One of the best outcomes of my divorce in 2001 was the arrangement my ex and I worked out concerning the care of our two Shetland sheepdogs. As soon as divorce seemed imminent, the first thing out of my mouth was, “I get the dogs!”
You have to understand that at the very beginning of our relationship, my future husband had insisted that I get rid of my two cats, cats that I had loved for over seven years. Back then, I was faced with the choice between a new man in my life (future unknown), and my relationship with my two old buddies. Obviously, I made the wrong choice back in ’92.
This time it was a no brainer. I knew I could live without the constant criticism from my husband, but not without the dependable love and support of my shelties.
And they were so key to my ability to move on after divorce. The many hours I spent walking them in all kinds of weather along the river while contemplating my past, present and future, stands out now as such an essential element in my own healing process.
Luckily, my ex and I were able to work out a kind of shared custody for the dogs that worked for all of us. We have now shared them longer than we were married, and the sad truth is they are now geriatric puppies. It is so tough to watch them go blind and/or deaf with arthritis all around. They need help to do just about anything now, and I’m not dealing with it well.
Where did my cuddly little puppies go? I used to joke about how it was so much better to have puppies than kids, because when they turn into teenagers they die. My older sheltie is 13 today and I only wish she could be young again and live forever!
