Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Crumb-y

When I was little I ate my peas in pairs. I imagined that if one went down the hatch he or she would be lonely and afraid, but if it had a buddy it wouldn't be so bad.

At age four I probably should have seen a counselor after watching "Dumbo". The scene where he is outside his mother's cage, in the rain while she swings him in the bend of her trunk...warped my soul irrevocably. Sometimes, randomly I think about how Buzz and Woody will eventually be sold in a garage sale. I have always had a bleeding heart for things that don't really deserve it.

Well, I got rid of my dog Raisin last week because he pees on everything. He was permanently banished to the backyard. It will be getting chilly soon and that was a problem because Hitler's moustache had more hair than Raisin. But I put my foot down. Raisin was not coming back in the house. He lived in the downstairs shower on really hot days as it was. Not the greatest life for a dog. So we found him a new home. Trouble is, everything feels crumb-y now.

Apparently Raisin ate every morsel of everything that even thought about falling on the floor. Now every time a cheerio crunches under my un-pedicured heel, or every time a shard of a Dorito stabs my foot, I think of Raisin. That thought of him leads to more thoughts. Does he feel rejected? Does he miss us? Is he wandering the streets looking for our house?

I watched "Marley and Me" last weekend with my husband, who by the way thinks my heart is made of the most vile, poisonous , icy stone imaginable for what I've insisted on. Let's just say that is NOT the movie to watch after you give your dog the shaft. There was a scene in which the mom had had it with her dog's shenanigans and told the husband to take him to a naughty dog farm. After a couple of days, she apologized and and rescinded her threat. Then at the end of the movie, there was a heart warming montage of pictures and music depicting the long and fulfilling life they shared with their dog. I almost drowned in the tidal wave of "I told you so" that silently poured off of my huz.

I wanted to post a sort of memorial, good -bye raisin photo, but the only photo I could find off hand was one where my husband was standing in the bedroom and Raisin was on the bed (oh my gosh Nic is going to kill me) and somehow the way Raisin's head was with his long nose and huge bat ears superimposed the perfect dog head speedo on my husband. It was the most amazing random photo, but I can't very well post it here.

So, I'm still not sure I did the right thing. The facts: Raisin peed on everything. He's too naked to live outside. I gave away my little doggy. Sigh. I just don't know. Good bye Raisy-boy. I miss you. Sort of..

17 comments:

Forbush in Texas said...

Ohhh Angie. You did the right thing. If the dog doesn;t respect your property he's outta there. I had a 7 yr old dog that I got from the SPCA. She ate my front door frame not once but twice. The second time was right after we fixed it. Then she ate the laundry room door frame. We put her outside when I had to be away for a few hours. She ate the fence, again right after we fixed it she ate it again. Mind you I love dogs but she happened to do all of this while our house was on the market.
So I had to take her back to the SPCA. A 7 yr old dog with seperation anxiety who destroys my house while I am gone does not get my sympathy.

Cyndi said...

Oh little Raisin. I have to agree with Forbush in Texas though. The runt had to go! It's bad enough trying to raise kids who pee everywhere(not saying yours do!) let alone a small animal who refuses to stop. I back you up girl!

andrea said...

I'm the wrong person to comment because I'm not an animal lover. Even after watching Marley & Me I want to get rid of my husband's dog, and Jack doesn't have an incontinence issue, he's just demanding. I envy your dog free life. I have 15 years max left with my dog, and then I can be dog-free for the same number of years I suffered while living with the growly, cute, playful, annoying dog.

Mary said...

Animals are not humans. If they are bad and you don't get along it is okay to get rid of them.

We too tried the dog thing and we failed. Oh well! I might get one when I'm old an lonely. That's the season for animals.

I know what you are saying about Dumbo. It makes me very depressed.
My children are not allowed to watch it when I'm home.

Michelle B. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Michelle B. said...

The movie Marley and Me is great, but it should come with a disclaimer! Hang in there!

Kara said...

You totally made the right decision so don't feel bad. Besides, Cindy is completely right about kids being enough work without a dog who pees everywhere too! Oh the joys of womanhood that guilt is our mantle...it will pass eventually =).

Audrey Taylor said...

Naaah, I heard that dogs think in the present. So wherever he is, I'm sure he's making friends. Just think of all the wonderful benefits of not having him around!

Karen said...

