The beginning of the end

The puppies had their first round of vaccines today -- our second trip to the vet. The first time was a breeze with all seven pups easily transported in a handy towel lined laundry basket. Today was another story. One by one I packed the pups into the crate in the car; all the while trying to keep Tioga from attempting to jump in as well. We headed off to the vet to the ridiculously loud sounds of puppies screaming their heads off. 'They'll settle down as soon as we get moving' I thought --- but no! Screaming, crying, whining, mewing, howling for 30 long minutes to the vet... UGH! Noisy, silly drama puppies. I was worried about how I would get them all out of the car and into the office - all told, the crate contained over 70lbs worth of puppies. Thankfully, my mom came to my rescue (again!) and met me at the vet. A Vet Tech helped me hoist the crate into the exam room and the crying and whining continues. We realized it was just very warm in the crate with all those hot little bodies cuddled up together. As we lifted them out one by one to be examined and weighed, they settled down long enough for me to gloat about Tioga as a mom and brag about these little darlings. As each pup was given an exam and vaccine, the Vet and I chatted about what forever life was lying ahead for Vienna, Joe, Kenya, Kona, Maxwell, India and Peaberry. We discussed their names and the families that were eagerly awaiting their arrivals. It was at times hard to choke back tears thinking about their futures. These babies will be part of so many wonderful families.

Some will be brothers or sisters to furry and human children, some will be the only dog. Throughout their lives they will be part of birthday parties, holiday celebrations and backyard barbecues. They will be companions, workers, playmates, best friends and furry children. They will be the one standing in the driveway with a teary mom waving to a school bus as it departs after a summer that seems to have gone by too quickly; and even be around to see some of those children go off to college. They will greet their moms and dads after long days at work and help them forget the day with a barrage of slobbery kisses.They will be loved by teen aged girls who are bound to have their hearts broken by a crush; they will sit and listen and let their fur absorb the tears. They will be used by sticky children as napkins, and they will love it! They will play fetch and tag and hide-n-seek. They will hike, bike, ski, sled, run, wrestle and snuggle with exhuberance. They will be treated like princesses by the girls and teammates by the boys and, no matter their gender, will play along. They will be armchair quarterbacks, movie critics, sitcom junkies - as long as there are snacks involved. They will stand beside their owners to make them brave enough to check out strange noises at night or go to the darkest part of the backyard to collect fireflies. They will hate sitting still for Christmas card pictures and Halloween costumes. They will wait under the chair of the family member most likely to spill dinner. They will work hard in harness, in obedience, in the show ring, in the flower shop and around the chicken coop to be the best dog they can be. They will be naughty and chew a favorite shoe or table leg - and they will feel badly -and they will be forgiven, because the one thing I know most certainly is that they will be loved.

Now the hard part begins, when the time for goodbyes closes in. I am so proud of Tioga, of the partnership we share and of the babies we raised together. It was wonderful to show them of to the Vet!