What Would It Be Like If We Got Rehomed?

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I was thinking the other day about the many dogs that need new homes and wondering what it would be like if Fudge and Vern or someone I loved rehomed me.  I am so set in my ways and I prefer my own home to all others.  Sure, we take vacations from time to time, but usually I long for home after just a few days.  I love being surrounded by my things, eating off of my favorite Polish Pottery dishes, and ending every night in my own bed with my favorite pillow.  Even though I write a lot about my family, I am very lucky that I love every one of them and wouldn’t trade any of them even for a million bucks, as long as you catch me on the right day.  I get to go on walks with the guy I love best and I feel safer when he is around.  Sure, we have moved over the years, but at every move, all my pictures go back up on the walls, my throws are put over the sofas, and I am able to turn our new place into our new home.  What would happen if one day everything changed?

 

What would my dogs and family say about me when looking for my new home?   What if they just thought it was too much trouble to try to even think up some good stuff to say and dropped me off somewhere where I had never been before and made me feel really scared being there.  Besides even if they did try to find me a new home, who would want me? Even I don’t think I look that good on paper.  Let’s review the ad they could write if they were being totally honest:

 

Mature Woman Needs Good Home!

Mature, menopausal, woman needs good home.  Suffers from hot flashes, mood swings, and can bite (your head off).  Needs to lose some weight and will pull when she sees clearance signs.  Non-shedding, brown to gray hair (depending on beautician’s availability).  Needs lots of grooming or starts to look unkempt.   Resource guards food and treats.  Talks loudly and often.  Doesn’t listen well and thinks she is the boss. Does not obey any commands from master.   Potty trained except when sneezes and then all bets are off.  Small rehoming fee, however this can be negotiated if we find a permanent home for her and by permanent we mean.... once you take her, you can’t bring her back. 

 

I am pretty sure there would be no takers for this ad, but with the right play on words, I bet they would be lining up at the door.

 

Looking for Great Home for a Wonderful, Older Person!!

 

Are you looking for a woman who is old enough to know what she wants?  Well, look no further.  Fun loving, slightly older woman needs good home.  She loves cooler temperatures, keeping you on your toes, and has great teeth.  Not overly active and very thrifty.  Beautiful silvery brown hair and likes to have hair brushed.  Doesn’t expect you to share food.  Great conversationalist and never lacks for something to say.  Knows her own mind.  Very hygienic and hardly ever gets colds.  We love her so much, only people willing to give her a forever home need apply. 

 

See the difference, just a few revisions can make!  Actually, I am poking a little fun at a very serious issue and don’t expect to be rehomed anytime soon, mainly because my husband knows I don’t get mad, I get even is resigned to his fate gloriously happy.  Just the other day I asked him if he ever wished he married someone different and he said, “I already have somebody who is different,” and I thought to myself, “what an ass,” “how very sweet!” 

 

The advantage humans have over dogs is they can understand when things change, relationships don’t work out, or people grow apart.  They might not like their new circumstances, but at least, they have a clue.  Can you imagine if you didn’t, what it would be like to wake up in a different home, surrounded by people you don’t know, with different smells and new things all around you?  What if you now had to live with someone new and were expected to get along with him or her even if you didn’t like them so much at first?  What would it be like to disappoint the people who are trying to help you because you are sad and afraid and homesick?  What if you lashed out in fear or retreated to a safe space and felt the tension all around you, which only added to your fears?  What if you didn’t believe it would ever get better? I am a grown woman, not a helpless dog, and I have the ability to articulate my feelings, but you can bet after one day of "articulating" over and over again my feelings about my new digs, the people at my new home would be saying, "gosh, this really wasn't that great of an idea!"  Wouldn't it be wonderful if people thought about all this BEFORE bringing a dog home and before they ever gave up on one?

 

The ironic thing is dogs don’t rehome their people and many of us have given our dogs plenty of reason to hope for a better owner.  Nope, dogs are loyal and forgiving and love unconditionally.  We could all learn a thing or two from our dogs and it all really does come back to luck of the draw for most dogs.  It is too bad we can’t all take a lesson from our dogs.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Laurie that was well said.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Barbara!!

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

What a nice and so true blog Laurie.  Us humans can really learn alot from our dogs about unconditional love !!  I am truly blessed to have such great dogs and to be a dog owner in general.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thank you, Lisa!

Doris, I knew we had something special :) Thank you!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Love!

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

Just one of the reasons I love you...

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Jennifer!! Good idea about your Kindle!!

Thank you, Jill!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Laurie this was great! So powerful and true. I'd like to thank you for making me tear up at break today. I've been taking my kindle to work to catch up on what's going on, I just don't sign in until I get home. Couldn't wait to get back and read the replies!

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

Wonderfully written, and I love the sign!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Hey Jen, Give them a hug from me, too :) Thank you!!

Gail, Thank you!! I really do think the dogs on DK are some of the luckiest dogs on earth.

Megan, Thank you!!

Jarka, Thank you for a very thoughtful comment!! I am going now to look at those poems!!