Saying Goodbye For A Week…Or Forever…
Saying Goodbye For A Week...Or Forever...
The pain I felt separating from my pets last week I took a much needed working vacation with our kids who were on spring break was palpable, coupled together with intense emotional anxiety separation. My nervousness and overwhelming sadness at leaving all my pets, but mostly, PAWS, my puppy, was fraught with such sadness, I felt like someone was kickboxing me in my stomach. You would think I was being forced into month of boot camp instead of 7 days of some sunshine with my family.
But that is what happens when you leave pets that you love deeply and put them in hands of others. Many people think I am crazy and overreacting. Many people, if you are like me, probably think that you too, carry on too much when you have to place your pet in a kennel, spa, day care, camp or whatever name they now call the facility that cares for you pooch or kitty when you have to leave them for a period of time longer than a day. For me, it is gut-wrenching.
My Briard, Bailey sleeps on my bed along with Rocky, my 17 year old cat. PAWS sleeps on the bed for a minute then on the floor next to me and then waits for me to wake up anywhere from 3 to 5 AM, (the time I usually write) and then goes into the den and lies on the couch next to me while I type away on my blog or record my radio show,Pet Marketing Strategies For The Petpreneur for PetLifeRadio. So, how will they possible survive the week, I think? To make matters worse, PAWS comes down with a double yeast infection the day before we are set to leave and will need drops in both ears. And Rocky, diabetic, is still in failing health and we fear the inability to get his diabetes under control is taking its toll. Rocky’s boarding was an easy decision. His failing health required him to reside with our Vet at Dogwood Veterinarian Hospital & Pet Resort, to be monitored for his diabetes as he requires 2 daily shots of insulin and special handling. Fortunately, our Vet also has a boarding facility for dogs and cats so this was a stress-free solution for us.
The day I dread comes. Excitement for my trip is bittersweet. I cry all the way to Sunny Acres Pet Resort. The loving reception PAWS & Bailey received quickly put my fears to rest. The owner, Donna, is on site from dawn to dusk and has an incredibly pet-loving staff, all with their own pets romping around on their 14 acres of fenced outdoor fields for playtimes. Here, our pets can frolic with other canine campers or have their very own play yard, all under the supervision of trained and experienced staff that are trained in CPR, Certified Pet Care and are certified behavior specialists and dog trainers! Their buildings are equipped with state-of-the-art air conditioning, heat and air purifiers. Around-the-clock camera surveillance and an employee who lives on the property to provide for the utmost in security. I highly suggest wherever you live, you do your homework when starting your search for a boarding facility for your pet. Where PAWS and Bailey were they could:
1. They could frolic with other canine campers or have their very own play yard full of toys, balls, wading pools and more all under the supervision of trained and experienced staff.
2. They resided in large indoor/outdoor air-conditioned/heated 8×18 ft. suites fitted with Kuranda beds (or you can bring your own from home).
3. They offer complete flexibility in designing your pet’s vacation to make sure you and your pet’s every need is covered from playtime, TV/sofa time, stuffed kongs, massages, grooming, any type of pet supply or toys, treats, bones, beds and more.
4. Our boarding facility is also a doggie day camp facility so any type of day program can be arranged while you are away including dog training for the beginning pup to master class for agility and specialized training for therapy dogs.
5. Our facility also offers boarding for other small pets including cats, birds, bunnies and you can arrange for a special arrangement for your teacup piggy, too!
While away, despite the distance and difficulty in connecting at times, I managed to check on our pets’ care several times. Naturally, they were all doing fine and I am sure, happy to be on their own vacation. Rocky, however, was not doing as well, and we were in for some tough news upon our return.
Picking up Bailey and PAWS reminded me of the anticipation of waiting at the airport for my boyfriend to step off the plane on his weekend visit college or work while we long-distance dated because of our jobs. It was a glorious display of hugs, kisses and sounds of pure joy at being reunited. As we drove home, Bailey and PAWS in the back, I turned around and saw Bailey’s paws draped over one of PAWS’s paws. The two were ‘holding paws’ in the back as if to say, were going home with Mom & Dad. I wish I could have grabbed my camera and grabbed the shot, but life’s spontaneity never stands still long enough to capture special moments like these.
After getting the pups home, it was on to the Vet to pick up Rocky. That’s when we learned the sad news about what we have been silently fearing since his Diabetes diagnosis. Despite pouring enormous funds into Rocky’s health care already: glucose monitoring, testing, insulin studies and so on, his sugar is still unregulated and may never come under control. That coupled with a myriad of other underlying metabolic diseases — heart murmur, past thyroid problems and a host of kidney issues, leaves him in a weakened condition with his time with us drawing to an end.
Our wonderful Vet, Dr. Linda Sands, gave us advice on what to look for to know how to regulate his insulin without continuing to run expensive glucose monitoring and testing and was kind enough to share her thoughts on how to know when the time would come when we would know when Rocky would want us to let him go. It was gut-wrenching, heart-breaking and yet, at the same time, comforting.
While saying goodbye for a week tugs at your heart and emotions for a much loved pet, you worry about how they are treated, their condition and mainly, the unknown. You do your best to vet out the best facility for their care, but still, it is the loss of control over their care that tugs at your heart while you are away.
With Rocky, I knew he was in a medical environment while I was away. He could not be safer. I placed him in the care of the people who I would turn to in an emergency to save his life. It was the same Vet that I turned to discuss a plan for the quality of the remainder of his life — be it weeks, months or hopefully, longer. But, it was comforting to know I was given control back. Control to know that when the time comes, our family will be unified in its decision about how Rocky will leave us, with dignity, grace and love, just as he deserves.
Pawsitively Yours,
Karen Barnett & PAWS (Woof!)
Check out this informative post on boarding your pet and how not to feel anxious about leaving your pet while on vacation!
I have trouble leaving my guys for any length of time. But I know they are in good hands and happy to see me when I return..and that is what makes it all worth it. Woof!