Sadie has found a new home. Over the years we have had trouble with Sadie's ability to cope with our travel schedule, apartment living, and her general anxiety. She has never been more than tentatively tolerant of children and I've had some stress about how she would react to our baby's arrival in October. Before I got pregnant, I was discussing with a friend about how I thought Sadie would be happier in a home that didn't travel and was a bit more calm. She had a family member, Betty, who had been thinking of adding a dog into her life again. We casually discussed the idea of Sadie meeting Betty, but it turned out that Betty wanted to get her home settled some more and find a good pet sitter before she committed to a dog.

I sort of forgot about the lady and then in June, my friend emailed me asking if I was still interested in Sadie meeting Betty. I had been having some anxiety about Sadie's reaction to a baby in our home full time. I've been babysitting a friend's son (about 9 months old at the time) and Sadie was showing a lot of stress with him here. She'd seem fine for a while, and then as soon as he left she would sleep for hours. I don't think she could relax with the baby in the house. Plus Sadie is a constant barker. She thinks her job is let me know if a car passes, a leaf falls, a bird flies by, or the neighbor dog goes through his dog door. We had literally tried everything to fix this problem, but it's such an ingrained behavior that she will take any consequence for her barking.

After a lot of deliberation over whether or not Sadie could be managed effectively and what would happen if she did have an issue, I decided to give Betty's home a try. She is a single, retired lady that lives on an acre property. She has a very large backyard and neighbors that are far away. She came to meet Sadie at my house in June and I really liked her style. She was patient with an anxious Sadie and didn't try to pet her or anything. She waited for Sadie to come to her... something most people don't understand and I didn't even have to tell her. She has good thoughts about dog food, vaccinations, and how a dog is a part of the family.

I took Sadie to her home on July 23rd. She has a gorgeous house and a fantastic yard. Leaving that day was the hardest thing I have ever done and it took me about a week to even think about her without crying. I still miss her greatly, but after several phone calls and emails with Betty, I am confident that Sadie's life is much improved living with her. She goes for a daily walk, plays fetch twice a day, is the center of Betty's world, and best of all is far away from all the things that bring her such anxiety. She has more of a routine with Betty and knows exactly what to expect each day. Betty's hobby is to work in the yard, so she and Sadie spend the day pulling weeds, planting flowers, and Sadie chasing bunnies and lizards.

Tonight we decided that this situation is going to be permanent. We wanted to let Sadie fully settle in and for me to decide if I could live without her. I want to bring her home, but I think she's going to be happier there in the long run and her happiness is what is most important to me. There is, of course, the understanding that if Betty ever did not want or could not keep her that she would come back to me. She told me tonight that my name and number are in her emergency contacts book so that Sadie would certainly come to me and not a well meaning friend or family member. I was glad to hear her say that as you never can tell what would really happen if the unthinkable happened.

I'm still a little raw about the whole thing. We never really sought out this home, I just told my friend about some concerns I had and the rest fell into place. The main reason I took this opportunity is because it was such a good home and if for some reason Sadie couldn't handle the addition of a baby, I didn't want to have to make a rash decision and send her somewhere without the benefit of having time to make sure it's the right placement. I will forever miss her, but it's good to know that she's happy.

i know this was such a tough decision for you amanda, but i think you made the right choice. sadie is a happier girl for it, and she will never forget you and your DH!

Oh Amanda, what a lot of difficult decisions you've had to make lately! It sounds like this is a wonderful place for Sadie to be. {{hugs}} for you and your DH.

It's a tough decision, but it sounds like Sadie is doing better than you are with it. That's a good thing, even though it's hard for you. Sometimes things happen for a reason and it sounds like Betty was put in Sadie's path at the right time.

It sounds as if Sadie has a wonderful new home and a life that, in the long run, will make her happy and less stressful. I can't imagine how hard it's been on you, Amanda, but I don't have any doubts that it sounds like a good decision for everyone. I hope it's starting to get easier, now that you know how well she's doing with Betty.

