Today is my Gotcha Day by River Song

Today is my Gotcha Day!  Four years ago today, after I left my Florida house where there were too many dogs, went on an airplane ride, which was too loud, and spent a night at our groomer’s house, who lived with my ex-boyfriend, I met my mom, and went to her home, where there were no dogs, only a Pocket.  From that moment forward I only wanted one thing:  Mom and food.  OK, I wanted two things, but food goes without saying.

When Foley interviewed me as her replacement in our pack, she told me that Mommy had recently retired which meant she would be home a lot.  My former mom thought I needed a smaller family.  Coming from a multiple dog home helped me in the interview.  Foley thought my experience with large packs would help me deal with Pocket’s schizophrenia.

Foley told me that Mommy needed a lot of help especially with rebuilding her heart, which was shattered when I departed.  She instructed me to get by her side and never leave.  I swore I was the dog to meet that challenge.

Oh boy, when I first met Mommy, at the groomer’s, and she reached for me, man, did I fall hard for her.  She looked at me, and her eyes said that we would be together forever.  I settled in her arms and decided I was never leaving.

And we were together for several days.  I was by her all the time, in the bathroom, when she was sleeping, when she was sitting.  I was not going to let Foley down.

Then one day Mommy gave me a kiss and said she had to go “out.”  Where was out?  What would she be doing there?  Would she be safe?  Who would take care of her?  Not Daddy.  He was barely holding himself together.

But they got in the car, and they left.  I fretted so much I pooped in my crate, and I have never stopped fretting when she goes out.

Many things have changed since that first day.  I am no longer crated.  They have not built a crate built that can hold me.  And I rarely fear poop when she is gone.  But I still fret.  Recently, thanks to a suggestion from Molly’s mom and Bishi’s mom Mommy has been leaving me with her night shirt so even when she is gone I still have her scent near me.  That has calmed me, but has not stopped my fretting.

This week Mommy and Daddy went out.  “We will only be gone for a short while,” she said.  She was right.  They were only gone for a half hour.

Back when I was brought to Massachusetts from Florida the plane hit turbulence, and I was bounced around.  It only lasted a short amount of time, but everyone was terrified.  That is what it is like when your mom is out of the house.  Your life hits turbulence, and no matter how long it is it is still terrifying and seems like it is forever.

All in all, it has been a wonderful four-year trip, but I hope the next four brings less turbulence and more smooth flying.

When Foley interviewed me as her replacement in our pack, she told me that Mommy had recently retired which meant she would be home a lot.  My former mom thought I needed a smaller family.  Coming from a multiple dog home helped me in the interview.  Foley thought my experience with large packs would help me deal with Pocket’s schizophrenia.

Foley told me that Mommy needed a lot of help especially with rebuilding her heart, which was shattered when I departed.  She instructed me to get by her side and never leave.  I swore I was the dog to meet that challenge.

Oh boy, when I first met Mommy, at the groomer’s, and she reached for me, man, did I fall hard for her.  She looked at me, and her eyes said that we would be together forever.  I settled in her arms and decided I was never leaving.

And we were together for several days.  I was by her all the time, in the bathroom, when she was sleeping, when she was sitting.  I was not going to let Foley down.

Then one day Mommy gave me a kiss and said she had to go “out.”  Where was out?  What would she be doing there?  Would she be safe?  Who would take care of her?  Not Daddy.  He was barely holding himself together.

But they got in the car, and they left.  I fretted so much I pooped in my crate, and I have never stopped fretting when she goes out.

Many things have changed since that first day.  I am no longer crated.  They have not built a crate built that can hold me.  And I rarely fear poop when she is gone.  But I still fret.  Recently, thanks to a suggestion from Molly’s mom and Bishi’s mom Mommy has been leaving me with her night shirt so even when she is gone I still have her scent near me.  That has calmed me, but has not stopped my fretting.

This week Mommy and Daddy went out.  “We will only be gone for a short while,” she said.  She was right.  They were only gone for a half hour.

Back when I was brought to Massachusetts from Florida the plane hit turbulence, and I was bounced around.  It only lasted a short amount of time, but everyone was terrified.  That is what it is like when your mom is out of the house.  Your life hits turbulence, and no matter how long it is it is still terrifying and seems like it is forever.

All in all, it has been a wonderful four-year trip, but I hope the next four brings less turbulence and more smooth flying.