To Greener Pastures

Have you ever had to make a hard family decision? One that would change things for the better long term, but may have been a painful transition?

We finally decided to find Milo a new home. It was a year-long decision. We will miss him, but in the end everyone will be happier.

Milo came to us at 9 weeks old. We had no kids, a new house, a new marriage and like many newlyweds we were looking for something to call "ours". We found him at Spring Valley Cavaliers. We did our research on Cavalier King Charles Spaniels; great with kids, loving, sweet, gentle, relaxed, and 50/50 on shedding (they will or won't). I saw his puppy photo and he melted my heart.

He trained quickly, loved fetch and was so snuggly. He desired all our attention which he got until... Parker came home from the hospital. Milo growled at him, but quickly learned to be gentle. He understood what Parker was to us and soon watched Parker grow as we did. All was well.

Things took a turn when our next baby, Jameson, was welcomed home. With us working full time jobs, entertaining two kids, errands on the weekends, Milo started acting out and with reason. He nabbed food off the table, snuck entire meals when Parker wasn't looking, scratched a crater into our deck, chipped off the paint from the window trim, and began shedding to the extreme unlike he had ever done.

All were fairly small offences. I, now, was prepareing Parker's meals twice at times, pulling gobs of dog hair from both boys' mouths, and we found ourselves constantly getting after Milo for one thing or another. It wasn't his fault. He was bored! We had hardly paid attention to him.

This combination of things led us to make the decision to find Milo a new home. One where he would receive all the attention he deserved. He had to be so lonely since we were rarely home. We asked family, friends, and tried Facebook. No one seemed too interested in taking on the responsibility. A coworker mentioned finding a rescue club and gave me a name. I did some googling and found the Cavalier Rescue. They take on Cavaliers, find a foster home, and wait for an adoptive family. What better way to find a new home? No one is doing us a "favor" by taking him, no pound, no shelter. He goes to a family that wants HIM just as he had been found as a pup. One family will fall in love with him just like we did.

We feel comfortable with our decision. My only concern is the transition Milo must take. My heart breaks pondering about his thoughts, "where is mom and dad? and Parker? and that baby?" However, he is so loving he will quickly attach to his new family.

Milo, you were the perfect dog. You deserve better. We are sorry to have you leave us, but you will be so much happier with all the attention you are about to receive. We love you, pup.