Poor Katie

This morning I had to go to Lubbock. I literally rolled out of bed and got the kids ready, sacrificing my beauty, and headed out the door. I didn't take anything with me that I might need because I was only going to be there about an hour.

On my way up there Jenny, my sister calls and asks if I can do her a favor. I'm not sure why she didn't call Suzanne, the sister who has a husband and only one kid, but whatever...she called me. Katie the dog of the people who she has been house sitting for was throwing up and needed to be taken to the vet. I know the people she was housesitting for, and I know Katie. She is the absolute sweetest dog in the world. She is very old and has many health and emotional problems. She is "storm phobic" meaning anytime it rains Lynn or Diane have to go home to be with her or she will crash through the windows because she is terrified of thunder. They arranged to have a sitter on July 4th, because fireworks will do the same thing. Katie is 13 years old.

Jenny tells me that "all I have to do is just pick her up, she's already talked the vet and I can just drop her off and they'll keep her." Sounds easy...which should have been my first clue. WHAT SOUNDS EASY IS NEVER EASY. I get to their house and have to turn off their extensive alarm system. I got Katie and set off for the vet. Well in case you're not aware there are 2 vets within a block from each other here in Lubbock. I got in the door of the first one, and I tell you every dog and cat must be sick this weekend, because they were all there. I didn't have a leash, and Katie is huge. If she had sprinted off, I would have bit it right there on the floor. And I didn't know how the other dogs would react to her. I stood in line 10 minute, with my kids (all three) in the car. I didn't want to leave them in the car, but I thought I was "just dropping her off" and a tornado would have taken place had I tried to go in there with all three of them and a big dog. So after being in line, they tell me they don't know Katie and I probably need the vet a block away. So I go over there. As we're getting out of the car, Katie takes a big ole' crap all over their sidewalk leading right to the front door. There were people looking at me like, "can't you control your dog?" I get in there and they said she can't stay. I have to wait in line to be seen by the doctor. I told them I couldn't. The lady told me to just bring my kids in. I was like are you insane lady, do you know what you're asking?

So I go out to the car, and I told Jenny she was just going to have to leave work and come up there. I'm sitting in my car with Katie and my kids and the vet comes out there and yells at me and tells me that Jenny was rude to his staff and Katie will not be seen if we're going to be so rude and be in such a huff. Situations like that I just don't know how to handle. I am like a deer caught in headlights. I don't appreciate being attacked when really I am just the messenger. I always react by getting upset, so I did. And I've been frazzled all day because of it! I just don't like rude people, and I know that I was not mean to them. I just didn't know what to do and I was frustrated that I was given the wrong information about dropping her off. I had told them I would clean the poop off their porch when I walked in the door, but I decided against that. They can do it themselves after the way he treated me.

All of that to say, poor sweet Katie has congestive heart failure and has blood in her lungs. They put her on medicine, but the prognosis isn't good because her heart in enlarged. What a horrible thing to have to tell Lynn and Diane while they're on vacation. That dog grew up with their kids! She really is the sweetest dog I've ever met!