Bye Bye, Piper :(

It's been a bittersweet couple of days. We decided months ago that it was time to find our beloved dog, Piper, a new home. She and R got along famously when R was itty bitty. But once he got mobile, Piper did not adjust well. She started to growl at him and even snapped at him.

I loved Piper, but I love my son more. Piper is lucky I didn't murder her that day.

Ever since then, we've had to keep dog and kid separated. That's not easy with a dog who just loves to be around people (or with a relatively open floor plan). When she was outside (if the weather wasn't crummy), she'd scratch at the door and bark to come in. When we had to confine her to the upstairs (using a baby gate), she'd bark or whine and, sometimes, flatten herself to squeeze under the gate.

Because our problem with her was that she wasn't good with young children, we had quite a time trying to find someone we knew who was willing to take her. Practically everyone we know has small children (or will have them soon enough).

We finally resorted to putting an ad in the paper Saturday. Saturday morning at 8:59, my phone rang. I couldn't believe we were already getting calls. The guy sounded really nice and asked all the right questions. So, we arranged for him to come by at 10:00 to meet Piper.

I hauled it upstairs to bathe her (and myself) before her prospective new daddy arrived.

He turned out to be a very nice gentleman who lives relatively nearby. He and his wife are older and have an empty house (and grandchildren in their double-digit years). He took her for a weekend trial.

I got a call this morning that Piper was doing great and that they'd like to come get the rest of her things. Jason requested that I arrange that while he wasn't home so that he wouldn't have to see all her things go away.

As much as I've been irritated with that dog lately, I found myself really sad to see her things go as well. When I sent Piper's new daddy off with Piper's toys, treats, food and extra bed, I had to hold back tears. He tried to pay me for all of her things, but I wouldn't let him. They're doing us a huge favor, so I'd like to return that favor by starting them out with a nice care package for our sweet girl dog.

He was sweet enough to say we are welcome to call if we'd ever like to come visit Piper. We might just do that.