A rant about taking care of your animals…

So, it’s still winter – FYI – and the snow and bitter cold has kept me out of the barn recently, and has kept our lab, Sadie, inside for the most part. Karl and I feel so badly for her when it’s bad out b/c there are less trips to the barn, less walks around the neighborhood, no playing ball (we’ve tried and lost two in the snow already!) and not as much time and space as she needs. But we try our hardest to give her lots of attention and playtime. And Sky is well taken care of , even when I’m not there, thanks to the magic world of boarding with someone I know takes good care of her (thanks Lisa).

See, I think it’s important to take care of your animals, should you choose to have them, just as it’s important to take care of your children, should you choose to have those… It’s been my experience that neither acquisition is a well thought out one by many people – it’s WANT first and SHOULD later…

When we were living at Fort Bliss, we’d see all kinds of dogs and cats strayed b/c people would get them and then move, or else not be able to take care of them… it was sad – I’ll never forget this beautiful English Sheepdog that lived a street over from us, always chained up outside in the hot sun, and not shaved of his big coat in the middle of summer. I always thought of the people who got him – they must have thought he was so cute as a puppy – then brought him home to their small military housing to realize that he was a boisterous dog who knocked things over and got in the way – so outside he went and in the two years we were there I never saw him walked or interacted with in any way… I could be wrong – maybe he was well taken care of, but it didn’t seem that way to me.

Sadie is a good dog – one that I cannot imagine living my life without. She was free and that was a gift worth millions. A couple that was leaving Fort Bliss gave her to us b/c where they were going they couldn’t have dogs. When we went to pick her up, she went straight to Karl and when he knelt down to greet her, she parked herself right between his legs and looked at me with an expression I’ll never forget that just said, “let’s go home”… She sailed into the backseat of the Alero and has been our dog ever since!

I sometimes question whether it’s fair to her to keep her in our 2 bedroom apartment. I’m sure it’s not – she should be able to go in and out all day and have much more room. We’re working on that angle, and I am faithful that before the snow is gone, we’ll be on our way to getting into a house of our own. There are lots of dogs at our apartments, and most of the people I’m sure are in the same boat as we are – I see lots of dogs being taken out and played with and running around the woods…

There is, however, a couple who live directly above us who have a dog that I don’t think they take care of very well. I think it’s an example of “oh, honey, let’s get a puppy!” and “sure we can have dogs here” without a thought to what kind of animal fit their lifestyle… These people are gone all the time – sometimes late at night and sometimes nearly all weekend. How do I know? Well, their adorable little puppy barks and whines and cries and throws himself against the door and floor the entire time these people are gone!!! It’s obnoxious! Karl and I feel so badly for him b/c it’s so obvious how upset this dog is when left alone – he has serious anxiety issues and cannot handle being alone… As much compassion as we have for the dog, I am quick to be annoyed by him, though… His constant struggles are an interruption to my quiet time – time I love. One of the reasons I like our apartment so much is the quiet – everyone is very subdued and it makes for a pleasant environment.

Now, I’ve talked to these people – a young girl and her boyfriend. She assured me she had NO IDEA that he barked while they were gone, and that they would do something about it… but two notes, complaining to the Super, and a call to the property managers later, nothing has changed. This weekend I realized by overhearing others in the hallway, that I’m not the only one bothered by this dog and I’m glad… I hope something will change soon.

Anyway, besides the noise, it’s borderline abusive to leave this dog alone and sad and stressed all day! There’s doggie day care – there are dog trainers – hell, there are little boys begging for a dog to play with right there in the building! The fact that these people think so little of their dog to leave him alone to cry and whine all day, knowing he is under stress, is sad. Sadie whimpers in her sleep and I rush to wake her from her bad puppy dream and comfort her! I cannot imagine knowing she was upset all day and taking immediate action… but not everyone is like me – some people don’t think about their animals… It upsets me.

C