We are dogless...

and it's a very weird feeling.

I always had a dog growing up and Nick and I got Kasey 6 months after we got married. She was the cutest red queensland heeler puppy. Nick wanted a heeler because his grandparents always had one on the ranch. He loves everything about his grandparents ranch. The tiny, tiny town feeling, the horses, the stables, the cattle, the river that runs through the property, the acres of crops to water and tend to, and of course working side by side with his grandpa. I think having a heeler reminded him of the summers he spent working from sun up to sun down cleaning stables, fixing water lines, eating cheese with grandpa, and shooting the bull with the neighbors who stopped by.

We loved Kasey, we really did. She was the best dog. She was super easy to potty train, she got along with other dogs, she let Allie hit, push, and pull at her, she never once growled or snapped at another person, she let Allie play in her food dish while she ate, and (without training her to do it) we could take her off her leash and let her run and know she would come back as soon as we said her name. Truly, the best dog. Unfortunately our lives have become too hectic to devote to a dog like a queensland heeler. They are working dogs. They are supposed to be rounding up cattle, not sitting in a tract home backyard. We finally decided last Friday, after talking about it for months, that in fact we were being selfish for keeping her. What if she misses us?! What if she feels like we abandoned her?! What is there to miss? The occasional walk we would take her on? The occasional throwing a Frisbee in the backyard or tennis ball at the park? We call ourselves dog people, but it's only because we like dogs. Not because we consider them one of our children and treat them as such. No, it would be better for Kasey to be in a home with true "dog people". It was hard for Nick, and me too, but mostly for Nick to agree to the ad on craigslist. "Please," I thought, "just hurry and let a good family come and take her. If she has to sit on craigslist for more than a week it will break my heart and I will have to take it down." Luckily, Sunday we got a call on her. It was a guy calling for his girlfriend's mother. She has had queenslands for years and recently one of the dogs died. She has property for the dogs to run, a pool that she lets the dogs swim in, and lots and lots of love to give. He was surprising her with Kasey. She had always wanted a red heeler. Perfect! When he came to look at her he had a treat pouch on his side and talked about what a good dog she was! What good eye contact she kept! Good eye contact? Ah yes, I was reminded that I was not a true "dog person". He is a dog trainer and was excited to work with a dog as smart as a heeler. He promised to walk her every day like he does with the other heeler and that they don't get rid of dogs so Kasey would be in a permanent home. He even told us we were smart in realizing we couldn't give her the time she deserved and deciding to give her to someone who did have that time and ambition.

So, long story coming to a close: we will miss Kasey a lot. Mostly because we knew what a good dog she was and how well behaved she was, but also because it reminded Nick of Grandma and Grandpa Giles. Allie will definitely miss her (we think it just hasn't set in yet that she isn't coming back). We are so grateful she went to a home where she will be loved. Nick and I agreed we need a little dog that can run around in the house and the kids can play with. Maybe someday...