Day 21 – 5 week old puppies…
Well it’s New Year’s Eve and I’m not going to Bald Head Island with John because I said I’d take in this little family. I’m not sorry, but watching him pack for the gig is a bit sad. With a musician, there’s pretty much always a gig for New Year’s, and I’ve missed as many as I’ve been to, but this one’s on an island, and I’ll be home with puppies instead. Katie came over for a drink, and then another. I made them doubles. It seems to help. Penny isn’t cleaning up after the puppies as much, but she does some. We basically are tag-teaming the whole thing at this point, and we’re both a bit tired and ready for our own lives back. I made a third drink after Katie left but when I woke up it was all watery and I realized I wasted good rum, which is a terrible way to end the year. The puppies are making messes faster than Penny and I can clean them now, and my gallon jug of Nature’s Miracle has dwindled to diluted tablespoons.
Day 27 – our poor dogs
They are wild things, and I’ll never forget the sight of a 100lb dog like Snoopy clinging to the couch for dear life in case one manages to touch him. They’re jumping up at him now, and he just cries. Pathetic! I told John I’m never doing this again.
Day 28 – 6 week old maniacs!
We went out tonight because it’s my birthday. A significant age to be sure, ending as it does in a 0. We left the puppies in the pen, and nothing blew up while we were gone, but the adult dogs all looked a bit shell-shocked by the time we got back. Except Penny, she seems to enjoy it a bit when they can’t get at her! But the cool thing was, before we went out, Snoopy was hanging on the floor with the puppies, and even touched noses and sort of cuddled with Sheldon!
Day 29 – coming out party
Tonight the puppies met so many strangers at the puppies and pints event! People naturally fell in love with them, and John and I naturally hated them all for that. I mean, we want them to have great homes, but nobody will ever be good enough for our little monsters! We spent the night wandering around looking for the pups in the crowd, making sure they’re okay. I find myself wondering if maybe we’ll end up doing this again someday… Maybe.
Day 32 – meets/greets/loves at first sights
Very nice people keep coming to the house this weekend. Raj has people now. Sheldon too. I like these people very much, but I also wanted to yank MY puppies out of their loving arms and hold them close. It’s okay, I’m emotional. Also sleep-deprived. I take the weekend shifts overnight on the couch, and have no idea how John is doing the rest. They are evil, mad, possessed by raptor-demons that cause them to wrestle maniacally from 2-4 in the morning. They seem to emit a steady stream of pee, and John has taken to calling them the Pissy Boys in spite of my begging him to stop. He has a point, I have to say. We’re now down TWO gallons of Nature’s Miracle and counting.
They can go home in a week now. Penny too, she’s going next Saturday, and I’m going to miss her sweetness so much. I think she will enjoy the peace – she’s certainly earned it. These beasts get bigger every day, and they still jump her whenever she allows it. We put her in a t-shirt to protect her some, but they’ve torn it right off a number of times. It’s given me a lot to think on about motherhood. They really will eat you alive if you let them maybe.
Day 36 – it’s all moving too fast
Penny leaves tomorrow, Saturday. Then the babies. Leonard’s got people coming to fall in love with him tomorrow. I mean, of course they will, have you seen that face? Sheldon and Raj are leaving Sunday. I don’t have time to hug them enough. I’m panicking but maybe another overnight will cure this feeling. I think differently at 4am with puppies running amok.
Day 37 – farewell Mama
Oh my god how hard was that. Miss Penny has gone to her forever family, a wonderful couple who love her already. I had to pick her up and put her in their car and I feel like a giant ass. I know this was the plan, but the guilt is killing me. I will go drown my sorrows in puppies until Leonard’s people arrive to fall in love. I set up a public Facebook group to share pictures, so hopefully I’ll be able to keep up with this great little family – now to be four families.
Day 38 – bye bye babies
Everything happened at once. There wasn’t time to tell them everything I wanted to. I know they will learn these puppies and there’s nothing I can really add. I want to tell them how Raj likes to fall asleep touching someone. I want to mention that Sheldon is the gentlest baby I’ve ever known. I want to keep them with me always, and I want to send them off into the world. And off they go. Be good, boys, I know you will. Leonard’s people (yes of course they fell in love immediately!) are going to get him tomorrow, so we get to keep him for one more night. I hope we won’t all be too lonely to sleep.
Day 40 – too quiet
Leonard left with his people after work. They’re friends of friends, so I’m hoping we’ll see more of him. It was just this weird quiet when they left, and I folded up the puppy gates, and cleaned up the blankets. We’re down one dog bed, but it was a lousy one anyway. The couch is back in place now, the floors are clean thanks to John. Raj is now Huck and Sheldon is Brooks.
Our dogs are wandering around as if they don’t trust it, as if any second someone is going to pounce. We can’t do puppies again for awhile, it’s just too much right now. But there’s a post from Granville Country SPARE saying that they’re going to have to put dogs to sleep, the shelter is full and it’s freezing outside. It’s only an hour’s drive really. I filled out the application to foster, and contacted my Cause for Paws friends to see what we can do. John thinks it’s his idea. We’re funny like that.
Day 1 – Buckwheat.
What more can I say? He’s not a puppy, right?
He’s 62 lbs of goofy love, and looking for a new home. Call me!
Addendum
If you click on the Cause for Paws link, you might see a notice about Penny being missing. Yes that’s our Penny. She ran off on her new family and has been loose for a few days now. We are all doing our best to get her back, and she is staying in that area. Cross your fingers, this is so hard on her new family, and her old one.
Also, Leonard is now Bruce and his ears have popped!
