Comments on: The Tail of Gigi The Dog https://frugalwoods.com/2023/07/20/the-tail-of-gigi-the-dog/ Financial independence and simple living Fri, 28 Jul 2023 13:24:42 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.6 By: Lisa O https://frugalwoods.com/2023/07/20/the-tail-of-gigi-the-dog/#comment-531393 Fri, 28 Jul 2023 13:24:42 +0000 https://frugalwoods.com/?p=36569#comment-531393 Gigi was lucky to have found you and your family. It is heartbreaking when you put time and effort in to and animal and it doesn’t work out.
I am glad that she is happy and found a good home that works for her. Giving her up wasn’t easy but doing what was best for her shows the love you all had for her.

]]> By: Jen https://frugalwoods.com/2023/07/20/the-tail-of-gigi-the-dog/#comment-531123 Thu, 27 Jul 2023 16:50:01 +0000 https://frugalwoods.com/?p=36569#comment-531123 Oh my heart, this is exactly what happened to us with a hound dog we adopted. We ultimately had to give him up and tried so many of the same things you did. At one point we contemplated adopting another dog to keep him company and that’s when we realized we had to give him back and he wasn’t the right fit. Followed by so.many.tears and feelings of guilt and inadequacy. We think he was a hunting dog and had lived with other dogs outside so if he was alone in a house he would flip out. My heart goes out to you, it was hard to give him back and our kids were devastated. I also learned that separation anxiety in dogs is INTENSE through the experience – it’s not just a silly little label, it’s very real and legitimate. We eventually found our perfect dog and now I can’t imagine not having her so hang in there!

]]> By: West https://frugalwoods.com/2023/07/20/the-tail-of-gigi-the-dog/#comment-530546 Wed, 26 Jul 2023 18:39:27 +0000 https://frugalwoods.com/?p=36569#comment-530546 In reply to Mrs. Frugalwoods.

You have to go down the dog adoption trail soon! The girls need a dog and this will heal them. So please get to the shelter and pick out a dog! Plus your property and chickens need a dog, so please no more thinking of yourself! Thank you!

]]> By: Kay https://frugalwoods.com/2023/07/20/the-tail-of-gigi-the-dog/#comment-529521 Tue, 25 Jul 2023 01:06:53 +0000 https://frugalwoods.com/?p=36569#comment-529521 I’m sorry you couldn’t keep her. I’m glad she had you to rescue and foster her, and I’m glad she’s found her home with her pack. I understand sadness and some grief both towards GiGi and in sympathy with your girls, but why would you be embarrassed or ashamed? Are you embarassed that you can’t wave a magic wand and control the universe? Ashamed that, despite trying absolutely everything, the universe said ‘Plot Twist!’ ? If you had just turned her loose and left her to fend for herself, sure be both embarrassed and ashamed. You did nothing wrong. We need to stop teaching our daughters to take the blame and apologize and feel shame and embarassment about things that are not their fault.

]]> By: Cindy Kreiman https://frugalwoods.com/2023/07/20/the-tail-of-gigi-the-dog/#comment-528527 Sun, 23 Jul 2023 16:23:02 +0000 https://frugalwoods.com/?p=36569#comment-528527 In reply to Anon.

Thank you
I agree with you and thank you so much for sharing and caring

]]> By: Sherrie Nicholson https://frugalwoods.com/2023/07/20/the-tail-of-gigi-the-dog/#comment-528481 Sun, 23 Jul 2023 12:30:13 +0000 https://frugalwoods.com/?p=36569#comment-528481 I think you’re a very responsible pet family. Yes, pets are expensive, but worth it! Your pet sitting experience sounds like being a grandparent. We love and enjoy our little grandchildren and then send them home!

]]> By: Caroline https://frugalwoods.com/2023/07/20/the-tail-of-gigi-the-dog/#comment-528473 Sun, 23 Jul 2023 11:48:20 +0000 https://frugalwoods.com/?p=36569#comment-528473 In reply to Carrie Cobb.

We had a dog like that. When we first adopted him – at age 3 – we had another, older dog and they were companions. Not besties, but companions.

