Blitz rocks!

I almost forgot to post this picture. Blitzie climbed up on my footstool and tried to get into my lap. It's a gliding footstool so she was rocking back and forth. It was very funny. Huxley wanted to get in on it too. My 60 pound lap dogs. LOL

Bits and pieces

I checked the Rescue website and there are 3 more dogs that have been adopted. That's so cool. I wish they all could get homes for Christmas.

I think I've finally resolved in my mind that the reason that I kept the dogs so long is because I felt needed by the dogs. Being home all day by myself had me feeling empty but after a lot of thought I can see that I have a great life and that I don't need dogs that don't fit into my life to make me feel needed.

I did a quiz on Facebook, "What king of dog are you?". I am a Maltese. I looked them up online and they are so cute. They are a toy breed, a small dog. That's what I should have had all along - a small dog. I don't want a dog now but maybe one day I could consider it. I'd like a dog that I could walk instead of one that walks me. LOL And it would be nice to have a trained dog, one that would sleep in it's own bed instead of hogging mine. But that's way off in the future. It's not something I would do now.

The cats are really enjoying the dogs being gone. They are usually on me or in bed (sound familiar?). I figured out a way to decorate the house for Christmas so that the cats can't get to the decorations. It looks very Christmas-y in here now. Paulie did try to get the paper chains I made but I have them up high enough that all he can do is look at them. I was digging through the decorations and found a tree that Zach had made for us years ago. It was nice to see that I've kept it all these years. His mom isn't doing very well. She's grieving in a big way. I guess I would too if I were in her shoes. It's so sad. I sent them a sympathy basket that has a teddy bear in it with a ribbon that says "Thinking of You". I hope they can enjoy it.

It's nice to know that all the dogs have good homes and that I don't have to worry about them. I miss their company, but I love the freedom I have now. All of my focus was on them and I just didn't get to anything else. Now I have lots of time to focus on me and David and actually living my life.

I have to prepare myself mentally for re-homing the cats. They have taken over the house and I want my house back. Maybe one day I'll figure out how to have my home the way I want it and to have a pet too. But until then, I really don't want any pets. Minnie and Paulie are very affectionate so I think they would do okay with being re-homed. I just have to get up the nerve to give them up.

I'm sitting here eating Christmas candies and there is no one begging for some. It's kind of nice. I know it was my fault that the dogs didn't behave. I didn't require them to. I taught them a lot of bad habits (sleeping on the bed, sharing food, etc.). And they certainly weren't going to learn how to walk on a leash if I never took them out. Their new owner is taking them for walks separately. That's a good thing. I bet they love it.

I'll update again when I decide I have the energy to re-home the cats.

Lost without them

I wish I could say that life is so much better without the dogs, but I'd be fibbing if I did. Some things are better, but I sure do miss their company. David and I have been talking about all of the dogs (Skooter, Moped, Huxley and Blitz) and how much we miss them. I don't think we ever got over giving up Skooter and Moped. I'm sure they are great dogs now but I just couldn't handle them and didn't have the appropriate home or yard for them. I'm glad they all are where they should be. I know they all have ended up in wonderful homes and they deserve that. Kris did an amazing job placing them. I am so in awe of the work that she does. I wish I could do work like that. I wish I could give dogs a home. But I'm not set up for that. It takes a very special person to run a Rescue and I am grateful that Kris has been there for so many dogs. I've been looking at the updated site http://rockymtngsp.org and there are already quite a few dogs listed and I know there are more that need homes. David and I tell everyone we can about the Rescue and what good work is being done there.

Anyway, just missing my dogs. The cats are probably here for a while since there are no "no-kill" shelters taking any cats in right now. And the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region just got there budget slashed by about 80% so they aren't going to be hanging on to animals either (especially eight year old cats). Paulie is almost always in someone's lap. Minnie is always on me, near me, with me. I'm sure that like with the dogs, when the time is right, we will get homes for the cats. Until then I need to make do with what I have and make as many changes in the house as I can, short of replacing the carpet. That will have to wait until the cats go adios.

So, yeah, just thinking about my dogs and wondering what they all are up to tonight. A winter storm is moving in tonight or tomorrow. I sonder if Skooter and Moped still play in the snow. I know that Huxley and Blitz didn't play in the snow here but maybe they'll take advantage of their five acres and play a little bit. I want the best for all of them.

Tonight I was watching a show and there were Beagle puppies in one scene. They were so cute. I guess that's what got me thinking of the dogs. I don't see myself with a dog ever again. I'm just not a good dog owner. I love them but I don't give them the discipline and leadership that dogs really need. That makes me sad.

Monday night is Bonnie's memorial service. I'll be going with friends from group. Susan and Marianne will be there too. I guess it will be another opportunity to feel the grief of all the losses I've had in the last 3 weeks. I know I'll think about my dogs and I'll feel a bit guilty for doing that but they were in my life every minute of the day. I am still kind of lost without them.