I had a beautiful border collie mix when I lived in my first house but that dog shed soooooo bad that I just couldn't keep up with it and my crawling babies were covered in hair and eating it. (yuck) my husband was deployed and I felt overwhelmed. I gave the dog to a shelter and I cried for having done so but I will tell you that with time the "missing" lessens and you will feel better about your decision. You have a big job as it is as a mom, you don't need one more hassle. Don't be too hard on yourself! You did the right thing.

i said...

i will mis that little yapper too. did he get to take his laundry hamper clam shell with? he always looked so cute in that!

Michelle said...

You definitely did the right thing! No doubt about it.
I am glad that since you couldn't post that picture of Nic, that you at least described it to us... that is hilarious!!
Also, I appreciated hearing that I am not the only one who has attention deprived feet and crap on the floor. I just saw an infomercial for some new light weight miracle vacuum that supposedly picks up EVERYTHING. I am such a sucker for those kinds of products because I cannot seem to keep the floor clean for more than a half hour!!

The San Diego Mills said...

So I wanted to just e-mail you the info. about Nie Nie since it's totally unrelated to your post, but didn't have your e-mail address. I'll have to get that from you sometime soon. I have Tivo also and it listed some random thing yesterday (Wed.) but it was actually Nie. She was on for only part of the show and I personally thought it should have been the whole show, but oh well. It was good and made me bawl my eyes out! She was absolutely glowing with the spirit and I loved to look at her! You'll have to watch it and let me know what you think. BTW, if you ever want to e-mail me, my address is liss1998@gmail.com Now, I am done!

Christene said...

I still recall your memorable post when dear Raisin peed on your Christmas presents while you were pregnant (am I remembering that right?). I thought then and there that you were a saint to keep him. I am a huge dog lover, but I have definitely changed my view since having kids. Now when they ask for a pet, I tell them we already have three (kids!) and they are plenty of work for now. THey don't like it, but truth is truth. Sorry you are feeling guilty, but I hope you will let it pass quickly and realize what a relief it will be not having to worry about puddles...at least from your dog. :) Hang in there Angie!

Ashley said...

So funny! Ok, first of all, thank you so much for your comments on my blog. This whole CPS thing has been so bizarre. One of those "it'll never happen to me because I'm too careful" kinds of things. Oh well, it'll pass, but I thank you for commenting. I love to know others read my story.
Now, to the funny.
I have a dog, a female "mutt", about 5 1/2 months old that I CAN NOT get potty trained! She goes almost every day in one of the kids' closets. We have a doggy door and she uses it all the time, except when she doesn't feel like it. I, too, am at my breaking point. I can't have an outside dog. I just don't have the heart. But I also can't have a dog that potties all over my house. I can't be the house that you walk into and think "Oh, lovely house....wait....it smells like dog pee." So, this morning I sent an email to the shelter I got her from to see if the lady would take her back. Am I full of guilt? Absolutely! But my mind full of guilt is better than my house full of pee...and poo...

"M" Clan said...

Dumbo... the crumbs... you kill me :) It's so tough to get rid of a loved pet, but for your sanity and the dog's daily happiness it is for the best, we've all done it!

The Hamiltons said...

Hey Angie, I have a few things here that I would like to say: first I do think you did the right thing in giving Raisin another home where he will be loved and fully appreciated, secondly I can't help but blame you and nick for his habits. Your biggest fault with Raisin was choosing to not neuter him because dogs that still have their testicles love, love, love marking their territory, even if it's in their own house! It’s entirely disgusting, but that was your mistake. Of course you and your family and Raisin are better off living apart for the sanity of yourself and for the happiness of Raisin not having to be an outdoor dog since he is pretty much skinless anyway. I am 100% against people who can just give their babies away like that, but commend you for realizing you weren’t going to be able to live with him anymore and for finding him a new home. Not that this gives much comfort but dogs don’t live in the present, they have memories and feelings, and remember their past. Raisin will never be able to forget you and your family due to the fact that every time a child ate he was able to clean up after them. I'm sorry for the decision you had to make but I am happy you did because not many people can have the balls to realize they can't or no longer have the time to take care of an animal, and it doesn’t make you heartless or evil either.

Unknown said...

Alright last post... Bon Voyage raisin...you did the right thing... any dog that lets out a full on welp when you ever so gently pet his back must have bigger problems than licking someone elses floorboards. He's gone to a happy mystical place with my dogs.. all so happy together, out of sight and mind.