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Saturday, March 15, 2008

Captain High Pockets!


Hi everyone. Our mom is hijacking our blog today because she has something very important to tell you all.


Mom here: It has taken me two days to be able to do this post. On Thursday night, I made the VERY difficult decision to send Pockets back to a foster home in Airedale Rescue. I dropped him off there, this morning.


Everyone who reads our blog knows about the problems we had been having with Pockets. Well, on Thursday afternoon, I was on the phone and Pockets decided to chew on the cord. I didn't have enough hands to stop him so I asked my husband for help. When he tried to get the cord out of Pockets' mouth, Pockets growled and bit my husband on the top of the hand. It is a cut that is about 1 1/2 inch by 1 inch. It laid back a flap of skin and bled profusely. Once we had washed and bandaged his hand, I went into a room by myself for about 3 hours to do some serious thinking and soul-searching. At the end of the 3 hours, I came to the conclusion that it isn't fair to my husband, Poppy or Penny to continue trying to turn Pockets into the great dog that I know he will be. He is just too big, too strong and too young for us to handle. At about 6:30 that evening, I called Airedale Rescue and made them aware of my decision. They agreed with me, completely, and made the arrangements for me to take him back to his former foster home. This has been one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make, but it is best for everyone, including Pockets. He needs a very strong hand to guide him out of puppyhood and at this stage in our lives, we just aren't capable of being that strong hand. As most of you know, I have fallen down twice in the past week and my body hasn't had a chance to heal because I have been constantly wrestling with a dog that is about 35 inches tall and weighs over 68 pounds. When I was younger, this wouldn't have been a problem, but I am not a spring chicken anymore! My husband has severe Osteo-arthritis and he is always in pain so the strain of fighting that large of a dog has taken it's toll on him, too.


We are waiting for Airedale Rescue to find us a female that is smaller, a little older and more settled. I guess we are just too old to wrestle with a puppy! That will also be better for my two Aire-girls. Penny just turned 9 and she was getting her legs bitten and Poppy is almost 8 and she has ended up with 2 bloodshot and swollen eyes. I think a smaller Airedale will fit in better with both of them. They still like to play, but they also like to nap a lot and that wasn't possible with Pockets chasing them almost constantly. Since I got home from taking Pockets back, my two girls have stuck to me like glue and they keep putting their heads on my legs. I think they are thanking me for making their lives more comfortable. I also think that maybe God was trying to tell me that he wasn't the right dog for us, but I wasn't listening. I finally got the message when he bit my husband's hand. My husband has an artificial knee and any infection could go right to the knee and cause horrible problems so I am glad I finally realized what I had to do before things got any worse. We have asked Airedale Rescue not to label Pockets as a "biter" because in all fairness, he was cornered and his only choice was fight instead of flight.


I believe we tried as much as humanly possible to settle Pockets down, but we just couldn't do it. After two days of tears and feeling guilty, I now realize that I did the right thing for all of us. I hope all of you, that read our blog, will understand.


In a couple days, when we have all settled back down, the girls will go back to blogging as usual.


Aire-hugs to all of you!


Poppy & Penny's Mom


14 comments:

Molly the Airedale said...

We totally understand! You did what was best for your family! The perfect home will come along for Pockets! He's a beautiful boy!
We applaud you and it sounds like the girls do too!

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch

Harry said...

Sorry to hear of the troubles you've been having. I'm sure Pockets will find a home, maybe where he is an only dog. Don't beat yourselves up at all.

Toodle pip
Harry x

Scruffy, Lacie and Stanley's Place said...

You doggies and hoomans did all you could to make a home for Pockets, but this was not meant to be!!!

We think that you, Penny and Poppy, know your mom is upset and are tryin' to send ur best airezen to comfort her. We know that will make her feel better!

A great home will come along for Pockets, and we're sure the pawfect dog will come along for you.

We're sendin' some serious terrier zen to help you all through this tough time...

Consoling barks,
Scruffy, Lacie and Babystan

Agatha and Archie said...

Don't worry we totally understand.He will find the right fit.You gave it a real college try,but it was not meant to be.We are sending all of you calming smoochies and giant hugs....Love and kisses A+A

Asta said...

I'm suwe you did the wight thing fow all of you..Pockets pwobably needs to be an only doggie fow a while at least, with oungew enewgetic pawents who can weally teach him all those impowtant things he needs to become the wondewfully doggie he will gwow up to be. This must have been a vewy difficult decision. We know you love him and twied youw vewy best, but it was just not the wight sitooation fow him eithew..pleez don't be sad, I'm suwe he'll find the pawfect place, and you and youw husband and Penny and Poppy will be happiew and healthiew too...you couldn't have known..you awe kind and loving hoomans and did the best thing fow evewyone.we love you and don't want you to be sad !
smoochie kisses,Asta and pawents

Persephone and Buster said...

Our hats are off to you for a noble effort! At least Pockets had the benefit of your love and companionship for awhile, and that's the most important thing. We've had some similar experiences with members of our four-legged family that mom rescued--in the end, there's simply no other choice.

Have a Happy St. Patty's Day--we recommend a pint o' the old Nectar to bring a wee bit o' joy back!

Cheers,

Buster & Persephone

Noah the Airedale said...

Gosh, we're sorry it didn't work out for you and Pockets. Paws crossed it wont be long before he is rehomed. He's a lovely boy. We hope hubbies hand heals up quickly.

Hugs and tail wags
Noah Willow Tess & Lucy

Mr. T-Bone Beasley said...

That must have been a very difficult decision for you and your family. He will be better off somewhere where he can get out all of his puppy crazies!!!! You did the right thing, and I'm sure he's doing great! Hope you Airedales make your Mom and Dad feel better so she can heal up! Woof to you all!

Much wags!

Mr. T-Bone Beasley

Lady Kaos said...

Pockets will find a home that is perfect for you and you will find a new perfect addition to your family. If all of you are always in pain, then there's no way you can enjoy anything. You did the right thing both for you and your family and for Pockets.
Kaos

Deetz said...

YOU did the right thing. Pockets will be okay. I am sure Penny and Poppy are more relaxed and they understand too. Things happen for a reason.
Paw Hugs...big ones
Deetzy

Urban Smoothie Read said...

we juz hope pocket will get a new family who knows how to handle him..

paw crossed...

Girl Girl Hamster said...

I agree with your decision. You've done the best you can handle.
Dont be too hard on yourself

~ Girl girl

Lacy said...

woofies Penny and Poppy...and mom and dad...u really did give dat doggy a chance..but he me finks needs a home where he iz the only doggie...u tried everyfing u cood..he will find a furever home..i had to do that one time too, give a dog to a friend of mine, i had to protect my older and the furkid that had been with us longer...and that was ms lacylulu...molly hated her, wanted to b alpha female...

b safe,
;)lacylulu

Ferndoggle said...

Hey guys...we're a little behind and just read about Pockets. We're very sorry things didn't work out. We give you a lot of credit for putting the girls (and yourselves) first and allowing Pockets the chance to find a more appropriate home. It's never easy, but you'll find the right dog to add to your family one day.

Nubby wiggles and a little grump,

Sherman, Penny, Lola and Mom, Jen