John finally talked to me today about Max (the 125 lb rockwieller that came with Mom) when they got here today.

Him and a friend are working on re-homing him. Dog will go to a friends house if they can't re-home him before he leaves Wed morning. The friend will keep working on re-homing him locally.

So unless friend tells me "no way is he coming here" looks like its settled.

But sometimes things aren't as they appear. I know John don't want to rock the boat with me.

Never really know with him till it really happens.

The past 4 or more days, seems Max has found corners to get in to be outta my way. Gawd....feeling gulity.

He's not a bad dog, just a huge dog, and my home is very small.

I know that first week or so without Max going to put Mom in a mood from you know were. I really dread that already.

But Mom has bonded extremely well with my 2 yorkies, so in the long run, I know she'll be ok. One, swear I've lost her to Mom.

Keep your fingers crossed, pray, light candles or whatever you do that things work out.

We got another Max update this am. It was addressed to Nannie and Brenda! I read it out loud to Mom, and she said "See God does answer prayers". Well, I knew God answers prayers long time ago, lol.

Mom is ok with it now, as my 2 lap dogs won't let her hurt at all. She told me last night, she knew I had enough to do, and didn't have the time Max really needed.

She asked me to forward the emails to John. I just sent him an email saying we're getting some really wonderful updates daily, lol.

I know one day, I won't have to deal with John again. Till then, I have to bite my tongue and keep peace as not to upset Mom, as I love my Mom more than life. But I did have quite a bit to say to Mom about me being the one that had to re-home Max instead of John. She agreed.

So the daily updates have been wonderful, and he's getting the daily walking, and going to a ball park to play, he didn't have here.

One year, John will get a large piece of my mind. But not as long as Mom is around for him to tell her. I am patient, lol.

So glad Max has a good home. All the dogs I have owned have been from the SPCA. For the last several years they have been a no kill shelter. I always thought it was horrible that they were only given a few days to be adopted (if they weren't crowded they gave longer- Thank goodness for the no kill rule. Just watching the news-apparently the provencial government has passed new laws to do with animal abuse-about time. So glad Max's new family let you know how much they love Max. Good going finding him a good home. Gypsy

LOL Mom's buddy about stepping in dog chit. He'll get his. I'm sure his new gf is wondering how the frigging hell he can play with the dog so much here, then tell me to rehome him, he can't take him back to his home. Says a lot about someone.

Mom said later today looking at the storm door "only thing left of Max here, is his nose prints on that storm door". I almost said, wrong Mom, still dog hair all over the house too. I felt best to shut up, lol.

I really feel good about his new owners. Especially since she took the time to email us this am.

But wow, yesterday put me through the ringer emotionally. Really hard to let him go, and I only had him here 2 months.

quote:

Mom said he was chicken shit....LOL

Mother knows best.
I hope he steps in dogshit every time he goes out of his house.

Like I said before, B, I usually try to stay out of dog discussions because I am way too biased, but I will tell ya this: dogs have taught me every good, important thing there is to know about life and how to be a good human. And we all know what dog spelled backwards is...

I hope his owners stay in touch... something tells me that even with his new home, Max is not going to be an "average" dog. He is finding his way toward an important purpose! I wish him godspeed! So happy you could send him on his way to where he needs to be.

If you feel a need to bake around Christmas, I have several excellent recipes for liver dog cookies! Dog people love to get those for gifts because they enjoy giving them to grateful recipients in the sure knowledge that the fat won't end up on the dog person's fanny!

It's so nice of you to donate to them, but know this: they don't do it for the stuff. All they truly care about is the dogs.

Bnot, you know the dog is in a good home so relax and go forward.Toorrow is another day and another dollar

I got several emails from Max's new owners. His wife said she laid on the floor and stroked his belly till he fell asleep.

Said her husband was taking him to the baseball park for play time today.

I feel much better since this email. I read it out loud to Mom. It really made her smile, folks who have a lot of time to spend with him, got him.

I feel better today and don't hate myself for doing what I had to do. But I sure as hell resent John wouldn't do it. Mom said he was chicken shit....LOL. But she still loves him.

So its over with, and Max got a GREAT home with a lot of love and attention! Thats what mattered to me. And bless his soul, he'll get walked, something I haven't been able to do. Mom said she would ask John if he gave a nice "donation" to the place that made it all happen. They work on donations only. I looked on their website, and seen their "wish list" yesterday, and took a bag to Donna. Working on another bag.

Oh lord, Jeopardy is on, they're playing the music Max always howeled to....getting teary eyed again.

Let's hope the new owner are patient with the dog knowing his circumstances.He will have some adjusting to do.Hate to sound so bitter, but the brother should have his name placed so he can never own another dog.
Too many throw away these animals and never consider what it does to it.That is why the , no kill , resue assoc. have so many different kinds of animals.If it were not for them more animals would be put to sleep.The spca only keeps them for a short time and puts them down,
That is why I do not contribute to the spca.

Mom's buddy, he said he would. I sure hope he does, as Max is very photogenic!

