Lessons Learned from a Sleepover

To get some more help and perspective in resolving my two-year-long dilemma over whether to keep Fozzie or keep searching for his perfect adopter, recently I decided to let him go on a sleepover with a prospective adopter. This was our friend who had expressed an interest in adopting him, but--for good reason--hasn't been sure. We thought it would be good for both of us to see what it was like to have him with her, and away from me, for a short trial. 


It was a good exercise. As I stood on the curb watching her car pull away with Fozzie's worried face looking out the side, I felt my heart rip in pieces. I felt like a terrible parent, abandoning my baby after going through so much with him. 

That evening, with just two dogs clamoring for attention and space on the bed, the calmness that we experienced was incredible. In the morning, just having to go on one walk was a delight. Lamar was more relaxed. Everything was easier, but we still missed our Fozzie. As many of you have helpfully noted, after two years he really does feel like my dog. And much as I love the others, Fozzie has a sensitivity and a closeness to us that is unique. 


I'm glad Fozzie's back, and Florian is certainly glad. Fozzie slept deeply as soon as he got back, and has seemed even more grateful and sensitive than usual. 


So I won't call it quite an epiphany, more like a few more nails in the coffin of the idea that I could let him go. What its done is made me feel a commitment to him that wasn't there before. Now, since I see how little chance there is that he'll end up with someone else, I get to make him into my little project. I get to take his sensitivity, his intelligence, his gentle mouth, his athleticism and get him to realize his potential in all those ways. This is going to be fun!