Progress Report - Huxley and Blitz

I received a wonderful email from the Rescue today:

Hi Samantha!

Here is the latest update from Blitz and Huxley's new owners. I think
they are there to stay.

Enjoy!


>>This has been a fabulous week!! As I told you when you called, they both had an uneventful ride to our house. As I mentioned to you, the first night was somewhat hectic. Blitz got us up at midnight, 3:00AM, and 5:30AM to go out.
That is no longer a problem. They both get up and stretch during the
night, but they don't demand to go out.
Around 7:00AM, Blitz puts her front legs over my body to let me know
it's time to get up, and they both race to the back porch door to go
out. I tried walking them both at the same time, but they were able
to pull pretty hard so I had to walk them individually this week. I
found that by using a choke collar, a light jerk stopped the pulling
so as soon as I get another choke collar, I'll give another try at
walking them together. Another area of concern was how they would
react to the fenced yard. No problem. I watched them every time they
went out, and they made no attempt to either jump or climb over the
fence.

My wife and I are extremely happy about the way they have adapted to
our care. They are a very affectionate couple, and having seen them
at play and rest this week, I have to agree with you that separating
them for adoption would have been tragic. I can tell you now that you
will not be getting them back from us.

Snowy night

The snow makes me thing about the dogs. Skooter and Moped loved to play in the snow. Huxley and Blitz didn't like it as much but they would tolerate it to go out and do their business. I miss seeing paw prints in the snow on the deck. I realized today that I still haven't cleaned the glass on the back door. Huxley and Blitz left many nose prints on the door. I guess it's snowing pretty good up in Woodland Park so I'm sure the girls are tucked away inside by the wood burning stove that I imagine is there. After dinner tonight I thought about how much food I share with those two. I can't seem to eat all of anything because I'm used to sharing with Huxley and Blitz. But those two are happy no matter where they are so I'm not going to worry about them.

Missing them all

Friday I slept all day because I have a cold. It was weird not having the dogs get me up. I was in bed a lot and it made me miss them more. They would always be in bed with me. David had hockey Friday night and I was home 'alone'. I did better this weekend than I did last weekend. I guess I needed that good cry last week.

Yesterday was Zach's memorial service. We left the house at 7:45 am and didn't get home until around 4pm. I kept worrying about getting home to the dogs. No matter how many times I told myself that they weren't home, I just kept thinking about them. I would try to remind myself that they are in their new home and probably loving every minute of it. I mean, come on, anyone that buys them matching dog pillows has to be just awesome.

For some reason today, Sunday, was harder than the rest of the weekend as far as missing the girls. I'm not sure why. Maybe it was because I was in bed again a lot today because of this cold. The cats do keep me company though. But they will have to go soon too. David's allergies to them are just too much for him. And the cats are always on our laps which isn't good for David. So tomorrow I need to call the no kill shelters and see if anyone will take them in. If not, I'll have to consider the Humane Society. That will definitely be my last option though. I don't want anything to happen to them.

Minnie is on me right now and Paulie is on David. They are spoiled. Earlier today one of them was up on top of the fridge. I have trouble keeping them off the counters. I've been using the spray bottle on them but they don't remember that I sprayed them 20 seconds later. Oh well.

I had to talk to David tonight about not wanting a dog at all. It wasn't that I didn't want Huxley and Blitz. I love them. I just shouldn't have a dog at all. I'm not good at discipline and dogs need that. Anyway, all four of them are on my mind (Skooter, Moped, Huxley and Blitz). I miss them all.

Huxley shaking (funny audio in a video)

This video is almost impossible to see but if you listen closely you can hear Huxley shaking. It's funny.

Spoiled

David and I were just talking about Moped. We wonder what he looks like now as a grown dog? I bet he's so handsome. If their owners send pictures to the Rescue we might be able to see them. I know Hux and Blitz have been gone less than a week, but I'd like to see pictures of them in their new life too. I'm sure he and Skooter are so well behaved and are a great addition to these families. We have seen pictures of Skooter in his new life and he looks so happy. We wish the same for all of our other dogs too.

It's funny but today I sprayed some non-stick stuff on a pan and realized I was waiting for Huxley and Blitz to come running. For some reason they always ran out to the kitchen when I used the non-stick spray. Crazy, the things that make me think of them. I do miss petting them. They were a source of comfort at times but mostly they were difficult for me to handle. I'm sure their new owners, being GSP owners for over 26 years, will know exactly how to discipline them. But it's also nice to know that they already have matching pillows. They will still be spoiled. And that's good.

