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Separation Anxiety for Me



 
 
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  #1  
Old July 16th 03, 09:08 PM
Tara O.
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Default Separation Anxiety for Me

We're going on our first every "vacation" in 11 years. Actually we're just
going back to NJ where my family lives for several days, leaving on Monday
and coming back on Friday. I have spent the last month driving around to
"drop-in" on every boarding facility in the Charleston area. That in itself
has been exhausting. We can't take Fancy, Pebbles and Ely because my mom's
dog is female aggressive and I will not leave them in a Wildwood or Cape May
motel all day while I'm doing the touristy thing for Scott and Amie (who've
never been).

None of the petsitting services were suitable enough for me because they'd
only come a certain number of times per day and none late at night. I don't
know anyone I trust to live in my house with them while I'm gone so that is
out also. I found one newer facility that I was comfortable with (paying a
fortune for connecting "suites" giving the dogs a 6 x 12 indoor space of
their own w/tv and music) but they forgot to put my reservation in so now
they're full next week. I finally relented Monday to the 2nd choice which
is just a 4 x 6 pen w/cinder block walls and a gate door. My concern was to
not have Fancy in a situation that is similar to a shelter. I wanted her to
be in a space that had walls around it rather than caging. While this other
place is smaller (she and Pebbles sharing a pen) its either that or call
off the vacation.

I have not left Fancy since the day I got her so I'm really working myself
into a tizzy about how she'll react. She was so emaciated when I got her
and it took her a good 6 months to really start settling in and trusting us
which is weird for a Boxer. As many as we've had in rescue, some we know
for a fact were beaten and majorly neglected, they all take to their new
handler within a matter of days. So I'm worried that she'll go through
shock with finding herself in a boarding facility that can get a little
noisy due to the other dogs there, that she won't eat (I sometimes suspect
the reason she was so emaciated was due to self-imposed starving from being
stressed) and that even though it'll only be 4 nights, we will have to start
back at square one with her.

Scott is also concerned but not to the degree I am. He says that I'm being
too protective and paranoid. He had to go with me to view the 2nd choice
boarding place because I had already been predisposed to not liking it (due
to it the pen not being as isolated as the one I'd already chosen) and would
be so busy thinking of new questions to ask the staff that I wouldn't
actually listen to their answers. Judging by the look on the girl's face
(the one who showed us around), I don't think she's used to being grilled
with so many questions. She was surprised when we showed up and I told her I
needed a tour before committing to my reservation.

Anyway, now Ely is off to one of the volunteer's houses for boarding because
due to his demodex he cannot get his rabies vacc which eliminates him from
being boarded in a facility. Fancy and Pebbles will be sharing, at my
request, a pen because I felt that Pebbles' presence would provide some
measure of comfort for Fancy. Pebbles won't have a problem with being
boarded. I got my vet to give me a prescription of Clomicalm for 5 days
*just in case* Fancy needs it. I have already given instructions to the
facility that should she go without food for more than 2 days, seem
stressed, rigid or scared, that they're to give her the medication.

Scott is ready to kill me because this is all I've talked about for the last
week. I even proposed leaving Thursday night so that in case of a car
emergency, we would still make it back on Friday before closing to get our
dogs back. I'm being totally anal about this, I recognize that, but cannot
seem to help it. I purchased 10 pigs ears to be given to them each day,
once in the morning and when the staff is leaving for the night. I plan to
take their dog bed even though they have raised cots for the dogs. Can
anyone think of anything else that I should take? I'm only allowed to bring
3 items for the dogs

--
Tara



  #2  
Old July 16th 03, 09:23 PM
Gwen Watson
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"Tara O." wrote:

I'm only allowed to bring
3 items for the dogs

--
Tara


Could you bring the dogs and find a place to board them when you are
doing all the touristy stuff? That is what I would do. At least that way
I could still visit them daily. Oh well I am a bit neurotic when it comes
to leaving my dogs. And I certainly have no one that I would trust with
them. Nothing like the grand arrangement Suja had with Khan. If I did
I would not be so reluctant about it.

OTOH I do have my 23 year old son that I could always pay to come
stay at my house for a week.

Gwen

  #3  
Old July 16th 03, 09:43 PM
Mary W.
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Default



"Tara O." wrote:

Scott is ready to kill me because this is all I've talked about for the last
week. I even proposed leaving Thursday night so that in case of a car
emergency, we would still make it back on Friday before closing to get our
dogs back. I'm being totally anal about this, I recognize that, but cannot
seem to help it. I purchased 10 pigs ears to be given to them each day,
once in the morning and when the staff is leaving for the night. I plan to
take their dog bed even though they have raised cots for the dogs. Can
anyone think of anything else that I should take? I'm only allowed to bring
3 items for the dogs


We board our dogs all the time with our former trainer, and they love
going. I can imagine the stress of leaving them somewhere new. I'm
sure they will do OK, try not to worry.

We always send the girls beds, usually in a pretty worn, smelly state
(not recently washed, so it seems like home). You are sending their
food, right? We always send their biscuits (get one before bed). We
usually don't send toys, but if they have a kong or nylabone that is
safe and they use, you could send that. A tshirt of yours that you've
been wearing might bring some comfort. Having them in the same
pen is a *very* good idea I think. Our trainer says our girls are always
hanging out together (I actually think Bonnie is hanging out by Molly
and Molly is too lazy to move).

Good luck and enjoy your trip!

Mary


  #4  
Old July 16th 03, 09:57 PM
Tara O.
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Default

"Gwen Watson" wrote in message
...


