Taking A Vacation Without Your Dog?

Wow.

I'm not saying that I can't wait to get away from Samantha, Sushi or Kirin. I love my animals very much, I too refer to them as my furkids. They are the topic of most of my conversations. I have pictures of them in my wallet and show them off all the time. I never meet my coworkers for Happy Hour so that I can just go home and be with my pets. When friends invite my husband and I over or out, I invite them to our house instead so I don't have to leave them home alone. When I was on my honeymoon, I called my parents several times that week to see how she was doing. When we got home, I didn't wait for my husband to carry me over the threshold of our new house. I jumped out of the car before he even had it in park, bolted up the steps, and hugged Samantha for about 10 minutes straight.

But sometimes, I need an escape from real life. When we go out of town and Samantha can't or doesn't go with us, she stays with my parents (whom she adores, and they adore her). I know she's happy and that puts me at ease. Do I like leaving her? No. I was talking to my husband the other night and the subject of Samantha's eventual passing came up IN PASSING - it wasn't even the topic of conversation - and I burst into tears. I love my girl as much as you all love yours... When looking for a beach house to rent this year, I specifically looked for one that allows pets so that Sam could go, and she is. But if the opportunity came up for us to go somewhere and she couldn't go, I'd still go. I'd call from wherever I went to check up on her. I'd miss her like crazy. But I'd still go. That doesn't mean I love her any less or view her as "just" a pet.

I think people are getting defensive and reading too much into things. No one said someone who left their dogs for vacation didn't love them as much. I suffer from anxiety problems, and it flares so badly when I leave them that I just avoid it. I wish conversations in which people differed in feelings a bit didn't turn into people feeling defensive about their stance. I read over the responses again and no where did I see anyone suggesting that people who left their pets must love them less.

No one SAID that but when everyone after me says "I don't feel that way" or "I can't leave them", it makes me feel like sh!t so I chose to say something for my sake as much as anyone else's.

Sheesh.

I AM SURE EVERYONE ON PT AGREES THAT WE ALL LOVE OUR PETS AND TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF THEM!!!RIGHT PT?:) I JUST THINK I WAS GOING OVERBOARD WITH MY FEELINGS ABOUT CHICA. AND I FOUND OUT ON PT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK LIKE ME.;) I GOT SO ATTACHED TO CHICA THAT I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE HER.;) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...AENHANCED1.jpg

HAVE A GREAT DAY! :D