In front of the woodburning stove

I can just picture Huxley and Blitz on the floor next to a wood burning stove warming their achy bones. I guess I just need to picture them in a warm, loving setting. I can't believe they got a home in less than a week. And together. I'm just in awe. God sure was looking out over this situation. It's nice to have something good happen after the tragedy of the last week and a half. I hope that we get pictures one day so I can see how happy they are. I did ask Kris that if she gets pictures of Skooter and Moped, I'd like to see those too. I may have given them up, but I've never stopped loving any of them. I wish I could have kept them all. But that's not where my life has me right now. That makes me sad, but I'm doing my best to keep things in perspective. I never think of them as just dogs. They are my furry kids. I guess I feel like a parent would feel adopting out a child (okay, maybe that's overly dramatic, but it's my Dog Blog lol). Whatever the case, I miss them. So, I'll just picture them happy and content living up in Woodland Park with their new owners. That makes me happy.

Huxley and Blitz have been placed!!!

Email from Kris this morning:

Huxley and Blitz left for their new forever home this morning. An
elderly gentleman and his wife (who have owned GSPs for some 26+
years) adopted the girls. They live in Woodland Park and have five
acres fenced. It is a rather sloping properly with lots of pine trees.
The girls will have full run of the house and brand new matching dog
pillows. They looked very happy leaving today and happily jumped into
the back of their SUV. The gentleman walks briskly each and every
morning for a couple of miles. Now that he has the two of them, he was
going to stop and pick up one of the two-dog lead couplers.

As I get pictures in, I will forward them to you, as well.

They are in good hands!

If all of the stuff that's happened over the last 2 weeks hadn't happened, then Huxley and Blitz wouldn't have found their forever home (which sounds perfect for them). Everything does happen for a reason.

Life won out

It's so quiet in the house now. I'm so used to hearing the clinking of their dog tags, Blitzie whining and Huxley flopping her ears back and forth when she 'shakes it out'. But I did get to sleep as long as I wanted to, not as long as Blitzie wanted me to. I still have a cold so it's been nice to get some much needed sleep.

It's an overcast day and there is no sun streaming in the window for the cats to warm up in. Of course, if the dogs were here they would be claiming the sunshine as their own anyway. But they are not here. They are down at the Rescue living a different kind of life now. I wonder if Blitzie still whines or if she just did that with me? I do know that they are both just as affectionate with Kris and her family as they were with us. They adapt to change very well for older dogs.

I can't help but feel that I've somehow abandoned them.

There are finally plans for Zach. There will be a get together on Saturday, December 6th in Arvada to celebrate his life. I wasn't close to Zach, so I think I will feel like an outsider but it's the right thing to go, to support David. And I won't have to make any arrangements for the dogs or worry about them being home for too long. That takes a big burden off of my shoulders. And at this crazy time anything that can bring relief is greatly appreciated.

I've been thinking a lot about Tabby this morning. I miss my old girl.

So, another day of not being a dog owner. I guess I'll adjust to that eventually and even end up liking it but for today I still miss them in my life. Things just got so crazy so quickly. Life showed up on my doorstep and demanded to be let in. Unfortunately there was not enough room for life and two bigs dogs in this one small house. Something had to give. Life won out.

Adjusting

I slept in late today because I'm getting a cold. It was nice to be able to stay in bed and not have Blitzie waking me up or having to get up to let them out. The cats did stay on the bed with me though. I feel better today about my decision to give the dogs up. And I'm grateful for Kitty and Lisa bringing them down to the Rescue for me. Riding with them for about an hour, knowing I was going to have to say goodbye to them, would have been torture. I'm glad I didn't have to go through that.

Still no word on services for Bonnie or Zach. It's nice to know that whenever the services are I'll have the freedom to go and say goodbye without worrying about what to do with the dogs.

It's interesting to know that I can feel two completely different feelings at the same time - missing the girls and knowing they don't fit in my life either.

David said he was wondering how the girls were doing at the Rescue. I think they are probably doing great being with so many other dogs and getting a lot of activity. They'll be up all day instead of sleeping all day. That will encourage them to sleep through the night.

I still look out the back door thinking they will be there waiting to come in. Part of me still wants them back but I know it's best for them and for me that things are the way they are.

Tomorrow I'm going to make phone calls about the cats and see if I can get them placed in a Rescue. I don't want to keep them much longer because of the allergy problem David has with them and because I just don't want pets right now. I've had to work on accepting that it's okay to not want to have pets, that it just doesn't work for me at this point. If I need to be around a dog, I can always go visit Kitty or Lisa and see Sammy or Woody.

I'm going to try using my CPAP tonight. I haven't been wearing it because the dogs would get me up during the night and I'd have to fuss with getting the stupid thing back on and by the time I did I was awake and had trouble going back to sleep. I'll probably feel a lot better if I use it.

The cats are in bed already. LOL Some things don't change.