GOODBYE

Filed under: animals,baby barden,bardenisms,my family,schrute — admin at 8:23 am on Sunday, May 22, 2011

Today is a hard day. While we are still saying hello to our miracle Fitzy – we are saying goodbye to our baby Schrute.

We brought Fitzy home and Schrute did pretty well with him – other than the fact that he is HUGE! The next day he snapped at my sister and freaked out when we got home from visiting Fitz’s. He was jumping and panting and baring his teeth and not listening to us AT ALL. When he did get close to the baby he nudged him – HARD! He slept downstairs with Jared while Samm and I slept upstairs with the baby. Jared has been sleeping on the couch with Schrute since – I can’t have him in the bed with us – Schrute – not Jared!

I was so scared to be at home with my two babies – Schrute proved to be harder to take care of. I can’t lay Fitzy down ANYWHERE without worrying about Schrute getting in his face and nudging him – or stepping on him – or sitting on him. My days have been spent telling Schrute no – bringing the dog to the bathroom with me – anywhere I go while the baby is laying down. I can’t put Fitzy in his swing, on the floor, or on the couch or bed without worrying about Schrute stepping or sitting on him. He hasn’t been listening to us nearly as well as he normally does – which isn’t really that great anyway! I can’t nurse the baby without Schrute having his nose right on top of us – nudging hard.

Last week I took Fitzy over to Gramma’s and spent some time with Schrute alone – only to have him growl at me when I got near him! UNACCEPTABLE! Schrute’s head is about the size of Fitzy’s whole body – all it takes is one time – one chomp for it to be a fatal accident.

Bottom line – we LOVE our dog – but we LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE our baby. Jared and I don’t feel that Fitzy is safe while Schrute is in the house. I’m not enjoying the dog or our baby the way I need to be cus I am so watchful of both of them. I am not relaxed – I am way too stressed and worried that Schrute might snap at any minute.

Jared and I have CRIED and CRIED about this decision – Schrute is our BABY! He is an angel sent from God to get us through our miscarriage and struggle with getting pregnant. I am so thankful for him and the love he gave us the past two years. I cannot describe the impact he has had on my life. He has kept me company and listened to my cries. He has cuddled up with me when I needed a hug. (I know he is just a dog – but he is truly sent by God at the perfect time for us). He gives us that look that says he loves us no matter what. He waits anxiously for Jared to get home from work to shower him with kisses at the door! He cuddles up with us every night to sleep. He has brought so much joy to our lives!

Today Jared and his dad are taking him to his new home in Sunbury. He will be living with a woman and her hubbie who don’t have children – they have their dogs! Three great danes other than Schrute! A farm with lots of space to run – their own room and bed! Love and attention that will be POURED on him!

We know that he will be loved and taken care of – but it still sucks. Just sucks. People have told us to give him a few weeks – and we have – mostly because it took a while to find this perfect fit – and it’s been a stressful couple of weeks. If ANYTHING were to EVER happen to Fitzy because we couldn’t make the decision to take Schrute to a new home – you would have to institutionalize me! I would never EVER forgive myself. I am taking the little things that Schrute has done so far as warning signs. He is SO big that he doesn’t know what he is doing – where he is stepping – who he is sitting on – jumping on – chewing on. He is being so neglected with our attention on this sweet miracle – and he knows it. He deserves better.

It has been a heartbreaking decision but when it comes down to your dog or your child – there is no question.

We are so thankful for his love and companionship the past two years! We are so excited for his new family and the memories they will make together!

I took these photos on Friday – while I cried my goodbyes.

OH MY HEART – I think he knows.

Schrutie – we love you so much! Thank you for your friendship and sweet kisses over the past couple of years. Have so much fun with your new brothers and sister.

10 Comments »

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Comment by Bridget

May 22, 2011 @ 8:32 am

I know where you are coming from. We had a black lab two years ago and had to find him a new home. We only had him for 6 months, and that was hard enough. He just wasn’t a good fit for our family. He was rough with the kids and our other dog. I was afraid that he would bite one of the kids. As hard as it is, I’m certain you’re making the right decision. You have to go with your instincts, and they’re telling you it’s time to let him go. I’ll be thinking of you today. <3 you.