It really sounds like a match made in dog heaven and a great decision on your part. I'm so happy for you both that this situtation presented itself. Owners like that don't come along very often.((huge hugs))

I think it is safe to say we all understand how very difficult this was, but also recognize this was an exceptionally opportune event; such a brilliant home for Sadie enriching this woman's life and giving Sadie the stability and routine that eases her anxieties. You have made a wise decision for the quality of all of your lives even though it was a painful one. Hugs and comfort to you...

I feel for you too. Really though, it just sounds like it was meant to be and will be a perfect home for Sadie. Especially since she likes to bark a lot, the large yard with far-away neighbors/distractions is ideal.

Oh that's so hard, but it does sound like a happy ending!

I'm sorry to hear about this tough decision, but it's evident that it was made with love. I'm sure that Sadie will blossom in her new home, and everyone will be better off not having to worry about her stress levels. Hugs!

It sounds like a happy ending.. And Betty was meant to have Sadie! I'm very happy for Sadie, although you may never forget the moments you had with Sadie & also always be cherish

Think of this way she has a forever home and found her soul mate for life

I know how heart-wrenching you decision was, but you certainly gave it a lot of thought. I commend you for taking the step of babysitting to see how Sadie reacted. It gave you the needed time to think your decision through before your baby arrived. And it truly sounds like Betty and her home are perfect for Sadie. You're still a part of her life and always will be. It sounds like Betty will keep you up to date on how Sadie is doing, and that should give you much peace of mind. (((hugs)))

I'm hapy Sadie is doing well in her new home. You have a very full plate these days and is does sound like the best thing for Sadie. She is a very nice dog!

I think the fact that you never looked for this but that it seemed to 'find' Sadie, is one of those signs from the universe that things need re-arranging -- and it never pays to ignore those signs, IMO!

It would be impossible to not be devastated by the departure of a dog that was a family member, but it takes a lot for us to see that we might not be the best place for that dog. Congrats to you for having the objectivity to do that. As your life changes with the arrival of the baby, Sadie's life was bound to change too -- and you made sure that it was for the better.

Big hugs to both of you and congrats to Betty, whose life was also improved by this move!

Connie said it all so beautifully. Just wanted to add our good thoughts and to say, My heart goes out to you and your husband. ((((Hugs)))

I agree with all that was said. The fact that you put Sadie first in all this is most important and the fact that she has you as a safety net if things don't work out is the best of all possible worlds.

Thank you for all of your support. This certainly wasn't easy. Betty and I have talked about me maybe watching Sadie from time to time when she has to go out of town. I think we will wait quite a while before we let that happen just so Sadie doesn't get confused, but it will be nice that I can see her someday in the future. It's hard because Betty isn't as computer savvy as Landis' new dad, so I haven't gotten any pictures, but hopefully she will send me some by snail mail. I asked her to send me some if she takes any. In her last email to me she said that Sadie is the best behaved dog she's ever had and she always smells so nice because she walks through her rosemary plant everyday. I do think Sadie is a blessing to her because she's very rarely been without a dog and I think she was a bit lonely.

Thank you for all your sweet comments and hugs. It really helps to know that there are people who really understand.

No e-mail pics eh? Hmph. I guess you'll just have to chat by phone so you can hear the love and enthusiasm in her voice.


Just in case you need an encouraging story:

This makes me think of when my friend Lisa rehomed her aussie Dharma. I was shocked. Lisa had what I thought of as the perfect home for an aussie in every possible way. She sent her to live with a friend in the city who needed a new companion for her aussie after one died. Dharma was 5 when she left. I thought to myself- hmm - geez Lisa if you were going to rehome her isn't that a bit late? Well the situation was perfect for Dharma and she absolutely blossomed in her new home. She went from being one of 4 and always seeming to be in someone else's shadow, to the super star frisbee catcher and the belle of the dog park. She adores her new mom and her new sibling too.