Well, we did it. We cancelled our trip. Yesterday to be exact. The dog was the main reason. They are calling for nighttime temperatures to be in the teens and 20s all week.
our options were:
1) Take the dog. It would mean taking our 15 passenger van rather than our Maxima, and that would add over $100 to the gas expense. it would also add kennel fees (about $120), and even more expense for shots and vaccines she dont have/need here. It would cut into a lot of park time making multiple trips to pet and walk her. It would also leave our home unprotected, as the dog is an excellant guard dog, and yet ANOTHER person I know got their house cleaned out by burglers last week.
2) Keep the dog at home. BUT shes too stubborn to get in the dog house for more than food and water (her dog house connects to our home via a double window; so we can feed her and pet her while sitting on our livingroom floor!
) They are calling for rain and snow next week, and when she gets wet she wont go in the dog house to dry off. She just dont get it. Her dog house has a heater, but she wont go in it. She'd rather shiver, wet and cold. I cant stand the thought of that happening in teens and 20s weather. Shes family now, so shes our responsibility.
3) Local kennel. Shes VERY hyper. (If dogs can be hyer) She would HATE being cooped up all day. She hates it when i put her in our kennel for an hour. Shes go insain in there all day all week. Sure they would walk her, but thats only 10 minutes a day. It just seems cruel to me. besides, both my MIL and my GM had a dog who came back from a local kennel scared of men. They werent when they left.
We decided it was best to just cancel the trip, and reschedule it for May.
In may theres no risk of freezing or frostbite. She can chase birds all day long in our fenced yard, and though she'll miss us, and us her, we know she'll be happier in the better weather, and we wont feel as bad about leaving her. We didnt miss her much at all the last trip, because we knew she would be fine; there were contractors there pouring our concrete, and she was enjoying the sun and attention.
Besides, one of our best trips was in May. it only adds about $100 to the trip.
Then theres the "other" reason we cancelled it... Both my wife and myself have had this underlying "worry" or "dreed" of the whole trip; almost as if God were trying to tell us NOT to go. It was kinda weird, and I cant explain it, but we usually look forward to the trip and nothing can persuade us. This trip we felt deep down that it would be a big mistake.
One one recent trip we missed a fatal wreck by 30 seconds. It does make you think. Kinda reminds me of the story I saw on TV where the woman got a strange feeling that she should NOT board that plane to NYC on Sept 10th. She didnt, she lived to tell about it.
Of course...they are penned in and to me...uncomfortable!!
Remembering my last trip...
, it was EVERYWHERE... so then we put her back in the kennel, and a few minutes later we heard that lovely hurling sound, and that wonderful aroma of 4 hour old dog food. We rolled down the windows to air out the van (and sped up to get more airflow I may add) and then a NEW and EXCITING smell arouse.... You know the smell, the one you find on your shoes...
Well, needless to say it was the LONGEST trip to the beach weve ever made. Then we got to repeat it on the trip back. BTW, that was with us stopping to walk her every hour. We had to hose her down at the beach, and then again when we got home. We didnt drive the van again for another month. We left the windows open too I may add. It never fully recovered, even with air fresheners.
Theres NO WAY I'm taking her to FLORIDA!!!
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and 3 
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