Oh wow, what
a whirlwind the past 2 days have been. I have been told by numerous people the
best way to get over the sadness of a lost dog was to get another….I really
tried to take that to heart and give it some thought. In the meantime, Jeremy
and I have been looking at pictures and profiles of rescue animals in our
neighboring areas, just in case.
Never did I imagine that I would actually act
on my instinct and consider adopting yet. I was wrong. Friday afternoon I found
my car driving to the Putnam County animal shelter to “look” at a dachshund mix
named “Flower”. I knew as soon as I saw her she was right for our family.
I adopted her
on the spot and a few minutes later, the paperwork was completed and we were
ready to leave. Casually the gentleman at the animal shelter mentioned that
they hated to split them up, but that she needed to be in a home….What, split “them”
up?
He explained
that she had a sister that had been surrendered the same day, “Bambi”. Great,
now I have broken up the family. More guilt, more overeating, join the club. I
gathered up my half of the broken home and headed for the car. I carefully put
her in the car and drove home.
The children
were a bit overwhelming but _______
seemed to handle the attention well. She was perfect for
our family, she loved the attention, and was not too high energy. She was
housebroken and slept all night without a whimper.
I got up
early the next morn for a scheduled case and she was whimpering….I knew the
reason. I had thought about it all night. I had separated her from her sister.
I knew I had done something wrong. I had no idea how I was going to afford to
get her sister but I had to find a way to get her.
I worked all
morning and everyone was congratulating me on my new member. I told them of her
sister that I had to leave behind. One of my coworkers, “Vicki” heard the story
and immediately stepped up and offered up the money to get her sister.
At first, I told
her no. I even said no after she said she had planned on making a donation to
an animal shelter anyway. I finally caved in and told her that if she truly
wanted to, I would take the money and get her sister before she was adopted out
to someone else.
My heart was
racing, it seemed like it was the longest case in the world…I was so excited. I
called the shelter ahead of time and told them that I would be there to get her
and not to adopt her to anyone else. I hoped that they would spread the
message, but I was still so scared.
Meanwhile, I kept
checking at home making sure that all was well on the home front. Have you ever
heard that women who are always together will tend to ovulate at the same time?
Well, after this many stay home day, Jeremy has converted to playing video
games and eating peanut butter sandwiches….
I was sitting
at the computer charting when my phone started hammering away with Jeremy calling.
I could not take the call and I text him. We had a real problem. Our new dog
_______, had killed our female bird Tina Turner Neville.
Holy shit.
How did this happen? Jeremy left the cage open (as we always had) and Tina flew
out. Before Jeremy could get to her, _______ had killed her. I felt like a CIA
operative: who saw it, have you told anyone, is there any collateral damage,
did you close the cage and put it up?
Now what to
do, the children would certainly notice the absence of Tina…..and how to
explain what happened? _______ is an animal who did what animals do. I was not
angry with her, I was trying to solve the problem. I made a plan, on my way to
the shelter, I would stop at PETCO and get another green bird.
No one at
PETCO was in any hurry. I only found one female green parakeet in the HUGE cage
at PETCO! Really, one? I finally found a person to help and got out of there as
quickly as I could. I made it to the shelter and was holding _______’s sister
as soon as I got there. Thankfully they had remembered me and the message had
been passed out. As I was waiting to sign the papers, 2 other people came in to
adopt her. I am so lucky I got there when I did.
Her sister
had no idea that she would soon be reunited with her and when we pulled up they
were like peas and carrots again. Jeremy had been thinking and found the
perfect names. Celie and Nettie, from the Color Purple. Two sisters who were
apart for a while and reunited.
Now, while
the children were engaged with the dogs, Jeremy replaced the bird to its cage
and hid the PETCO box she came in. He buried Tina in a grave next to Oprah. We
now have a family plot.
All has been well,
the girls are well loved and seem happy. The new Tina seems to really, really
like Ike. I caught them together in the biblical way….. All is well.
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