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.

[Jen, Lachlan, and Declan]

Beautifully written, Laurie! Now pardon me while I go hug my nitwits beloved puppies.

[Gail and Bailey]

Great blog, Laurie.  I went in Pet Smart on Sunday and had to pass by the cages of animals up for adoption.  My heart hurt thinking about those poor babies.  I wish they had a sign like yours so folks would really think first. Then when I was getting my hair cut I had to listen to a woman complaining about her dog running away from her when she tries to get him back into the house.  I tried to nicely suggest she train him....she was not interested.  If only all people had the same feelings about dogs that lives in the hearts of DKers!

[FrenchPoodleDoodle]

This was a good one, Momma! So good..I shared it on my Facebook! :)

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

I've bookmarked a site with a collection of pet poems: http://www.alterpet.org/pet_poems.htm

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Great blog, Laurie. You have a gift to wrap a serious issue into a funny wrapper. I have often thought about how that would feel to be a dog (should have said a bitch but with that one I'm already there on occasions).

Just like you wrote, they have no clue. I often imagined how it feels for a dog to be asked to get in the car and ride somewhere, not knowing where, why, and what will be next. And yet, they always get so excited when they hear the keys jingle and trust us enough to go to the end of the world with us without any hesitation. Can you all imagine being a dog, getting excited for a car ride only to find out that you master dumped you in the middle of nowhere and you are all alone? Grrrr.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Deanna!! Those analogies always helped me when I was a student.

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

When I was teaching, I often used analogies to help my kids understand difficult concepts.  This analogy hits the "bullseye" - and as others have said should be mandatory reading before anyone takes on the responsibility of caring for a dog.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Kathy, I love your wall hanging quote!! Thank you!

Jane, I saw the Doodle picture of all the dogs at daycare. What fun and they both looked so happy. What if we never picked them up?  Just the thought made me sad, too!  Thanks for being such a dedicated dog owner to your guys.

Nicky, Thank you!! I love to read through the comments, too, on blogs and discussion. It is so interesting to see everyone's point of view. I like that....like toppers on the food bowl.  I bet you are both rehomable and employable...if not, I bet you would have lots of applicants from DK :)

[Kathy Janes]

Awesome - thanks for sharing on FB.  I have a favorite wall hanging that says my feelings well:

"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them, and every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart.  If I live long enough all of the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are."

Something to think about before giving up on that unruly puppy, that aging senior, the dog who barks to mush or is just "too much trouble".  He's give you his heart - you need to take good care of something like that.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Another awesome blog, Laurie.....funny but still so much to think about.  My boys went to Daycare yesterday.  They love Daycare and get so excited when we arrive...they run in and never look back.  But when it's time to come home, they're ready.  They are so happy and excited to see us....wagging tails and huge smiles.....their whole wiggly body tells us that they missed their Mom and Dad and want to come home.  What if we never picked them up?  How would they feel?  It's unthinkable to me.