Heartbreak, doggy style

I really didn't want to blog about this because it is really just too sad. But since the whole craziness will only last 72 hours, I thought I'd jot it down so I don't forget or do something that stupid ever again.

On Monday night, we got a puppy. A 4.875-pound, fawn-colored beagle/pug mix (I called her a puggle on a pet message board and got flamed to hell and back for promoting a designer brand that causes people to hate regular old mutts and leads to the senseless deaths of thousands of abandoned dogs every year) that we inadvertently bought too young from a backyard breeder. We were too ignorant to realize that you should not buy a puppy advertised in the paper, that dogs should be 8 weeks before you bring them home (not 6), and that people touting "puggles" were irresponsible breeders in general.

Harry named her Sweetie Pie, and you can see why.

We all fell in love with her


Except Jack, who looked like he wished he had a crate of his own to escape to.

Ben and I didn't even mind getting up every two hours with her while our babies slept through the night-- that's how freaking sweet she is. But we did notice she was having some stool issues. Tuesday afternoon, we took her to the vet to find that she has worms of every kind-- 2 kinds that the kids could catch. The vet told us that given the ages of our kids, the dog's worms and probable future indoor poop accidents, and her extreme youth, we might be better off calling the backyard breeder to see if our Sweetie Pie could go home to her mommy.

Ben takes her home today at 4. I am going to take the babies to Build a Bear and bribe them with stuffed dogs.

Harry is heartbroken, which makes US heartbroken. But I am an owner, he said when we told him she had to go home. But she is so cute, he told us. But I love Sweetie Pie. We told him it was a doggy play date and that Sweetie Pie is sick and needs her mommy and that he'll get a new dog-- which is true. We are on a waiting list for a border terrier breeder in our area who might have puppies ready in October-- we're going out to meet her dogs sometime soon.

Harry thinks it might be okay that he'll get a different dog, but he hopes it has a cape like Bolt this time around. I am glad I don;t have any video of the puppy nipping at his Crocs while Harry proudly leads her around the sidewalk on her red leash.

Surprise your 2 year old with the puppy he's been clamoring for and then take that beloved doggy away two days later? Sounds like top candidate for Mother of the Year.