A New Home

This summer we started praying about a new home for Slider. Let’s start by saying that she is a wonderful dog. However, we thought we’d live out of the city on more land by now, and we thought she could be outside more, and neither of those things are going to happen anytime soon. We don’t give her nearly enough time and attention either. She is a great home protection dog, but it just wasn’t fair to pat her head once a day, feed her, and call it good.

We really had trouble thinking about giving her up. We talked about the perfect scenario, and when we’d feel comfortable giving her to someone else. Our list was long and seemingly unattainable: a family with time for her, room to run, other animals to pal around with, maybe some goats or sheep to herd, people who would keep her until she dies, maybe somewhere we could see her now and then or at least get some updates. Pretty high standards, right?

Then on Thanksgiving, we saw our extended family and my uncle asked how Slider was doing. She was there with us for the whole weekend and spent a lot of time mingling and schmoozing for head scratches after dinner. “Actually, we’re thinking of giving her up,” we mentioned. My uncle was surprised but the wheels started turning. His family has had a few German Shepherds in the past and their last one died of old age recently. After an evening-long “dog interview,” my uncle called back the next morning. He said that the whole family talked it over, and that they’d love to have her, if we were sure.

I cried.

And then we thought about it rationally (which is how we prefer to make our decisions!). My uncle is retired (check). He loves to work outside and take long walks (check). They have a couple acres – fenced (double check). They have two other dogs, a cat, a chicken, and two goats (check, check, check). They love dogs and have had German Shepherds in the past (check). We’ll see her once in awhile, and of course we’ll hear news, because we’re family! (Lots more checks.) It was too perfect to pass up.

So on Saturday, we dropped Slider off along with her kennel, leash, a day of food, and a list of her commands. I cried again, I’ll admit it. Then we came home and vacuumed, and I tried to focus on the fact that our clean floors will stay that way. On Sunday, we talked to my uncle and he gave us an update on her transition. Today, he drove up to our house and picked up her food, dog bed, toys, and papers. He said, “We revised the Christmas letter!” so I guess it’s a done deal. He said she slept next to his side of the bed last night, and aside from getting to know their animals being a little rocky, it’s going well enough.

Jim and I miss her. JT said he doesn’t miss her and he’s glad she’s having fun at Uncle Kurt’s house, but also that he’d like to go visit her sometime. We’re going to wait awhile so she doesn’t think we’re coming to take her home. That would be too hard for all of us! Meanwhile, we’re installing an alarm system that costs about the same per month as dog food, and the house feels a little empty. But we know it’s the best thing for everyone.

A huge thank you to the whole Christensen family, for giving Slider another family to love on.