So Sunday was a very hard and emotional day for us. We made the very tough decision to give the dogs up. For those of you who don't know, we've had Lola and Spike, our 2 Chihuahua's for 4.5 years. We got Lola first when we lived in New Brunswick, before we got married. She really was my first little baby, I treated her like one at least! She slept in the bed with us and really did almost everything with us. When we moved into our townhouse we stopped by Pets Pets Pets a few times and fell in love with Spike. He actually stole Ryan's heart by burrowing his little head into his coat the 3rd visit we took there to visit him. We got Spike when Lola was 1 and Spike was 7 months old. Someone bought Spike's brother and left him, so sad. Spike was actually on clearance, who puts a dog on clearance???? We HAD to have him. So we took Spike home that 3rd visit night and than we had 2. At first Lola was a BIOTCH, she didn't want anything to do with him and all he wanted to do was follow her around. We were actually going to take him back, Ry had him in the car at the store and I called to tell him to bring him home, he was already part of the family. Lola finally came around and they were like brother and sister. Lola was always the alpha dog but Spike was fine with that, following her around and just taking her lead. They slept in our bed and were our babies. Than I found out I was pregnant. Ryan said, we need to get them out of our beds ASAP! I agreed, I didn't want to have to worry about transitioning them once Mya arrived, so we crate trained them, which wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I think it was easier since they had eachother. They grew to LOVE that crate and it was their little safe spot. Once we had Mya's bedroom all set up, the dogs were no longer allowed in that room. We didn't want the dog hair everywhere in there, especially cause they still did have accidents on carpets sometimes and we put new carpet in Mya's room. We decided to finish the rest of the upstairs and stairs with new carpet so were going to have to keep them off the carpet entirely (that's where they always had accidents and if we were spending all this money for new carpet, we didn't want to risk them peeing on it). So now they were only allowed downstairs. Once Mya came, we didn't pay as much attention to them. Fast forward another 2 years, add Ashley to the mix and we were barely paying attention to them. We felt bad, we weren't able to give them the attention we used to and the love they deserved. We were at my parents house when Pete was home and Lola was sitting on Pete's lap. Mya came over and smacked Lola, Lola nipped at her. Didn't break skin and it was totally Mya's fault, but it happened. And to be quite honest, this wasn't the first time it has happened. It had happened 3 other times before, we never really told anyone cause they were always Mya's fault. However, we cannot be worrying about whether or not this is going to happen when we're not paying attention, and god forbid it happens and Lola gets her face or something.
Anyway, we first asked around to friends and family to see if they wanted Lola and Spike but no one did. Most of our friends already have dogs and children too. Ryan than contacted a chihuahua rescue organization. We weren't going to bring them to a shelter, that was just not happening. A lady called Ryan back and said she'd take them. She fosters dogs all the time and seemed great. Ryan bought them on Sunday. Hardest.Day.Ever. I was at a family bridal shower with Ashley so Ryan had to take them with
Mya. It was so hard that morning. The weather was just rainy and dreary so that didn't help one bit. I never thought it would be so hard to do this. I thought I was so ready for this. Apparently Ryan wasn't either. When we were on the way to the shower and Ryan had dropped them off, we were talking and he decided to call the lady. We wanted them back already. We didn't know if we made the right decision. Ryan called her and she said we should give it a few days to make a decision that wasn't swayed by our emotions. So we agreed we'd wait a few days. Tuesday came and the lady called Ryan, she said she needed an answer by the end of the day as she wanted to take
them to the vet. She said they didn't usually do this, that once you sign them over, they're theirs. Since we were so torn, she gave us some time. This was so hard and bought more emotion. After talking about it when Ry got home, we decided that the best thing to do, for the pups, was to leave them with her. I just wanted to talk to her first to make sure it felt right. Ry was the one dealing with this lady and I hadn't met her at all. Ryan called and I took the phone. Through the tears I said hi, and the first thing she said was, you're making the right decision. I asked her how Lola and Spike were. She went on to tell me Lola was a little cuddle monkey and everything she said to me made me know that Lola is totally herself already. Made me feel so much better. Than I went on to ask about Spike, who I was more concerned with. Spike is a little different, not your normal, cuddle up with me kinda dog. He's more sketchy and stand offish. She told me that the first day he was shaking in the crate and didn't eat. Broke my heart and I started crying again. This isn't easy to hear. I love these dogs so much and just want them to be happy. I want them to get the love and attention they deserve and that we used to give them. She than went on to tell me that Spike was eating now and he was coming out of the crate for her son and running around with Lola. For a little bit we were considering just taking Spike back and leaving Lola, but we couldn't possibly split them up and have them go through this alone. Plus, they're brother and sister, they need to stay together. The lady went on to tell me that she cooks her dogs rice, barely and carrots everyday, she doesn't crate them and she treats them like her kids. Ryan said that she was like a weird animal person when he met her, which
actually made me feel better. Hearing this from her helped me let go, it helped me say
ok, I think we did make the right decision. They are getting so much love and attention that we
didn't' give them once we had the girls. This lady had a backyard for them to run around in too. It doesn't make it better but makes it a little easier knowing they are in a good home. It's weird thinking that they're not coming home. It's weird not hearing them bark
everytime the doorbell rings. It's weird not having them jump onto the couch after coming downstairs when the girls go to bed. It's weird not having Lola licking Ashley's feet while I feed her on the couch. It's weird not watching Spike run away from
Mya chasing him around and screaming
PIKEEEE. As I sit here typing this the tears are pouring down my face, I really miss the shit out of them. Did we make the right decision? Will I ever know? When is this going to get easier?
I just have to keep telling myself that this is the right decision for them and for us right now.
I love you Lola Belle and Spikey Spike and always will. xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
We got Lola when she wasn't even 2 months old. She weighed 1.5lbs and was a PEANUT!
Spike's first night home.
When he first came home Lola's ears went from floppy to straight up. They eventually came back down.
Checkin eachother out.
Our little family in 2008.
Going somewhere with them.
Ears back down again. In
Mya's room when it was all ready for her arrival.
Spike in
Mya's room
Mya's home and the pups and I were relaxing on the couch.
Loving the nice weather on the deck.
smiling :)
Spike smiling too!
Typical Lola and Spike.
Even
Mya loved to walk them.
I'm really missing the hell out of them. I just hope that the family who gets them cuddles, pets and gives them the attention that we used to give them. They really are great dogs and I love them so much.
