Herbie's days are numbered....7 to be exact.

This is a post I have been anticipating 

writing for years.

Well, writing it I have only been considering it for a year....

only been blogging that long....not even that...

whatever.

We have had our dog Herbie for 7 years.

I have felt trapped in this relationship

for the past several years.

At first Herbie was our family dog.

We (I) picked her up from a neighbor who couldn't keep 

her as a puppy.....(makes it sound so easy, "couldn't keep her").

I thought our kids deserved the right to have a cute little doggie.

I thought it would be good to help them learn responsibility.

We had just started schooling at home,

I also thought we needed to have a farm at our home.

I went through a stage of accepting every free

animal that crossed our path.

Well, times have changed.

Our kids learn responsibility by washing dishes, 

and folding their own clothes.

I care more about the smell of our personal living quarters.

I value my sleep at night.

I only like paying for human food.

I don't enjoy urine, (or any other dog made product) on our carpet.

.....and so on.

We have been down to just Herbie

for a while now.

We (I) have kept Herbie, the kids and Kevin really don't 

care either way.

Why would they?

Do they clean up the frequent "accidents"?

(not that they haven't "tried", but it is just not w/ the same vigor 

and driving force as when mom cleans it up, you know what I mean? 

I have the strong

impression that the accident is really still there when anyone 

else does the job)

Do they remind themselves to get Herbie water on a daily basis?

Do they force themselves to walk Herbie at least once a week?

no.

Let me see if I can get to the point,

We (I) have kept Herbie for our neighbor for years.

YEARS!

Our neighbors are an older couple and the wife will 

not let the husband have a dog.

So he has our dog....only we have to still give room, board, food,

and medical fees.

Sounds like a pretty sweet deal right?

Herbie has been a huge nuisance.

FOR YEARS!

I can't put into words the countless escapes

and bring backs...

The bites!

Yes, the bites.

The annoying barking, (before she went def after 

her umpteenth ear infection) 

whining, digging, poohing.

OK.

I know you get it.

Guilt has forced me to keep Herbie

for our neighbor because he loves her so much.

They hook up every day, they have their routine.

I say guilt because I fantasize of ways Herbie can die all the time.

I want to end this w/out me having to make 

any decision or be a murderer 

in my neighbors eyes.

I have been trying to use "The Secret" and just use my mind power

to bring about Herbies demis w/out

actually having to take part in it

for as long as I can remember.

That way is not working.

Well, until now.....Herbie is her own worst enemy.

Always has been.

 Three days ago she bit our neighbor's friend on the 

back of her leg.  

Two puncture wounds, bleeding, urgent care, 

the whole nine yards.

Our neighbor came banging on our door, and said,

"Your dog bit Sally"

(name has been changed)

awwww, hmmmm, really?

ok, now what?

Now I have these people at my door the next morning.

That's now what.

 Sally did not call them,

Urgent care did.

It's the law.

Herbie is on house quarantine for 10 days,

starting the day of the bite, so she has 7 days left....

TO LIVE HERE.

Finally I was able to say with all confidence that  we are done.

That is enough.

Final bite.

YES.

No more!

I finally had the realization that I am not 

responsible for my neighbors happiness and contentment 

in this life.

That would be HIS WIFES JOB.

She says no to a dog.

Why have I felt it is my job to facilitate one?

I don't know, but it is over.

168 hours to go.

the clock is ticking...

tick -tock..

tick...

     tock .......