Never Been So Happy To Be Home!

[Kendra K. Rhoton]

Last night we returned from our wedding/honeymoon. We had a great and wonderful time... the only thing that wasn't so great and wonderful was Remington. Well, I guess everything ended up okay, but they sure didn't start out that way.

As most of you know, we were leaving Remington with a friend of ours who has 3 other dogs. We dropped him off on Wednesday evening. I took it pretty well... only a few tears shed, but other than that he seemed pretty happy. That evening she text us saying that he was getting along fine and was having no problems....

We got on our flight at 7:00 in the morning and arrived in Orlando at around 9:00 am... I got ahold of her right when we landed to see how he was getting along. She said that he was not doing well and that he was being aggressive with her dogs. I COULD NOT believe this and I still don't... she said that he had bitten them. Now, Remington has never shown ANY aggression to us or other dogs EVER! So I don't know what the deal was or even what the certain situation was, but she then proceeded to tell me that she does not want to keep Remington any longer and she wants to take him back to our house and crate him for the 2 weeks that we were going to be gone and go over there 5 times a day to let him out! "ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!" That was not going to fly as far as I was concerned!!! I guess that he was also peeing in his crate and on the floor, which he NEVER does... so he was obviously very unhappy. So here I am like hundreds of miles from home and my poor puppy who I thought would be taken care of is now homeless! I was hysterical! I was sitting in the airport bawling my eyes out for like 3 hours. Dan started calling his friends to see if any of them would take him. Luckily our good friend Mike, who has been around Remington his whole life, offer to pick him up and take him back to his house. We were so thankful! But I was so upset with this person who assured me again and again that she would take good care of him and then didn't. I mean she didn't even give it 24 hours. I understand she is worried about her dogs and everything, but I can't help but think if the situation was reversed and we were taking care of her dogs and told her what she told us... I know she would have a fit! She just put us in a really bad situation, and I lost all trust in her!

Anyways, it all ended up for the best. Remington had a wonderful time with Mike and his family. They told us he was so well behaved and could not believe how well trained he was. They said he was such a joy to be around. They are even now thinking about getting a doodle for themselves.

We were so happy to get home though last night and have him back home with us. He got out of the car and was soooo excited to see us! Jumping all around... giving kisses and hugs... running all around the yard. I can't lie... we were just as happy. If I have learned anything while I was away... it's that he is just as much a part of us and we are a part of him. We missed him so very much and are so glad to have him in our arms again! And... another thing... it's hard to find good people to take care of your dog!

[Tammy & Gracie]

I know some people that can't allow their dogs to play like dogs. My Gracie attacks and bites their dog in play. In facr it is just that, play. But they are so overprotective that they see it as danger to their pet. Maybe this is what really happened. I can't imagine how you must have felt so far away during this event. But glad to had Mike to step up tpo the bat and take over. At least now it is over and you are home safe and sound, all together! Congrats!

[Michele Barton]

Oh my, you poor thing! I totally agree with LuvMyAbby&Kaela - your "friend" should have worked hard to help Remington feel comfortable. What an awful thing she put you through. Thank heavens for Mike, a true friend! Congratulations, Mrs. Rhoton!

[Lorraine Bromley]

Thats too bad. I would be so stressed just with that and not having the wedding and honey moon stuff on top of that.
I would go back to that friends house with my dog and sit down for a coffee and give her a gift for "trying" and stay and allow the dogs to interact telling her that you are totally concerned that your dog was soo bad?! Then you can see for yourself what her dogs did to provoke yours ,(if in fact they did?) And likely you will satisfy yourself and have her face her truth that it was her dogs that were the problem and them kindly say well I can totally see why you were stressed in this situation I don't know what I would have done , other than ab and c. So that she also will see that you would have been a better friend if the roles were reversed and that she obviously didn't put any effort into the situation other than call for an out. If this is a relationship that can move past this than maybe this being subtle and coming at it from her perspective with the intentions of showing her where the real issue lay will help heal the hurt and mistrust that happened. If not being this passive aggressive in showing her what she did wrong in handling the situation will make you feel better. Speaking from a bitter revengfull protective mommy of a pet doodle.

[Chris Miller]

Hi Kendra - Glad things eventually worked out for you and Remington. I left my minature poodle with my daughter one time, and he mysteriously disappeared, never to return, while we were skiing in Colorado. I guess the point is . . . it can happen with a friend or even a family member. I just had to think that my daughter (or even your friend) did the best they could. Now, when we leave without our dogs, I have someone stay at the house, so at least they find some security in being home when we are gone. I know this doesn't make it any better for you, but probably others have experienced the same thing. Congrats again on your wedding!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Congratulations! I can only imagine how you felt being so far away. I don't know what must have happened at the first place, but she wasn't much of a friend. Mike obviously is. Help him pick out a doodle!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I am so sorry you had to start your married life with such turmoit - TG for Mike - a TRUE friend who understands the meaning of what a friend is!!
Mazel Tov!!

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

OMG! How stressful! Thank God for Mike!! Give Mike an awesome gift for that! Your other friend handled that terribly! How selfish! And her suggestion of leaving the dog alone in his house for 2 weeks was an utterly idiotic horrendous idea! Never ever let her look after your kids if you have to go out of town. True colors....if it was me and I eneded up looking after a dog that wasnt fitting in, I would make the concessions on the ends of my own dogs (keeping them in the living room for instance and the guest with me in the family room) that sort of thing, And having had other dogs or been to places with other dogs - yes there is infact a settling period and she didnt give it a chance. Not good.

Glad you are home and Rem is safe and all went well in the end. Congrats!!!

[Kevin Poole, Penny & Ozzy]

What a terrible start to your honeymoon Kendra. Glad you could sort out the problem and you had a good time. Congrats on the wedding. One of the good things that came out of it, you have another Doodle convert in Mike. It's times like that when you know who your true friends are, and often it's a surprise!

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

Congrats on your wedding, sorry your plans didn't go as you had planned for Remington, but at least he had a good time with Mike, and all worked out in the end. It can be very hard to find someone to take care of your pet(s), and why professional pet sitters might seem expensive, but in the long run your getting all the comforts of knowing your beloved pet and home are taken care of.

[Kai Doodle (Kathy & Keith)]

Congratulations & welcome home! Glad it worked out.