Mom's taking this fine tonight. She asked questions about the new owner during dinner. Venus has been in her lap. Venus went to bed with her and stayed. Me? I've been a basket case on and off. Mood disorders suc with things like this.

John and I been butting heads since they announced Mom wanted to move to Tx with them in 2002 when they started planning their move out there. She didn't move with my blessings. I knew it was a 10-12 hour drive, and with what I made back then, I couldn't afford to fly 3-4 times a year.

He'd told Mom he was spending 2 nights here this trip. He didn't even stay one night. Came, visited, ate and ran.

Mom loves him and there is a bond there. But I know from our conversations, she's lost respect for him about not wanting Max back.

I know I could get a new back door, with a doggie door in it for what he paid on his trip coming here bringing his new gf. 2 nights in a hotel, 1 night in a hotel in Biloxi at the casino, going out every night.

All I can do is pray Max got an excellent home. I hope he thrives, and I hope they give him plenty of love. He's a great dog, and has plenty to offer. Guy and wife got a great deal!

I doubt she was snowed, but you are right: a dog like Max is the answer to someone's prayers somewhere... Placing dogs has always been tough for me, but it enabled me to make some folks and some dogs happy, which, in turn, makes me able to smile through the tears. It's nice to win one...

The right choices are not often the easy ones, especially when one cares about what they are doing.

Dry your eyes! You did a good thing, dear. Things that just fall into place like this are kismet. You got to be part of making a little magic this week.

Is the guy gonna send you photos? That sure would be nice...

---

PS I hope that John is wise enough to bring his own personal fire extinguisher when he comes to visit again... hopefully in the distant future.

Oh, and btw Mom's buddy, if I'd lived in NO during katrina, I'd been one that lost their life, or on the roof refusing to be taken away without my 2 dogs.

And John talked to Donna at the rescue a few times. He had her snowed completely.

This has been a gut wrenching day for me. First thing this am, Donna from the rescue group called and said someone wanted to see Max.

Thats when my crying started. This has been one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. But I know how full my plate is.

I almost chickened out. But I did take Max to the park to meet this guy. He yanked me out the front door with his leash on, and me hanging on to it. Can you say "flight in the yard?". Same thing happened at the park. I had to try to get him to let us get close enough to the car, so the remote door lock would work. Left ring finger is still hurt. I really can't handle walking him at all. Its not a walk, I needed skates. I got him up there early enough, he dragged me around the park, hoping to calm him down before meeting the prospective new owner. He hadn't been walked since he got her, because of what I knew would happen. He walked me, I didn't walk him!

I cried a LOT today, wondering if I'm doing the right thing. I hate bipolar. I've taken a LOT of medicine to stay calmer today too. Thank God for prn's.

Then when the guy fell in love with him, I had to take him back home so he could tell Mom goodbye. My eyes are still red, and teary right now.

Donna, the lady from the rescue group, approved of him right off. If she hadn't, Max wouldn't go.

I'm not sure how the guy took him, with me crying so much.

I wasn't sure Mom would be speaking to me for a while after this. I went, got in bed, cried more. Times like this, I hate myself. Seems she's taking it better than I am.

Mom asked about the new owner during dinner. I told her all about him, he lives in a home with an acre of land in Moss Point Ms. He's married, a fire fighter, and his wife is the one that found Max on the internet last night. She works in an office, so I didn't get to meet her.

I've calmed down, or meds working finally now.

John called. I was crying, and had just sent him the email about Max's leaving to his new home. John says "thats wonderful, la dadadada". I resisted from telling him to "puck off" as I know Mom does love him, and as long as she's alive, I will be seeing him from time to time. I'll have my day, it just won't be for a while I hope. Yea, I recon it is great for him, he didn't have to do the hard part! And he didn't have to take Max to Tx. Dunno if I'd spit on John if he were on fire.

So I did the dirty work. Max has a great home. Donna from the rescue group went to see them tonight, and said Max is doing great and quite happy, and they passed the home inspection with flying colors.

I did tell the guy, if it didn't work out, bring him back.

I come SO close to backing out.

But I know with Mom at 94, its all downhill from here. Been pretty rough at times as it is. Things will get a lot more stressful and harder as time goes by. I know its easier to re-home him at his age now, than down the road, when he's much older.

He had a lot to offer. He needed more love than what I have taking care of Mom, the house, and I'd already had 2 dogs.

He went fast too. I knew he would. But I had no idea he'd go THIS fast. I thought at least the guy would check him out, and let me know he wanted him, and we'd still have a few days with Max. I suppose its best though, if I had a few more days to back out, I'd surely would have.

This has been one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. Wasn't easy, but I know it was for Max's best interest, as well as taking some of the stress off me. With living with a couple, he'll get a lot more love, affection, and attention.

So why do I hate myself so bad?

...and I lit a candle for Max even though it was his former owner I wanted to light on fire.

B, that's why I'm glad that it was you who approached the rescue folks. YOUR version of Max's story would melt any dog person's heart; John is the kind of guy we all like to punch in the kisser. How ANYONE could train a dog, live with a dog and do the RIGHT things for over 2 years, then suddenly decide, "Nope. Not for me."