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Comment by Kristen

May 22, 2011 @ 8:57 am

🙁 That must have been such a difficult decision for you. Mama’s need to trust their gut feelings though and if you’re uncomfortable at home Danielle then you’re making a wise decision. Sounds like you’ve found a wonderful home for him!

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Comment by Kathleen

May 22, 2011 @ 9:59 am

You saw the signs Hon and you are right. Any aggression is a no no. He’s telling you loud and clear what he thinks of this and he’s not happy with it. You are right he is a gift from God that came when you needed him and now he is moving on to work his miracles elsewhere with a woman who needs him. The right decisions are never the easy ones but trust this animal lover when I tell you you did RIGHT and I’m proud of you.

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Comment by Melissa Gee

May 22, 2011 @ 3:25 pm

I had the same issue with my cat Mocha who is a Siamese cat. She was very needy for attention and could get aggressive. Before and during my pregnancy I gave her so much time and attention, stuck up for her when Ralph and Isaiah told me she was mean. But after I had Noah my time was so limited she was sad and meowed all the time. I found a great home with a single lady who has since sent me pics and show me how happy she is. I made the right decision because as much as we love our animals as humans and as mothers our children come first! Hang in there!

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Comment by Layne

May 22, 2011 @ 3:26 pm

I cant even imagine how difficult it was for you guys taking Schrute to his new home. So excited for you guys that you can relax now though with Fitzy and really enjoy your little bundle of love!

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Comment by Brenda Barden

May 22, 2011 @ 6:40 pm

A sad day and hard decision for all, but as Schrute has blessed us l I know he will his new owners for grandma prayed for him and declared him to be a blessing to his new family:) and what grandma prays for happens:)

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Comment by stephanie hubert

May 22, 2011 @ 8:52 pm

my thoughts are with you but you definitely made the right decision. i hope schrute is very happy at his new home. sounds like a great place.
we are trying to find a place for 2 of our kitties. they are brothers so i don’t want to separate them. the one needs a lot more attention than what we can give him and he is kinda rough. the other one is skiddish especially when children are around.
have fun with fitzy and maybe someday another dog will answer your prayers.

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Comment by Cheri Roberts

May 23, 2011 @ 3:29 pm

I am sitting here with tears streaming down my face. What a difficult decision for you and Jared to have to make. You are both in my thoughts and prayers. I believe the Lord sent Schrute to you folks when you needed him most and he was there for you when you needed him. I also believe the good Lord was letting you know that Schrute and Fitzy weren’t met to co-exist. I think you have done the right thing for both of them. Schrute has a family who will love him as you both did and little Fitzy will be safe. I will continue to pray for all of you. God bless all of you….and Schrute too! Hugs!

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Comment by Samantha Stevens

May 23, 2011 @ 4:50 pm

Aww.. that’s tough we went through that with our one dane 🙁 Laela started getting quite aggressive snapped at Owen once and just nicked his face and I about lost it! Derek wasn’t exactly ready to give her up yet so I told him he had to work with her EVERY day and if she didn’t get better she had to go because of the same reason you let go of yours (you’d never forgive yourself if something were to happen). She started to do much better with a daily walk and then one day she snapped again and bit our smallest dog and almost killed him and I was just about to have Liam and told Derek there is no way I could trust her alone with Owen or the baby because with such a big dog one bite would be all it would take to cause damage or even worse… We found her a great home with 3 kids over the age of 12 and she is like best buds with the 16 year old. So! I completely understand your decision and even though it’s a tough thing to have to do nothing should ever come before your child. Kudos to you on that because some people choose their pets over their kids.

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Comment by Sherry Martin

May 24, 2011 @ 2:47 pm

Prayers for you all, Danielle! That was an incredibly hard decision and I admire how you gave everyone fair time and space. It must have been scary for you both in the keeping Schrute with Fitzy and in the letting him go. Have been studying lately on faith–the fundamental definitions of it–and timing (everything in its season). You and Jared showed great faith in your decision to find a new home for Schrute and great understanding that his season in your lives is a different one now. Well done, you two. Thank you for being an example of faith.

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