The Ugly Truth

 

Matt and I are sitting on the couch watching Property Brothers on HGTV. Its the reveal part. The part where they walk into their beautifully, renovated, new home. Everything is perfect. Brand new. And in top quality.

After watching the big reveal, I look at Matt and said, "Let's hope they don't have dogs...."

I think it is fair to say that raising these pups have not been a walk in a park. For those of you who read my blog on a normal basis know very well that Pappy and Wally aren't the best behaved puppies.

In fact, the other day, Matt looked at them and said, "You boys are about as fun as a root canal."
 And speaking openly, yes, there have been several times throughout the day that we are incredibly frustrated.

I think its common knowledge that hundreds of dogs are given up, taken to shelters, sold, and/or abandoned each and everyday. I mean, heck, our puppies were found "left for dead" and abandoned in a box in North Carolina. We have no idea where their Mom is, if she's healthy, or even alive. Thousands of dogs sit in kill shelters without any love all because their families decided to give up.

And I have to say..... I get it.

I don't agree with it, but I get it.

I understand why dogs are taken to shelters. And I understand why people give up. How owners feel so frustrated and overwhelmed that they just don't know what to do anymore.

To date, we have had Pappy and Wally for six months and spent over a thousand dollars on vet bills. I've lost over five pairs of shoes. We have two holes in our dry wall, and multiple stains on our white carpet. Our brand new couch was chewed to shreds two nights ago, and we no longer have the remote controls for our TVs.

As I type this, I look at a keyboard that's missing the letters "E", "Z", and "D" because Wally got bored one night and decided to eat them. All of our down and down alternative blankets have holes in them. Our new duvet that I ordered three weeks ago is now ruined. Our multi thousand dollar dining room table now has chew marks covering the legs and the vanity in our basement bathroom is ruined. My childhood Bible is been torn to pieces, and we no longer have movie cases for Part One or Part Two of Harry Potter.

We have gone through four belly bands, three leashes, two gentle leaders, a poisonous mushroom, and a partridge in a pear tree. Four stuffed animals, three bottles of carpet shampoo, two outgrown crates, and a broken collar. Every two week vet appointments, and all night long "crying puppy" sessions (that we're still battling). We are embarrassed to have guests over and worry each and everyday that the puppies broke out of their crate and destroyed the house again. 

Matt and I have argued, shared night duty, slept on the couch, gone broke, drove like hell to the ER, cried, worried, and cussed out those damn dogs more than anyone will ever know or understand.

We were way in over our heads, and completely underestimated the time, the knowledge, money, and persistence that went into raising a puppy, let alone two. We get it. We get the frustration.....

But here's the thing. 

We understood the commitment.

There are times we wonder what in the hell we were thinking adopting two puppies as first timers pup-parents. And then there are times that I stare at the boys in pure amazement wondering how I could ever love anything more.

Puppy parenthood is not easy. 

 but what parenthood is?

To us, they are worth every penny, every headache, and every sleepless night.

They are damn lucky they have us as parents (because I don't know if anyone else would have the patience for them), that we love them so much, and that they're so damn cute.

But really, I don't know who's luckier. Us or them?

BONUS: our furniture store is sending us a brand new cushion for FREE. The dogs have totally trashed the carpet which means I have an excuse to get new flooring, and each and every single day gets easier.............. a little.

This little lady's fifth birthday is on Friday, March 20th. We're going to stash up on catnip because we totally support our catkid's drug habit. #kittyparentsoftheyear

Also, everyone should go buy this shirt from peta.com right MEOW.