I want to spend Christmas with my DOODLES!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Would it be crazy if I opted not to go home to the Toronto area for Christmas and instead spent Chrismtas at home in Ottawa where there will be no (human) family members and only a few friends in town, simply because I do not want to leave my doodles behind?

 

I knew that when I decided to become a dog owner that it would be tough to figure out arrangements for when I went out of town to visit family or friends. But I didn't want to let that stop me. I figured, I'll just find a good kennel, no problem! Well, little did I know just how emotionally bonded I would become to my little monkey doodlebug and what do you know? next thing I do is go out and get another one.

 

So here I am, two doodles and kitty cat that I can't stand to be away from, and not a family member in sight who wants anything to do with them over the holidays. Well, that's not entirely true... at first my brother said yes, it will be fine, we'll just have to keep them in the back yard. He didn't see me giving him the finger because we were texting at the time. Then he said we could try keeping them in the basement but Marisa, his wife, would have to agree. I told him I'd make a special visit in November with Winston so they can meet him and see how wonderful he is. Weeks went by and I heard nothing. I reached out again and told him that my kennel of choice (a cage free boarding place in the country) was booking up and I didn't have much time to decide. Finally, last night I get an email from my sister in law saying that she's too worried about her anxious cat and how he would react to the dogs so she'd rather I didn't bring them.

 

My dad's place is out of the question as he has allergies to dogs and he is a big slob and I hate staying there, and don't want to suddenly find my dogs eating something off the floor or Winston going nuts on his itch paws because his house is so dusty and moldy. Not to mention my own allergies. I can only tolerate one night at my dad's place, and don't think it'll work with the doodles.

 

I have an aunt who might take in Winston while I stay at my brothers (they live quite close to each other so I'll still be able to see Winston), but she doesn't want Sophie because she's too hyper.

 

Here's the thing, December 25 is Sophie's first birthday, and call me crazy but celebrating her first birthday is 100 times more important to me than celebrating a certain someone who was supposedly born on that day but history and science tells us is not actually the case (I'm very sorry to offend anyone but my beliefs have changed over the years and while I believe in the importance of celebrating Christmas for all the positive values that it promotes, I am simply not the good Catholic I was raised to be).

 

I'm afraid if I leave Winston with someone else he will panic. Once we went out for a walk with a friend and I asked her to hold him while I ran back inside to grab something. He freaked out and wouldn't budge an inch or take his eyes of the front door. I am so worried he will think he's been abandoned again. I would hate for him to feel that way, especially on Christmas. I cannot fathom leaving Sophie in a kennel on her first birthday.

 

And, if I go without my doodles I will be utterly miserable, depressed, resentful of my family, and worried sick about my babies.

 

So, I want to stay home and spend Christmas with my doodles. They are my family and I don't want to be without them on the biggest family holiday of the year, i.e. Sophie's birthday Christmas.

 

What do you guys think?

 

 

[Carol and Banjo]

Get out!   Banjo celebrates his 3rd Birthday on Christmas Eve!    We should have a party!     I can't believe I didn't know Fudge and Banjo were the same age!!!!!    Bad me!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I think Holly's (Richard Crowe) is December 25th too. I remember three dogs last year.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Also, Ann and Mike Kendig's Sheba is a Christmas baby.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

yay. birthday girls will be celebrating on the same day!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

OK, it looks like there are close to 30 DK members from Toronto ... who wants to have a Christmas Doodle Romp at their house!

[Bonnie and Kona]

now there's a plan!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

wouldn't that be fun! I"m sure most DK members have their family plans over the holidays and don't need to doodles running around to top it all off...

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I personally think there's no problem with you staying home with the Doodle and Kitty family but perhaps Christmas day might be a tad lonely.  Might I suggest that if you do decide to stay home that you find some volunteer Christmas Day work?  There may be charities nearby that could do with a hand out.  It may not be your bag at all but I think It's what I would do.  If you do stay home and don't see other humans on the day in question plan a great treat for yourself, get in your favorite movie and enjoy the peace.  Oh and come onto DK, I promise I will check online and say hello from Ireland!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Thanks Niki! That's a great suggestion. It's true that I will need to find something to do that involves other people to keep from getting a bit sad... and bored. I'll think about that. And thanks for offering to come onto DK to say hi. That's sweet!

[BG and Gavin]

Life is short, do what makes you happy.  When living away from home, sometimes we create our own families around us with friends.  That's a luxury we have as adults.  (*bonus you get to choose only people that you enjoy) I would make plans with friends in your area.  And I know that this likely does not apply to you, but I can't help but add:  please do not allow yourself to become isolated due to your pets, especially when you are so young.  Develop a network of other pet lovers in your area and you can trade on pet-sitting.  Maybe you could suggest to your immediate family that you meet up for brunch one day over the holidays in between your two homes.  Kingston or Belleville?

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Good advice, BG!

[Sharon & Monty]

Oh, KIngston ROCKS!  I have been there twice and am hoping to go there again this summer!  The Holiday Inn on Princess Street takes dogs, and the view is lovely!  :)