Comments on: In which I learn never to say never. http://www.thehuckablog.com/2009/07/01/in-which-i-learn-never-to-say-never/ Sat, 10 Apr 2010 05:20:07 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Candy Blakeslee http://www.thehuckablog.com/2009/07/01/in-which-i-learn-never-to-say-never/comment-page-1/#comment-2866 Candy Blakeslee Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:09:40 +0000 http://www.thehuckablog.com/?p=2073#comment-2866 Many times the most compassionate thing you can do is to re-home a dog! Congratulations on knowing that. When my best friend died, we took Tasha her dog. Everyone hated this dog. She barked all of the time, was not housebroken, got into the trash, and was a submissive pee-er. I started by taking Tasha when Jan would go to NIH for cancer treatments. She actually fit into our little pack. Therefore, I begged to take her - it was the only thing I could do for her. Jan was going to have her put down when she died because she knew her family did not want her. Finally, Jan agreed and when she was too sick to enjoy her...she came to our house errantly. We had an adoption ceremony and I told Tasha this would be her forever home. She was a different dog. We got trashcans with lids, she loved using the doggie door and did not have "mistakes" in the house, and she never submissive pee-ed. I just warned everyone coming through the gate not to look at her or give her attention until she came up to them. She continued to bark...but we lived in the country and it did not matter. She was a funny little dog and made me laugh during the toughest days of missing Jan...and beyond. Even though I know my friend, Jan dearly loved this difficult dog. However, she just thrived at her new re-homed house. No one could believe that it was the same dog. Tasha is gone now...she was about 13 years old when we adopted her. We still miss her. Many times the most compassionate thing you can do is to re-home a dog! Congratulations on knowing that.

When my best friend died, we took Tasha her dog. Everyone hated this dog. She barked all of the time, was not housebroken, got into the trash, and was a submissive pee-er. I started by taking Tasha when Jan would go to NIH for cancer treatments. She actually fit into our little pack. Therefore, I begged to take her – it was the only thing I could do for her. Jan was going to have her put down when she died because she knew her family did not want her. Finally, Jan agreed and when she was too sick to enjoy her…she came to our house errantly.

We had an adoption ceremony and I told Tasha this would be her forever home. She was a different dog. We got trashcans with lids, she loved using the doggie door and did not have “mistakes” in the house, and she never submissive pee-ed. I just warned everyone coming through the gate not to look at her or give her attention until she came up to them. She continued to bark…but we lived in the country and it did not matter. She was a funny little dog and made me laugh during the toughest days of missing Jan…and beyond.

Even though I know my friend, Jan dearly loved this difficult dog. However, she just thrived at her new re-homed house. No one could believe that it was the same dog. Tasha is gone now…she was about 13 years old when we adopted her. We still miss her.

]]> By: ShoeShe http://www.thehuckablog.com/2009/07/01/in-which-i-learn-never-to-say-never/comment-page-1/#comment-2865 ShoeShe Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:32:15 +0000 http://www.thehuckablog.com/?p=2073#comment-2865 It's cool. There are some things we're dead-to-the-world passionate about, will fight for, will suffer for and will struggle to endure. And sometimes those things are the hardest for us to overcome when we have to make choices that seem paradoxical to our passions. It is then that we roll up our sleeves (and clean up a few messes) and admit that there are ALWAYS exceptions to the rules...even our horribly difficult self-made rules, beliefs and morals. It's hard, but we come out stronger in the end. Gracie is definitely in a better place. I spoke to the family who took her a few weeks ago, and she is doing wonderfully well. She has a farm with loads of grass and lots of space for her to be hyper. She has a family with kids who like to run around and be hyper with her. There are other animals too! It's one big, happy family. I thought I was being noble taking on a dog who needed a home. I named her Gracie because I was providing unconditional love for her. The tables were turned and my eyes were opened. I couldn't provide grace for a hyper dog (especially in a small house with a less-than-adequate yard). I could be gracious (and still can), and I could try really hard (and still can), but there are always conditions that make our efforts hard. And sometimes the best thing you can do is let someone who can do it better take it away from you. Isn't that what being a Christian about? It's like a give and take thing with God. We know we can't really do it on our own. It's when we let God handle our burdens that we experience joy and grace. You've done the right thing. Ellie loved as best as she knew how, and you gave it your best effort. You did love Ellie, but she didn't know how to love you back, and that made it hard. I'm sorry, though, because I know how it feels to try really hard and ultimately have to give up. That's where I was with Gracie. It’s cool. There are some things we’re dead-to-the-world passionate about, will fight for, will suffer for and will struggle to endure. And sometimes those things are the hardest for us to overcome when we have to make choices that seem paradoxical to our passions. It is then that we roll up our sleeves (and clean up a few messes) and admit that there are ALWAYS exceptions to the rules…even our horribly difficult self-made rules, beliefs and morals. It’s hard, but we come out stronger in the end.

Gracie is definitely in a better place. I spoke to the family who took her a few weeks ago, and she is doing wonderfully well. She has a farm with loads of grass and lots of space for her to be hyper. She has a family with kids who like to run around and be hyper with her. There are other animals too! It’s one big, happy family.

I thought I was being noble taking on a dog who needed a home. I named her Gracie because I was providing unconditional love for her. The tables were turned and my eyes were opened. I couldn’t provide grace for a hyper dog (especially in a small house with a less-than-adequate yard). I could be gracious (and still can), and I could try really hard (and still can), but there are always conditions that make our efforts hard. And sometimes the best thing you can do is let someone who can do it better take it away from you.

Isn’t that what being a Christian about? It’s like a give and take thing with God. We know we can’t really do it on our own. It’s when we let God handle our burdens that we experience joy and grace.

You’ve done the right thing. Ellie loved as best as she knew how, and you gave it your best effort. You did love Ellie, but she didn’t know how to love you back, and that made it hard. I’m sorry, though, because I know how it feels to try really hard and ultimately have to give up. That’s where I was with Gracie.

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