-active, stranger-jumping, rose-bush-digging, Tate-toy-eating, floor-scratching, white-hair-shedding, SOB dog you have ever met.
The day before yesterday, I was at my wits' end. I looked out Tate's bedroom window and saw Boo's butt. The rest of him was underground. He was about 3 feet deep into a new hole and was heading towards China, fast. ACK! I put him in the house with his breakfast. Within mere moments, his bowls were destroyed and he was beginning to work on the carpet. In a panic I screamed "CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!! I am DONE." He came in and we sat down and discussed why, perhaps, Boo was acting like this.
All fingers pointed to US, not Boo. Boo is a puppy. This is what he does: he explores, plays, exercises. Like Tate. So are providing Boo what he needs? Are we his ideal family? Would he be better off elsewhere? Are we at a time in our lives to be able to fully give to this high-needs puppy? Chad told me that because I am home most of the day and most all of Boo's responsibilities fall on my lap, it was my decision about whether or not I had enough to give. About whether I wanted to keep him. He would support my decision either way.
So, within about 7 minutes, Boo's adorable little spotted face was gracing the ads of Portland's Craigslist. I KNOW! I KNOW! I'm SO AWFUL. But isn't it more loving to say goodbye if you can't adequately meet what the other needs? Within moments, I heard back from a lovely woman in eastern Oregon that has acres,a farm, horses, teenagers, and a two-year old lab looking for a friend. Oh, this was good. She was perrrrfect. We emailed all morning, asking questions, exchanging photos, setting up meeting times. And then.
And then, I got ANOTHER email. This time, it was from Simoni. You know, Simoni, the woman that has the irish labradoodle that plays with Boo everyday (OK, every other day) at the dog park? Yeah. She saw Boo on Craigslist. And she was not happy about it. "You made a lifelong commitment to that dog. You wouldn't re-home Tate, you shouldn't re-home Boo. If you don't have time to walk him, I will for free." OK, so Simoni has four kids under the age of six. And she wants to come over and walk my dog for free because I can't seem to handle it with my ONE child. Ugh. Now I really AM pathetic.
So I looked at Boo, I looked at Tate, I looked at my house (in shambles) and decided to stop being so pathetic. I even texted Chad "let's stop being pathetic." Then I grabbed Boo and gave him a good bath. (Which he was excellent for, by the way.) Then I got rid of his old kennel and brought him in the *delux* kennel, which takes up approximately 75% of my dining room and looks great under the chandelier. When Chad came home, we went on a run with Boo and Tate, and then Chad took him to the dog park. I am serious, people. And this is no short-term commitment. Today, Tate and Boo and I went hiking. Which went GREAT until Boo literally ran into (and on to) a park ranger, who then gave us a warning for being off leash in a national forest. Oops. At any rate, Boo was excellent off-leash and was absolutely charming as he leaped through the air for butterflies (ahem, probably the very butterflies that the park ranger is attempting to protect) and bounded up and down the trails happily. Tate thought that the whole charade was hilarious and sung "dah, dah, dah" (this is his version of "dog") for the entire hike.
SO, I still have my appointment on Saturday to meet with the heaven-sent farmer lady. But I can cancel. I am giving it a lot of thought. We want to be able to give Boo what he needs, and maybe if we can really get our act together, we will be able to do that. He is a good, good dog. Even if he did destroy his FOURTH doggie bed today.
Oh, and for the record, this is the photo that I chose NOT to use on the Craigslist ad:
We have had a lot of trouble giving Same what she needs, too. But, luckily she sleeps all day and doesn't destroy things (she's 4, so that makes a difference). Good luck! Don't worry about what Simoni says. Do what is best for your family and for Boo.
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