"Tara O." wrote:

I'm only allowed to bring
3 items for the dogs

--
Tara


Could you bring the dogs and find a place to board them when you are
doing all the touristy stuff? That is what I would do. At least that way
I could still visit them daily. Oh well I am a bit neurotic when it comes
to leaving my dogs. And I certainly have no one that I would trust with
them. Nothing like the grand arrangement Suja had with Khan. If I did
I would not be so reluctant about it.

OTOH I do have my 23 year old son that I could always pay to come
stay at my house for a week.


I imagine there are some new boarding places on the shore but its been so
many years since I've lived there that I only remember a few dinky ones. I
couldn't bring the dogs with plans to board them without having been able to
tour the boarding facilities first and I don't trust my mom to give me an
accurate account or I'd ask her to do it.

I have a 19yo stepson who is home from college for the summer but he's
always off doing something that I'm afraid having him petsit would be worse
than having them boarded (him likely not being around much).

--
Tara


  #5  
Old July 16th 03, 10:44 PM
Cate
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Default

"Tara O." wrote in message
...

Can
anyone think of anything else that I should take?


No, but I just want to say I can relate to your situation of working
yourself into a tizzy about leaving Fancy, and my excuses aren't even as
good as yours.

All I can say is: Try to relax enough so that you actually enjoy your first
vacation in 11 years.

Cate


  #6  
Old July 16th 03, 10:58 PM
Suja
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Default

Tara O. wrote:

Scott is ready to kill me because this is all I've talked about for the last
week. I even proposed leaving Thursday night so that in case of a car
emergency, we would still make it back on Friday before closing to get our
dogs back. I'm being totally anal about this, I recognize that, but cannot
seem to help it.


I totally understand. We had someone we knew and trusted take Khan, and
I still panicked. Are you sure you can't board her some place where
you're going? Better still, maybe you can get your mom to board her dog
and keep your two g in the house. If you don't trust your mom to give
an accurate report of the kennels there, maybe there is someone here who
lives close enough that they can poke around and report back for you?

Barring that, start telling yourself that everything will be FINE. We
don't give our critters nearly enough credit for being as resilient as
they really are. Leave something with your scent on it for them to help
ease the transition, and check in on them periodically so you'll have
some peace of mind.

Suja

  #8  
Old July 17th 03, 12:47 AM
Tara O.
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Posts: n/a
Default

"Suja" wrote in message
...
Tara O. wrote:

Scott is ready to kill me because this is all I've talked about for the

last
week. I even proposed leaving Thursday night so that in case of a car
emergency, we would still make it back on Friday before closing to get

our
dogs back. I'm being totally anal about this, I recognize that, but

cannot
seem to help it.


I totally understand. We had someone we knew and trusted take Khan, and
I still panicked. Are you sure you can't board her some place where
you're going? Better still, maybe you can get your mom to board her dog
and keep your two g in the house. If you don't trust your mom to give
an accurate report of the kennels there, maybe there is someone here who
lives close enough that they can poke around and report back for you?


I'm sure My mom won't board her dog to make room for ours and I totally
understand that. I wouldn't board my dogs for somebody else either. I
don't think anyone here lives in that area of South Jersey but even still,
we've now decided to take the pick-up because its a more comfortable ride
than my Stratus and while there's a club cab, 2 dogs, Amie, myself and Scott
inside the truck for a 10 hour drive would be a bit much.


Barring that, start telling yourself that everything will be FINE. We
don't give our critters nearly enough credit for being as resilient as
they really are. Leave something with your scent on it for them to help
ease the transition, and check in on them periodically so you'll have
some peace of mind.


Thanks. I'm sure all will be fine in the end but I know I won't rest easy
until the trip is done and my dogs are back home. We plan to start
travelling up there once a year so I really need to get used to the idea of
boarding the dogs anyway.

--
Tara



  #9  
Old July 17th 03, 12:54 AM
Chris Williams
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Posts: n/a
Default

We all empathize with you. Tara. Hope your vacation doesn't give you
an ulcer.
Do I have my drugs mixed up? I thought Clomacalm took some time (14
days?) to build up.
This past 4th, a friend had a good experience with Valium for
fireworks trauma. It seemed to work within an hour. This site:
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/valium.html
says a side-effect is appetite stimulation.




















Just because humans are slow and can't smell or hear
very well doesn't mean they don't possess a primitive
type of intelligence.


  #10  
Old July 17th 03, 12:55 AM
Mark/Shell
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Default

I totally agree with suja in leaving something with your scent on with them.
I understand what you are going through as my boys have never been left. I
work from home and the few days I don't work somebody else is here working
so they always have company. I'm lucky enough that my sister in law has our
dogs when we go away but sometimes I worry she won't give them back as she
thoroughly spoils them!

Shell
see my boys at http://uk.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/hollyputt

"Suja" wrote in message
...
Tara O. wrote:

Scott is ready to kill me because this is all I've talked about for the

last
week. I even proposed leaving Thursday night so that in case of a car
emergency, we would still make it back on Friday before closing to get

our
dogs back. I'm being totally anal about this, I recognize that, but

cannot
seem to help it.


I totally understand. We had someone we knew and trusted take Khan, and
I still panicked. Are you sure you can't board her some place where
you're going? Better still, maybe you can get your mom to board her dog
and keep your two g in the house. If you don't trust your mom to give
an accurate report of the kennels there, maybe there is someone here who
lives close enough that they can poke around and report back for you?

Barring that, start telling yourself that everything will be FINE. We
don't give our critters nearly enough credit for being as resilient as
they really are. Leave something with your scent on it for them to help
ease the transition, and check in on them periodically so you'll have
some peace of mind.

Suja



 




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