I know of people who stayed in NO and were up on roofs and wouldn't leave because of their dogs! ...who refused their own rescue because their companions weren't included in the deal... some of whom died because of it (not that I advocate taking things that far...) Nah, John's messin' up bad. If he doesn't have as much time to devote now to Max, Max would accept that. Perhaps he doesn't want the responsibility right now, but responsibility is often what gets us through bad times and into good ones more quickly.

You're a bigger person than I am... If I had seen the look on Max's face, I woulda seen red and I would have run after him and decked him. Thank god they didn't have kids.

I'll never forget the look on Max's face when John left tonight. He was going back home to TX.

I've snuck in another room and cried more than once seeing "Max's look" over and over in my mind when John walked out and left him.

John walked out of the door, Max looked at the door, then looked at me (with the "he left me" look), then looked at the door with his head cocked, then looked at me again, back to the door, than back at me, with the "he actually left me here" look. He looked pitiful.

I really don't need another dog, and really can't handle one that large in my small home, but starting to feel guilty as hell now. I was SO hoping there was no way he could actually leave Max after seeing and playing with him again.

Now I'm really feeling sorry for Max. John had him for 2-1/2 years, minus the 6 week puppy part. Dog knows all kinds of tricks, as John took up a lot of time with him. John played with him a lot when he was here.

When I got animals, I always knew it was "death do us part". Even when I got my neighbors dog by accident. I kept him till he passed too, but he was 17 years old.

You'd had to kill me to get me to leave one of my dogs, knowing he was about to be rh-homed.

Max is on their website now Mom's Buddy. And even John feels good about the place after talking to her 2 times that they will give him the best home possible.

Thanks SO much again!!!!

I will be keeping him till we re-home him. I hope he gets a home with children, as he had so much fun with my friends 5 year old twin grand babies.

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I did errands alright, Mom's buddy!!!! I drove right around the corner to the rescue place. Talked to a very nice lady named Donna. She said they had no room for him, but she thinks she has the perfect place for Max!

Hot dang!! I REALLY got my fingers, toes and eyeballs crossed now! I hadda feelin' from what you said about Max and the whole situation, that a REAL dog person would go to bat for ya. Dog people get pretty calloused because of all the awful things that happen with dogs, but when they hear a situation like this about such a nice dog as Max, their hard, mean, cold hearts just melt like puppy spit. Hang in with that woman - I think she'll find the right situation even if it takes a few days... Dog people hate to see good dogflesh go to waste!
I hope his new people have an extra couch or love seat...

Ummmm, can we sneak in and shortsheet John while he's napping? He sure is brave, sleepin' and all... That Ol' boy might wake up and find himself DUCTAPED with LIVER all over his face and Max is REAL hongry...

Back from Mom's, now. Glad to see something seems to be closing in comfortably for Max. It seems he is a very good dog and a good forever home for him should be not hard to find. Surely if John doesn't want to make a home for him, he will be thrilled that a real possibility has opened up.

It is a huge problem when people try to choose any sort of pet for another person or family. It is like wish in one hand and xxxx in the other.

Because of how our work situations are, no one is here for 24-36 hours at a time. So no dog.. I really miss dogs. I loved my corgies. I loved my strays. All of my kitties have been strays. Most have shown up here and insisted this is where home is. You couldn't run 'em off with a stick.

I probably was (for a while) what MB would call a backyard breeder. I never showed, or competed. I did take my girl to a legitamate breeder and succesful shower. She was considered by her strengths and weaknesses. She was found to be worthy.

A good breeder may be in a situation where they don't want a pup for very real reasons. Still , if they didn't want pick of the litter, instead of stud fee, I would be quick to change my mind about breeding at all. Either The female, doesn't meet the standard, or they simply farm out the stud with no care. .

John came in and pretty much told me I needed to do errands while him and Mom "napped".

I did errands alright, Mom's buddy!!!! I drove right around the corner to the rescue place. Talked to a very nice lady named Donna. She said they had no room for him, but she thinks she has the perfect place for Max! If they don't want him, we'll put him on the internet.

She wants me to get him to sign a release for Max. Right now, John is still playing like he's napping to avoid me. I sent him an email last night, to keep from us having "problems about this in front of my Mom". I hope he'll sign what he needs to sign, but I doubt it.

I don't know what my rights are if he doesn't sign a release and leaves Max here. I need to ask Donna at the rescue place.

Mom's buddy, if my Mom spent 1/2 or 1/10 the time with Max as she does one of my dogs, I would do everything in my power to keep him.

But one day Mom won't be here, then I'm stuck with a dog, honestly, I can't afford to take care of. That and Max will be much older then, and harder to re-home.

Thank you SO much for the link! I OWE you! I had no idea that place was there, and I've passed by it millions of times! I had no idea there was a no kill shelter in this whole county...I thought you had to go to Baldwin Co to find one!

Thanks again!

Hot DANG!! Crossing my fingers, toes and eyes for ya!