Toby Update...

I have alot of nice comments about my post about Toby. I used this blog as a release of my feelings and emotions about the situation. I wanted to record how the event had effected my life. It was nice to have so many nice comments of concern. I figured I would post a follow up to let everyone know how things are going now. I am glad that I did not post this follow-up any sooner, because now I would have to print a contraction. Well... ironically enough, I have him back!! I know, I know!! Here is the weird and ironic story that lead up to this.

The days and weeks to follow dropping him off were hard but each day was better. I was doing really good. I had excepted the fact that Toby was gone and I was used to life with only one dog. I had talked to the new owner several times and she raved about how good Toby was and how he had adjusted into their family. So, I was content and was moving on.

Yesterday I got a call from the new owner. She asked me if I would consider taking him back. I told her that yes, I would rather take him back if things were not working out, instead of her then shuffling him somewhere else. She said that her female Schnauzer (who she intended on breading with Toby) ended up having sists and needed a hysterectomy. I think it was this main reason that she saw no point in keeping Toby. If she was not able to bread her female, then she did not want Toby. I think it is sad!! She also complained about his several escape attempts and successes, said he barked alot when left outside too long, and recounted how she had to pick him up from the local shelter. I told her I would be by that night to pick him up.

With this news came the flood of emotions. I saw the benefits of having Toby gone. The stress level in my house had dissolved and life had returned to normal. But at the same time, we missed the energy that Toby had. He is such an interactive dog. He loved to play with the kids, something Molly is just not interested in. He would chase the ball, play fetch, go running with you, and cuddle up on your lap. With him gone, we have seen how Molly is just not that kind of dog. She almost went through withdrawals and became so boring. The kids could not play with her and she did not like to go out with us. So, here we are... back to square one!!

I do not know what we are going to do from here. If any of you would like a dog...please let me know. I love them both, but I know our life would be easier with this new baby coming to only have one. I will keep you posted.

In memory of Toby

Many of you may know of the conflict that has been ongoing on our home centered around our dog Toby. One of us... who will remain nameless... has wanted me for YEARS to find a home for Toby. Not because he was a bad dog, but because this same nameless person found him annoying. I fought and fought for a long time to keep him. I tried to ignore the jabs and comments that were made about him, but I knew that things would not get better.

Now Toby is a great dog. He is never aggressive and is very obedient. Yes, he is a barker and can get a bit excited at times, but he is a great dog. Anyway, with our #3 on the way, I knew that it was time to let him go. I knew that Toby needed so much attention and so I was going to find him a home that could give it to him. I posted an ad on the local listings here and found a lady that was looking for a second Schnauzer. She already had one and loved the breed. She also had two little children and wanted Toby. I just was not prepared for how hard it was going to be on me to have to let him go.

Many may say..."oh, it is just a dog!" or "suck it up" but to me, it was like giving up one of my kids. I have had Toby for 7 years. I got him before we had Jacob. He was MY DOG. I loved that dog. I am not one to cycle through animals even if I find them hard or difficult. I got my love for animals from my Dad. I am the type to stop along side a road and help a lost dog or take them in to care for them. I would run a shelter if I could. I have to close my eyes as I drive past one that has been killed on the side of the road. So, giving up a dog is just NOT ME.

I took Toby over to their house yesterday morning. The whole time, fighting back the tears that were welling up in my eyes. Now, granted I am pregnant and it does not take as much to make me cry, but I knew I had to be strong for the kids. I told Jacob and Paige that Toby was going to play at a new families house. They have a nice backyard and another dog for Toby to play with. I really did not want any long lasting effects on the kids. Jacob clued in rather quickly as to what was happening. He kept asking me why we were selling Toby. I just tried to reinforce the fact that he was going to be happy there and he had new friends. When it was time to leave, I had to put the kids in the car as quickly as I could and would not allow myself to look at the doorway where he was being held in his new owners arms. Man, was that hard. I tried so hard not to cry. I was able to hold it in for the most part until I was in the drivers seat and driving away. Then I could not hold in it anymore. For most of the way home, I tried to cry as silently as possible. I did not want my kids to know who were sitting behind me in their car seats. Jacob could see me and got very concerned. He kept asking me why I was so sad. Why did we leave Toby there. At that point, I could not even bring myself to explain things to him. It has only been about 24 hours since I left him and it is still really tender to me. I feel like I let Toby down. I feel like I did not follow through on the commitment I made to take care of him. I keep having thoughts of him not eating or not being cared for. I worry he will get out of their house somehow and try to find his way home. I feel like I did what was best for Toby at the time, but I wish that our home could have been one that he could have stayed.

I am a dog pimp

I got a call last week from someone interested getting my dog Toby with their female. I have studded him out a couple time before and can always go for extra $$, especially this time of year. Anyway, I totally feel like a dog pimp. Just the talk alone about it makes me feel embarrassed. You have to figure out times to get them together and then hope that he "preforms" accordingly. This time around the other people were wondering how much Toby has "gotten around." I guess there is some him of HIV that can be passed from dogs and I had to detail who Toby had been with and how many times. Talk about uncomfortable!! We really do get some cute puppies though.

MY dogs....

Ok, so let me introduce my two dogs to those of you who may not know them. This is TOBY and MOLLY. Let me just say what a source of contention they can sometimes be between me and my hubby. Now, we got Toby before we even had kids. Hubby got him for my birthday and I loved it!! My family is allergic to dogs, cats, and most everything else, so this dog was perfect. He was a nonshedding dog and could stay in my house and my family could still come visit. Hubby used to love this dog, take him running with him and he would come in the car with us....well, then the kids came and things changed.

So when I wanted another dog for Toby to play with, we struck a deal. Hubby could get ANOTHER gun and I would get another dog. So, that is when Molly has come into our lives. We have had her for about 4 years now and the poor girl has had 4 different litters of puppies!! For those other pro rescue dog lovers out there, she is fixed now!! Anyway, the dogs have more then paid for themselves! Now my sweet husband is growing more and more intollerant of them. For those that know me, I am a HUGE animal lover. They would sleep in my bed, if I did not have to hear about it from someone else I sleep with. Hubby is not feeling the same. So, we have to go the rounds about it at times, but I do not believe in giving up an animal once you have commited to take care of it. My kids love these dogs and they are good for them.

I am sure I will have many future stories to tell about these events with these dogs...

This is my life....

Why is it that whenever you have something you REALLY need to get done...something always happens that make completing that task SOOO much harder?

I have been needing to get Paige's two year pictures done for a month now. I finally decided on what she was going to wear, I made the appointment with the photographer, and I got the OK from Neil. Of course, when I am giving Paige a bath in preparation of of getting these pictures done, she slips in the bathtub and gets her first big bruise on her eye!! So, I call the place and reschedule for a few days down the road, hoping her eye would look better. Then this morning, when I am getting Jacob in the car for preschool and Paige in to get her pictures done, the door opens and our two dogs see an opportunity for a joyride. The second that door opened even a crack, they bolt out of there and did not look back. I quickly throw the kids in the car and head down the street thinking that they could not have gone far, but they disappeared!! Now normally, I would drop everything until I found them because I allow my mind to wander about them getting hit by a car or someone dognapping them, but today I did not have the time. I just pushed ahead as planned and hoped they would be there when I got home a few hours later. Fortunately, I found Toby had but put on the lease outside our house by some kind hearted neighbor and Molly was laying there next to him. I will save my drama with my dogs for another post...but, needless to say, Neil would have been happy if they never made it home.

Paige cooperated during the pictures, although you can see the bruise on her eye in some of them. I guess it just adds to the memory and at least those pictures are done for another year!!!