~The Speth Family~: Horrible, No Good, Dirty, Rotten....

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Horrible, No Good, Dirty, Rotten....

Pet owner. Just a few adjectives to describe me. This week was weird. Some background...

Anyone that can tell you ANYTHING about me would probably include my L-O-V-E for animals. Its more than a love - its a bond. Whatever that means. I can bond with just about anything that has fur - and a few animals that don't. Dogs, horses, and giraffes, monkeys - those are my favorites. And Memphis. Its almost immediate - unless of course they have mischievous eyes. I love animal's eyes - I swear they can talk (borderline asylum, I know). Come to think of it people are much the same. ANYWAY.....

I am NOT a sentimental person (nostalgic at times, but not mushy by any means). Unless, of course it involves my family or friends. But even then.... (babble, babble) The point is - I don't really know - I love animals. But I already mentioned that.

When I was little, we always had indoor dogs. They somehow always became "mine". They loved me best (I like to think so anyway). They would sleep on my bed curled up behind my legs or next to me on my pillow with their body under the covers. Once my dog (Mitsy) got ran over by a car. My parents came into my bedroom to wake me up and tell me. I acted super tough and "whatever"ish until they left. Then I bawled and BAWLED - for hours.

Then there was Candy - our cocker spaniel. She protected me - mostly from John. When I got home from my mission she didn't talk to me for a few months - I should have explained before I left.... but she forgave me. Then she got old.

A few years ago we had to put our dog, Koda to sleep. I bawled again - for five days straight.

Enough of that.

We have been trying to figure out what to do about the dog kennel. It needs some serious work. I have never had a kennel dog and the idea of it makes me cringe. Yet, lab puppies are CRAZY and shortly after getting Lucas (our yellow lab) John and I reached an agreement - half in and half out. Because I was babysitting so much it soon became easier and easier to let him be just out. Then my conscious kicked in and I did what every good dog owner does (sense the sarcasm?) - I talked my husband into getting him a friend. They have been outside ever since.

Sophie is my dog. She's sweet, loving, and springy-bouncy-springy HYPER. I love her. She is happy anywhere, anytime, with anyone. But Lucas. That stinkin' dog has mastered the puppy dog look. He is obedient, loyal, and sad. I don't know why he is sad, but he is. I go out to feed him every morning. When we are done Sophie runs back in to the kennel and continues on with her digging - happy as a lab. Lucas has recently learned how to turn me to mush. He refuses to go back in the kennel. He sits - as quiet as can be in his "I'm the most obedient dog ever" stance, right at my feet. He is ready to do anything I ask of him. Except go in the kennel. And when I break out the Alpha voice he immediately hits a "down", just to prove his point - that he will do anything I ask of him so long as I don't put him back in the kennel. That's what I get for having exposed him to the house. I can't stand it anymore.

It hit me sometime on Sunday night. An idea that I have never EVER considered in my life - that life would be easier with just one lab. We wouldn't have to invest millions on an ultra deluxe kennel to ease my conscious if we just let Lucas in with us in the evenings and maybe broke out the tennis ball and chuck-it now and then. But I CAN NOT do two indoor labs. I can't. Lucas has tenure - he's not going anywhere.

I put Sophie on KSL before I could come to my senses. I only got one call, but they were serious so I broke the news to the girls. That was the beginning of the horrible, no good, dirty rotten part. Kylie is still working on forgiving me. She could have cared less about the dogs the day before, yet she has some serious Speth sentimentality (which is a beautiful thing). After all of that and two bawling girls, the guy never showed.

But last night one did. He was a kid in his early to mid twenties who has always had labs, walks his girlfriend's dog religiously, camps, and wanted to turn Sophie into an indoor dog. He is also pretty sentimental about his dogs and wanted a girl dog because they "bond better with their owners". He had been to two animal shelters looking for the perfect dog. She liked him, he liked her - done. I woke the girls up and we said our goodbye's. I have a heavy heart. It will be better this way, right? Both dogs will get to do something other than sit in the kennel all day, RIGHT? Anyone? John says it was a responsible decision. Horrible, no good, dirty, rotten pet owner sounds more appropriate.

I miss her already.

2 comments:

AngelaSeptember 1, 2010 at 2:38 PM
It sounds like an all-around good deal. Sophie is going to someone that is going to LOVE her just like you...and she will be able to be inside and have that attention. AND now you are free to give the attention to Lucas just like you wanted to, but couldn't because of Sophie. You did the right thing!!!
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UnknownSeptember 2, 2010 at 12:18 PM
Thank you, I needed that :)
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