My Version of Separation Anxiety
Princeton thought it was gonna be an ordinary day today.. This is the daily drill: Poy walks him for 15 minutes in the morning, we both leave for work, I come home & walk him again. Today it was different.. I walked him almost close to an hour. We took a more beautiful path. He did not sense anything extra ordinary with this treat. I felt heavy inside. At the end of the day, the little creature will board a kennel & we will be away from him for almost 2 weeks. I just felt another stab in my heart just typing that:(
After I walked him, I fed him. Then I went to Shopper's, bought him spaghetti noodles, yogurts, & almost every little thing I know he will eat while we are away. This monster is such a picky eater. He would only eat his dog food if I mix it with table food. I packed all these goodies.. bundled up his toys, got mine & Poy's shirt packed up so it would ease his separation anxiety & drove to Poy's office to meet him. Before we "turned him in" we thought a stroll along the path is not a bad idea, so we walked for a while. Now it was time to head back to this dingy kennel. It was now time to leave him. So this lady comes out, probably in her mid 50's, hacking like she had tuberculosis, her arms red with itch marks.. I swear, she is sick with something. I would have felt more compassionate but she had a lousy attitude. She said Princeton can only take 2 toys with him. Fine. We gave him the kong & the rawhide bone. Then I gave her all the hearty snacks I prepared for him. She just bolted, "Ok, it will be $2 extra per day per item.. PER DAY PER ITEM--- I FELT THE BLOOD SWELL UP IN MY HEAD-- IS SHE F@%*#G KIDDING ME? Aside from the $20 boarding fee per day, she is to charge an additional $2 each for Princeton's noodles, yogurt, & meatball gravy, she said for storage! Ok, so if you stack up these items one on top each other, can I just pay $2 for that space I occupy. C'mon, I know people make up their own rules but for Pete's sake, make up something that make sense. So that's a whooping $6 PER DAY- a fund I'm sure she will use to buy hydrocortisone anti-itch creme for her scaly skin. Am I being too unreasonable, I thought? She said they prepare home cooked meals, & I said" what, do you piece the chicken, the turkey, the pork? Oh no! She mixes the dog food with canned wet dog food. What is home cooked about that? Anyway, since we were already over our budget for our trip, I dug in my heels & just begged her (which made me sick to my gut) to make sure he eats something. I admit, I was being paranoid but I know my dog better than anyone else when it comes to food so I know what works. Another lady came out, checked if Princeton was fleas-free, put a collar on him & just led him in. I just saw his tail vanish in oblivion. No time to say our goodbyes! That was it. My voice quivered & tears just started flowing. I could not speak a word. We left her office. Poy has his share of buckling down when he suggested we check out the back area of the kennel, & try to see if we can see Princeton one more time. So we went, & there he was barking & howling. I know he detests confinement.
Maybe this journal entry does not warrant any attention because it is only about a dog. I just needed to write to release my pent-up emotions. I am distraught & out of focus. While we are in Manila all covered up in hotel sheets, my dog is in the cage on a forlorn mat. I'm sure we will enjoy the Philippines, despite the void Princeton can only fill. I just hope Princeton will also enjoy the scenery in the woods after a while, not to mention the old lady's company:)
After I walked him, I fed him. Then I went to Shopper's, bought him spaghetti noodles, yogurts, & almost every little thing I know he will eat while we are away. This monster is such a picky eater. He would only eat his dog food if I mix it with table food. I packed all these goodies.. bundled up his toys, got mine & Poy's shirt packed up so it would ease his separation anxiety & drove to Poy's office to meet him. Before we "turned him in" we thought a stroll along the path is not a bad idea, so we walked for a while. Now it was time to head back to this dingy kennel. It was now time to leave him. So this lady comes out, probably in her mid 50's, hacking like she had tuberculosis, her arms red with itch marks.. I swear, she is sick with something. I would have felt more compassionate but she had a lousy attitude. She said Princeton can only take 2 toys with him. Fine. We gave him the kong & the rawhide bone. Then I gave her all the hearty snacks I prepared for him. She just bolted, "Ok, it will be $2 extra per day per item.. PER DAY PER ITEM--- I FELT THE BLOOD SWELL UP IN MY HEAD-- IS SHE F@%*#G KIDDING ME? Aside from the $20 boarding fee per day, she is to charge an additional $2 each for Princeton's noodles, yogurt, & meatball gravy, she said for storage! Ok, so if you stack up these items one on top each other, can I just pay $2 for that space I occupy. C'mon, I know people make up their own rules but for Pete's sake, make up something that make sense. So that's a whooping $6 PER DAY- a fund I'm sure she will use to buy hydrocortisone anti-itch creme for her scaly skin. Am I being too unreasonable, I thought? She said they prepare home cooked meals, & I said" what, do you piece the chicken, the turkey, the pork? Oh no! She mixes the dog food with canned wet dog food. What is home cooked about that? Anyway, since we were already over our budget for our trip, I dug in my heels & just begged her (which made me sick to my gut) to make sure he eats something. I admit, I was being paranoid but I know my dog better than anyone else when it comes to food so I know what works. Another lady came out, checked if Princeton was fleas-free, put a collar on him & just led him in. I just saw his tail vanish in oblivion. No time to say our goodbyes! That was it. My voice quivered & tears just started flowing. I could not speak a word. We left her office. Poy has his share of buckling down when he suggested we check out the back area of the kennel, & try to see if we can see Princeton one more time. So we went, & there he was barking & howling. I know he detests confinement.
Maybe this journal entry does not warrant any attention because it is only about a dog. I just needed to write to release my pent-up emotions. I am distraught & out of focus. While we are in Manila all covered up in hotel sheets, my dog is in the cage on a forlorn mat. I'm sure we will enjoy the Philippines, despite the void Princeton can only fill. I just hope Princeton will also enjoy the scenery in the woods after a while, not to mention the old lady's company:)