topic Re: Shakin' Things Up! in Community Chat

Shakin' Things Up!

Its Me LuLuBelle2 — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 01:56:25 GMT

Our wonderful rescue dog has been with us for 13 years. The vet estimated she was about 1 1/2 years old when we adopted her - a beautiful muttley who is the sweetest thing on four legs. Shortly after we adopted her my MIL got sick and her little terrier came to live with us as my MIL was in and out of the hospital, rehab center and eventually in a nursing home. I always promised her when she died I would keep her rascal and love him like my own, and he'd always have a good home. Which we did until he passed away last July at age 15. As heartbroken as my husband and I were to lose him, our lovely girl missed him more - they were the best of buddies.

The last few months she has been mopey, sleeps away most of her day and shows very little interest in anything. Every now and then a cat shows up in our yard and that gets her up and moving. But other than that, her curiosity and interest are on the wane.

Today my husband came up with a brilliant (and I mean BRILLIANT idea)! When we travel between NY and FL our gorgeous girl loves the rest stops on I-95. So many different smells, so much to sniff and wander after. All of those pups that were there before her - YOWZA. So today hubby suggested we take her to a rest stop! We don't live too far from I-95 and there's a rest area about 5 miles North of where we get on. We loaded her in the car, took her up and she spent a solid hour with her nose to the ground walking US, yes, she walked us to everywhere she wanted to go. The tail wagged non-stop and she was reluctant to get back in the car to go home. We promised her we'd make it a weekly event! She came home pooped, headed to her bed happy and slept for a solid two hours (hopefully dreaming of all those pups she smelled today)! Yep, shakin' things up!!

Re: Shakin' Things Up!

Kachina624 — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 01:40:54 GMT

@Its Me LuLuBelle2. That was indeed a genius idea and cost practically nothing but time.

Re: Shakin' Things Up!

ShowMe — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 01:42:59 GMT

@Its Me LuLuBelle2.....sounds to me that she is in need of a new companion at home..... That would shake things up forsure.

Re: Shakin' Things Up!

SuesCat — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 01:52:28 GMT

@Its Me LuLuBelle2 I just love that you love her so much. Your hubby had a good idea and it's neat that you actually put the plan into action! (((hugs))) to you all : )

P.S. I'm sorry for you loss last July but i'm sure you know you ga that rascal all the love she could ever want/need.

Re: Shakin' Things Up!

Its Me LuLuBelle2 — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 02:03:25 GMT

@ShowMe wrote:
@Its Me LuLuBelle2.....sounds to me that she is in need of a new companion at home..... That would shake things up forsure.

@ShowMe, We've actually been tossing the idea around. But, we are just not sure at her age how well she'd take to the idea. I volunteer at an animal shelter here in FL and another in NY. She seems pretty indignant when I come home smelling like other dogs and cats! Part two is we've had 3 other rescue dogs (all adopted with medical problems - our current girl was adopted knowing she had heartworm when we got her, as did one before her) and the first adoptee had been pretty abused and had real trust issues that took awhile for him to get through. With each loss it tears our heart out a little bit more and frankly, when we lose this one I'm not sure we can go through all the emotional pain again. Part of me says no, but a bigger part of me knows how many animals are in desperate need of good, loving homes and I tell hubby it would be selfish of us not to provide one.

Re: Shakin' Things Up!

Bird mama — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 02:08:14 GMT

@Its Me LuLuBelle2 You and your husband are my kind of people

Re: Shakin' Things Up!

Lindsays Grandma — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 02:14:56 GMT

What an absolutely sweet story to put a smile on my face and a tug on my heart. Your husband's idea was indeed brilliant but the best part of it is that the two of you so filled with love for your dog took the time to, as you put it..."Shakin' Things Up." I sure hope that in the future your dog will permanently come out of her doldrums without the trips to the rest stops. Good luck.

Re: Shakin' Things Up!

Catty2 — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 02:15:34 GMT

I love your idea of taking your dog to the rest stop. She certainly seemed to enjoy herself. I have a 12-year old dog that I adopted 8 years ago. She is a doxie mix so when I take her to the park - and even in her own backyard - her nose is sniffing away.

Re: Shakin' Things Up!