Time went by, we knew he was a nervy little chap – sausage dogs often are – and he’d had a rough start in life, but I work from home, have 3 kids and so there is usually at least 1 person around, and of course the other dog. So far, so good. Eventually, my old girl went to the rainbow bridge, which made me incredibly sad, but also was not unexpected and THEN the chaos started. If we went out for more than about 20-30 mins, he was screaming and screaming and screaming hysterically, such that our really nice neighbours scaled our wall because they thought he was caught somewhere and badly injured. It was that bad. Screeching until he was hoarse, running in circles.

We tried meds, we tried various different things, but in the end, the only solution if we were going to be out from more than a fast trip to the shops, was to park him with those neighbours. He was 100% a pack dog, possibly from being locked in a concrete yard for 20 hours a day as a puppy, in all weathers, with just his brother and sister for company and love, possibly it was just his personality. Either way, it became heartbreakingly obvious several years into him joining our family that his general happiness was contingent upon never being alone for more than 30 minutes. We worked around it until we emigrated – by now he was getting on in years and the move would have been a huge, huge problem and stress for him for various reasons – and he went to live with dear friends (underwritten by us re vet bills and issues arising!) who have 2 other dogs and know the score. Apparently he is perfectly happy and the hysteria is no more, even if they’re out for an entire day. He’s nearly 14 now, but in good health and still loves his walks and loves being part of a family.

]]> By: Caro https://frugalwoods.com/2023/07/20/the-tail-of-gigi-the-dog/#comment-528472 Sun, 23 Jul 2023 11:40:07 +0000 https://frugalwoods.com/?p=36569#comment-528472 In reply to Casey.

Right, right, sure. There is a set of immuno-compromised people who pretty much are never safe to go anywhere, ever. People with immunity issues specifically, and COVID showed us all their daily lived realities, which has been sobering.

You are saying… what? That no one can ever go out and live their life normally because there are infections around and we all might end up possibly long term ill. Is that what you’re saying? Because that’s… a lot. Are you genuinely suggesting that everyone, at all times indoors wears masks forever and ever.

]]> By: Shannon https://frugalwoods.com/2023/07/20/the-tail-of-gigi-the-dog/#comment-528425 Sun, 23 Jul 2023 02:32:10 +0000 https://frugalwoods.com/?p=36569#comment-528425 One of the reasons I have cats is because I can leave them all day and they’re fine. They also are terrific for dealing with rodents and I can’t imagine living in the woods without them. Once the Kitty Korner Cafe is up and running again, you may be pleasantly surprised by the friendly fuzzies looking for homes. If allergies are an issue, some cat foods deal with it well. There are also breeds that are less irritating.

]]> By: Greta https://frugalwoods.com/2023/07/20/the-tail-of-gigi-the-dog/#comment-528355 Sat, 22 Jul 2023 11:43:53 +0000 https://frugalwoods.com/?p=36569#comment-528355 In reply to Willie.

Getting a companion won’t necessarily fix the problem. I was told that my dog could just transfer their issues to another dog potentially.

]]> By: Greta https://frugalwoods.com/2023/07/20/the-tail-of-gigi-the-dog/#comment-528354 Sat, 22 Jul 2023 11:42:21 +0000 https://frugalwoods.com/?p=36569#comment-528354 My very first dog (a greyhound!) Was like this. All the training I could do, and as a single person, I could devote everything to this dog, was not enough. She learned how to break through her first crate, go out a window, and I found her on my front porch when I came home one night. She could open my front door when she was desperate to find me. Shortly thereafter, she broke her canine getting out of a steel crate. I always said that I would never get rid of a dog, and she was my first so I felt like a failure. Stressed and heartbroken every day. My rescue that I got her from was so kind. They knew everything she and I had been through and had tried and they were able to find her a new home with a work at home parent and another dog and I heard that she did very well. I’ve had other dogs with more mild separation anxiety that I’ve been able to work through but my first was just not a dog that I could fix and her life with me was so full of highs and lows. I still think of her and the 4 months we spent together. I’m so sorry that it didn’t work out and just wanted to let you know that I really get it.

]]> By: Laura https://frugalwoods.com/2023/07/20/the-tail-of-gigi-the-dog/#comment-528283 Fri, 21 Jul 2023 18:47:12 +0000 https://frugalwoods.com/?p=36569#comment-528283 I’m so sorry this experience was so painful. It sounds like you did exactly what was right for both your family and that sweet pup. Thank you for sharing.

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