It's So Hard, to Say Goodbye...

Ryan and I have made the decision to re-home our dog, Drake. I know it's a good decision for him, and for us, but it doesn't make it easier as his departure date eeks closer (tomorrow). It's been a long, strange trip with this dog. First, his refusal to be crate trained led to the purchase, return, and destruction of 8 types of crates. The only time he didn't get out was when we weaved a chain through and padlocked it shut. Instead then we can home to a bloody faced dog who tried to dig out of a metal cage. Then the constant escaping and running all over creation (raise your hand if you have helped chase and return Drake). How about the carpet torn up in our first rental townhome? Or the mouldings torn up when he has been shut on the inside side of a door? The using the house as a bathroom when he is "mad" at us for leaving him home? But now, I just keep thinking how sad I will be when I see the empty spot in the yard where he was laying. Or how much the kids will cry as his new owner's pull out of the driveway? What will I put on Natalie's chore chart instead of "Drake"? In my heart, I know he wants to run free. I know he will love being part of a "pack" with the other dogs and animals on the farm. I'm just feeling like I gave up on him. We put so much time into trying to keep him and now we're just giving up. I can't give my kids away, so why should I be able to give the dog away? I swear he comes in at night and sits looking mopey like he knows we are getting rid of him. But Ryan was sanding in the garage last night (with the big door closed) and Drake pushed oupen the door from the house to the laundry room and ran full speed into the garage door thinking it was open and he was free. So he does crave the freedom. Say a little prayer for all of us tomorrow - it's going to be a hard day. I guess this is a mini-lesson in learning to let the people (dogs) you love do what's best for them, even if it hurts.