Marp — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 02:28:03 GMT

@Its Me LuLuBelle2 wrote:
@ShowMe wrote:
@Its Me LuLuBelle2.....sounds to me that she is in need of a new companion at home..... That would shake things up forsure.
@ShowMe, We've actually been tossing the idea around. But, we are just not sure at her age how well she'd take to the idea. I volunteer at an animal shelter here in FL and another in NY. She seems pretty indignant when I come home smelling like other dogs and cats! Part two is we've had 3 other rescue dogs (all adopted with medical problems - our current girl was adopted knowing she had heartworm when we got her, as did one before her) and the first adoptee had been pretty abused and had real trust issues that took awhile for him to get through. With each loss it tears our heart out a little bit more and frankly, when we lose this one I'm not sure we can go through all the emotional pain again. Part of me says no, but a bigger part of me knows how many animals are in desperate need of good, loving homes and I tell hubby it would be selfish of us not to provide one.

@Its Me LuLuBelle2, I think your girl told you how she'd take to the idea after her outing. She was alert, interested, perked up, worn out and apparently happy to have encountered other dogs even it is was only through scent. Perhaps she is indignant (and maybe disappointed) when you come home from the rescue just smelling like other dogs but empty handed, not with another dog.

There are plenty of adult and senior dogs without baggage that need homes and far too many that came from the same situation as your MIL's dog. They deserve a second chance and second home. Your vet might be a very good source for such a dog.

Re: Shakin' Things Up!

lolakimono — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 02:32:03 GMT

@Its Me LuLuBelle2

I think fostering would be the ideal situation for your house. You can keep her stimulated and give her company, and if things don't work out, no problem.

Re: Shakin' Things Up!

Its Me LuLuBelle2 — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 02:40:04 GMT

@Marp, points well made and something to consider. Now how to deal with the heartache of yet one more loss when you've had them so long and love them so much. Hubby keeps me in check and is afraid if I he dies first I'll be that crazy old dog lady. Thanks for your input. I never thought she was disappointed, but jealous, but you may be 100% right. And volunteering I've seen many senior dogs who lost their long time owners and the families have not stepped up but sheltered them instead. Heartbreaking.

Re: Shakin' Things Up!

Marp — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 03:10:29 GMT

@Its Me LuLuBelle2 wrote:
@Marp, points well made and something to consider. Now how to deal with the heartache of yet one more loss when you've had them so long and love them so much. Hubby keeps me in check and is afraid if I he dies first I'll be that crazy old dog lady. Thanks for your input. I never thought she was disappointed, but jealous, but you may be 100% right. And volunteering I've seen many senior dogs who lost their long time owners and the families have not stepped up but sheltered them instead. Heartbreaking.

@Its Me LuLuBelle2, I am painfully aware of the pain and heartbreak having lost a 15-year-old dog and two 18-year-old cats in November. My heart aches for the losses but also aches to fill the void by giving a loving home to adults and seniors in need of one. Although I say I rescue it is honestly more a case of being rescued myself. I can either be consumed by grief or healed by unconditional animal love.

Re: Shakin' Things Up!

patbz — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 03:51:40 GMT

@Its Me LuLuBelle2: I think either foster an older dog or get your dog a less than one year old dog. We've done this several times with senior dogs after our second dog dies (we prefer 2 dogs). The two times we did it ( once with a male senior and once with a female senior at home); weren't sure how they'd react but what successes! Our current older dog is seven and when we introduced a puppy (now three) he wouldn't come up on our bed (which he loves); once he gave that up they became fast friends almost at once.

Re: Shakin' Things Up!

GCR18 — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 04:20:23 GMT

Yep, a second dog will do the trick.

Re: Shakin' Things Up!

Drythe — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 04:30:25 GMT

@Marp

I’m sad to hear about your losses, I did not know.

We lost a 14 year old cat, a 12 year old dog, and two 13 year old brother cats (within 6 weeks of one another) all within 5 months this year.

Wish I had magic words for you, but I know you wouldn’t take anything for the wonderful love. ♥️

Re: Shakin' Things Up!

Drythe — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 04:34:45 GMT

@Its Me LuLuBelle2

Fosters are a great way to go, as I know you know.

It will give company to your girl, and you will be giving another dog a chance.

Best to all of you.

Re: Shakin' Things Up!

tuscaloosa — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 05:49:43 GMT

If the cat that comes around is a stray perhaps your dog might welcome a feline friend.