Life was good with Sadie. She was the best little dog anyone could ever ask for, and in the truest sense, she made us very happy (and vice-versa). She was just right for us. In early 2003, however, we made a decision that would forever shape our lives. After ten years in the same position, we decided that the time was right for a transition. The irony of it all is that we were at our happiest, most fulfilling season in our lives. Yet for us, we knew this was God’s will. This transition would include a long-term plan at our workplace in our hometown, but for the short-term it required us moving overseas to finish graduate school for 3 years. Because it is a volatile region and our schedules would keep us so busy, we knew it was not in Sadie’s best interest to live with us. Our biggest concern was her ability to handle the stress of the flight, as she was unbearable in foreign environments with people she did not know. We didn’t want her to stress out under the seat, but if she acted up there in the cabin area, she almost certainly would not be able to stay calm by herself in the cargo hold. We also were cautious about sedation, as she never handled it well. This broke our hearts, yet we knew it was the right thing to do. We knew she would be well cared for in my in-laws’ home. They loved her so much, and Sadie was wild about them, too. She frequently stayed the night at their house and it was already her 2nd home. I’ve often thought how interesting it was that her first 2 homes mirrored our situation.
Leaving her was harder than I could ever say. Thankfully, we had a webcam and could see her often. She even knew what “webcam” meant! I’ll be honest and say that it really bothered me to see her, knowing I could not hold her and take care of her. Nearly every time I saw her, it would break my heart all over again. We were grateful that Sadie did not react adversely to this major transition. Being that we traveled often, she probably thought this was just another long trip. My in-laws took excellent care of her and she loved every minute of it. Hard as it was to live without her, we knew she was well cared for, and that in the not too distant future, we’d be together again.
Leaving her was harder than I could ever say. Thankfully, we had a webcam and could see her often. She even knew what “webcam” meant! I’ll be honest and say that it really bothered me to see her, knowing I could not hold her and take care of her. Nearly every time I saw her, it would break my heart all over again. We were grateful that Sadie did not react adversely to this major transition. Being that we traveled often, she probably thought this was just another long trip. My in-laws took excellent care of her and she loved every minute of it. Hard as it was to live without her, we knew she was well cared for, and that in the not too distant future, we’d be together again.
