Last weekend Frida was a key display at a pet rescue booth in a local fair. Apparently she was a hit, and a woman said she wants to adopt Frida and her cat sister. We have scheduled an in-home visit for the dog to go meet the woman’s kids and current pets.
When we dropped Frida off last weekend, I watched her play with all of the strangers and I got pretty emotional. Every day since Stewart and I made the decision to find the pets a new home, I have had twinges of regret and sadness. I watch Kyle play with them, especially with Frida, and I feel like I will be robbing him of a precious childhood memory. If I voice my dismay to Stewart, he says “But we already decided to do this!” It’s not that I’ve changed my mind. It’s just emotion and I am expressing it. I need to let it out.
I videotaped Kyle playing with Frida and I wonder if it would be better or worse to show it to him after Frida is gone. I grew up not having pets (well, we had gerbils, which are snacks, not pets) and I always wanted a dog. Here’s me finally with a dog and now I am getting rid of her and depriving my child of the dog experience the same way I was deprived. We keep saying that in several years when the kids are older and we are living on an old farm in Connecticut (that’s the idea) then we will get another dog. If that comes true I will try to find a dog that a family is unloading in just this way.
The cat is a different story. She’s fine as a cat. But we had a different cat who died about a year before her, and we haven’t gotten over that cat. This cat is a pain in the ass – always yowling, scratching our furniture, and needing a litter box for God’s sake. A box of poo in our house. With two children under three. She is Frida’s pet and tormentor, so she’s hopefully going to go with her. Maybe that will ease the transition.
Like I said, every day I feel a little bit sad about letting the animals go. But then 5:45 AM rolls around and the stupid dog, who has not gotten the message that she should NOT be barking that early in the morning despite many many many attempts to teach her this, barks and wakes everybody up. With sleep at an all-time premium around here, the barking reminds me why we are doing this. It sure makes it easier.
It is not easy. Pets do become a part of your family. But your plate is very full right now. You are right, likely down the road when the kids are older and you have more land will be a more pet-friendly time in your lives. The boys likely won’t even remember these current animals down the road a bit. You can give them happy doggy and kitty memories in the future if they wish and you choose. And I’m certain they will like to have more time from Mommy when she is not having to spend precious moments caring for the dog and cat!
Ah, yes. Sad indeed. I don’t envy you, but you gots to do what you gots to do.
Hey, our new house is almost a farm- it’s next door to a farm, anyway- and we want another dog for Lucy to play with. Want to send Frida to us and then when you move to connecticut she’ll be here waiting for you?
Oh. Wait. I don’t like waking up at 5:45 either.
Oh, and yeah, we are buying a new house. Because we are insane!