Is it the weekend yet

Hi everyone. I have not posted in a few weeks so I thought it was about time.

Most of you probably know by now that I decided to surrender Sam back to the SPCA. I had been thinking of it for some time and decided to definitely do it after Bob and I talked last monday night and realized how much that Sam was not only stressing me out, but Bob as well. With us both being gone all day Sam was not getting enough exercise and therefore acting out behaviorally since he was unhappy and bored. He peed in his cage and/or while he was walking around in the house nearly every day, was getting more hyper by the day, and was hard to control when walking him. He was about 60 pounds and I consider myself to be strong but he wreaked havoc on my neck and back just trying to walk him. I consulted with someone familiar with the breed who said that coonhounds need to do what they are born to do- hunt. Since we were not using him for that and not giving him enough exercise, he was bored and unhappy. She supported my decision to give him back so that a family more able to meet his needs could adopt him.

So, Bob and I took him to Erie County SPCA thursday night (the only night they are open because I did not want to miss work) only to be told when we got there that they could not take them because they had no room. This had me feeling horrible. So we took him back home and Bob kindly told me it was "the baby Jesus' way of saying keep the dog." I disagreed. I knew nothing would change if we kept him and stood by my decision. So the next morning I called niagara county spca who did have a kennel available (I learned my lesson and called first) so I took him this past friday morning, alone, which was difficult. I felt better leaving him there because it is a smaller facility and it seems like he would get more personal attention. They two ladies who interacted with him were very friendly, so that made me feel a little better. Also, it being niagara county and not erie may increase his chance of ending up on a farm with other dogs or with someone who will use him to hunt, which I think will be good. So I am still sad and it is difficult to come home/wake up to an empty house (bob is long gone by the time I wake up and I usually beat him home from work) but I do feel it was for the best and hope to get another dog eventually. I miss his cute lil face and his craziness though.... [[sigh]]

Anyway, things at work have been very busy and a lot of students are coming in (or being walked down by coaches/faculty) without appointments and many are experiencing suicidal thoughts or have attempted, so I am feeling a bit stressed (hence my blog title). Otherwise, things are going well and Bob and I are taking my mom out for Mexican food as her bday present. I am looking forward to thursday night at Tully's, too.

Well, i need to finish up here and head on home. Hope all is well with everyone.