Reality Bites

Still no Belle.  So upset we’ve lost our dog.  Hard not to get stuck in the land of would’ve, should’ve, could’ve.  Yesterday I realized that if she hadn’t bolted on Saturday night when there were fireworks, she would’ve bolted on Sunday when there were more, or Monday, when there still more (this is fourth of July on the lake after all)…we just didn’t know that she would run away from us when she got scared.   We had no experience with that;  she has always come to us when she’s afraid.  I’m pretty sure the only way to have truly protected her was to have her crated when it happened.  This is a whole different ballgame, a scenario that we did not foresee. 

Today is moving day again, off to Orr, MN, and it just feels wrong to pack up & leave without her.  We’ve invested in her for over a year; we survived house training and the puppy urge to chew up & destroy everything in sight.  She really was perfect for this way of life; she had adjusted well and become more obedient.  Because she is so portable, we really did take her everywhere we could & do everything we could with her; she truly became our constant companion.  She even swam out in the lake to get on a float with Shanan even though she’s not super fond of the water.  She was always with us , and she attracted attention everywhere we went.  Ever since she ran away, I can’t help but think how much she would have enjoyed being with us & doing what we have been doing, and how scared she is right now being separated from us.  We’ve posted flyers with her picture & our contact info, we’ve called to see if someone picked her up & turned her in…the reality is I don’t think we’ll ever see her again.  And that reality really bites…

On a more positive note, Alyssa picked up poison ivy from our stay in Kansas.  After her last two bouts with poison ivy, she burst into tears when she realized she’d gotten it again.  However, I’m so happy to be able to say that it was very contained on one leg & foot, didn’t spread, and it is already done & healing, just a week later.  Praise for that for sure! 

And it really has been sweet to be together with family.  I can’t think anyone else would have invested so much time & energy in helping us look for Belle.  And the cousins have partied hard!  There has been swimming, paddle boating, jet skiing, pontoon boating, and great big slumber parties.  Lots of memories being made, for sure!