This past Friday my family put a couple of suitcases in the car, one of my doggie beds, a large blanket for Nala, and our doggie food and treats. I thought we were all going somewhere fun!
Taylor even brought a friend along. Boy, was this going to be the best trip (even if I don’t like riding in cars).
It turns out that my family WAS going on a trip… but Nala and I were going to BOARDING CAMP!
I guess Nala’s familiar with the whole packing thing, but I had no clue what was going to happen. For a couple of days, the suitcases and bags have been on the table — they should have alerted me, but I am such a naive puppy. Nala didn’t say a thing to me… but she knew all along.
Early Friday morning, mommy walked us at 6:30am as usual, and gave us our Morning Bones (we get small Milkbone bones every morning. If mommy forgets, we always remind her. ;)). After we came back in the house, everything seemed normal. The only thing that was different, was that everyone was up early — even Taylor and her friend! It wasn’t back to school time already, was it??
Then daddy started bringing all the stuff to the car. There were 2 suitcases, 2 big bags (mommy folded up one of my doggie beds and put it inside a shopping bag, with my Ninja toy and some food. Inside the other bag was a blanket for Nala and her food). Then there was Taylor’s friend’s stuff… a suitcase and a pillow! Taylor brought out a few of her little pillows, and then mommy picked up a small backpack and mine and Nala’s leashes. Then she picked up our seat belts — I wondered what did she needed those for?
While we were still in the house, mommy put on Nala’s harness seat belt,
then she put on mine (I just got a new one that fits me really well).
Everyone went out to the car, and Taylor and daddy took hold of our leashes. Mommy locked the front door and mommy took Nala and me and had us jump into the car. Nala jumped right up onto the very back seat (she knew exactly what to do). The seats were covered with blankets, but I had no idea I was supposed to sit on them. I sat right on the floor in front of the seat. I looked at Nala and figured I should go up on the seat too, so I finally did. It was a very strange moment!
I had NEVER before been in the car with Nala in the very back seat,
and with my entire family and a friend! I thought we were all going to
go on this great adventure!
But then as the car started to pull away, my tummy started to go into knots.
I still didn’t like riding in the car and hoped that this adventure was close by. Just 10 minutes later, I got my wish. Our car pulled into a parking lot and stopped.
It was at this moment that I started to get really nervous. I heard my family
talk about how scared I looked and they worried about me.
Mommy got out of the car, and so did Taylor. Mommy pulled forward Taylor’s seat so she could come in the back with Nala and me. She removed Nala’s seat belt first, and asked Taylor to hold her leash while she unbuckled my seat belt. No one else was getting out of the car. This should have been another clue.
Mommy held mine and Nala’s leashes and walked into a building, while Taylor followed behind with the 2 shopping bags that held our stuff.
When we got inside the building, we met up with a girl named Christine. She seemed very nice, and she took hold of the bags that Taylor was holding. We followed Christine into the building and reached a door. When Christine said to go through the door, I should have received another clue — Nala turned and bolted the other way. If she wasn’t on a leash, she might have escaped. I wondered what was going on.
Once inside, Christine went over a few things with mommy, and then she brought me back into another room where I saw A LOT of doggies in cages. The first cage I saw held 2 doggies together — they must have known each other. Christine opened another big cage nearby, and mommy asked Taylor to get my doggie bed. Huh?! I was so confused. I wondered why they were leaving my doggie bed in this place. Sadly, I soon found out that they weren’t just leaving my doggie bed here — they were leaving Nala and me, too.
Mommy and Taylor talked to Christine about how this was my first time (first time what?) and that I was very scared and nervous. They told her how worried they were about me, and that when they walk me they should hold on tight because I might bolt. I think I remember someone saying I was a “flight risk.”
Shortly after, mommy and Taylor asked me to go into the cage. I went in, but I wasn’t happy about it. I remember feeling sick and worried and all kinds of emotions I never had before. Mommy told me she’d be back tomorrow, and hugged me. Then Taylor did the same. Then they both brought Nala back to her cage, which was around the other side. Why weren’t we together? I was very sad.
Nala didn’t have a problem going into the cage — she’s been doing this for many years, and she knew what was happening. I guess she didn’t tell me anything, because she didn’t want me to worry. She knew I’d find out eventually.
It turns out that I didn’t do very well my first time at “Boarding Camp.” I made myself so sick, that they had to take me out of my cage and move me to the treatment side of the hospital. They had a fan on me and put ice in my water. I ran a very high fever and they had to call my family.
Continue reading: Boarding is a Vacation?! Part 2. ๐
Happy Monday woofs & hugs, friends!
~Bailey (Yep, I’m a girl)
P.S… If you’re a human who blogs about your furry, or a furry who blogs about your human… or even a furry who blogs about your life… I invite you to follow me via Google Friend Connect (see box in the right-hand column –>), and join me on Facebook. Please let me know you’ve visited — I love reading other blogs and making new friends. <3
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Oh Bailey,
You poor thing! I’m glad you had Nala with you, I’m off to read how it all worked out in your other posts, paws crossed it was ok!
I thought I was going to Cosmo’s next door when everyone was packing for this trip and I started marching to their house, when suddenly Mum put me in the car and we left, it’s so hard to predict what the humans are up to buddy!
Hugs for you,
Your pal Snoopy ๐
What a scary experience, Bailey! Maybe if you had the chance to look around and meet people first it might have been better…or if Nala was right next to you.
Dommy above us had some good ideas. We all go to board at our vet’s place. None of us are crazy about it, and we think we told you how phantom got sick the last time. But we think he was sick mostly because of the storms. Hope the next time is better for you, Bailey.
Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara
Bailey, I felt like crying reading that post!! Holly has been boarded since she was a little puppy usually because of hospital visits on my part. When she was a puppy, they had to board her in the kitty side of the boarding place because she was too young to be put in with the other dogs. The first time she peed in her bath water and then turned around and peed under the dryer. She were scared. Now she is not a fan of going to the vet and makes sure I am not going to leave her. I dread the day if I have to board her again because I know she will just hate it so much. Lots of love, Debbie & Holly
Sorry Bailey. We had to go to the kennel last time because Katy had fleas and our Daddy didn’t want to infect our Doggy daycare provider who usually provides us with our overnight care when Mom and Dad are away. Our daycare provider lets us sleep in our own beds without crates/cages. Since Bailey has been there so long, sometimes he gets to visit with the grandma and grandpa and even gets TV priveledges sometimes. He is so spoiled. It is more like doggy camp. However, the kennel is much stricter and it is so scary. We were so glad to see Dad when he came back.
Even when I drag the right thing below it doesn’t alway work and doesn’t save my comment. 4th try coming up.
I’m sorry to hear the captcha isn’t working great for you! I’m still looking for something that will work for everyone. ๐
For our pups its a super fun vacation!
Kari
http://dogisgodinreverse.com/
Oh no dear Bailey! Sometimes we have to board too & the last time the exact same thing happened to Isis. She quit eating and was not doing to well so grama drove three hours to pick her up and take care of her while pops was out of town…hope you feel better furiend!
RA
Oh Bailey, that is too sad! The Mama has never taken us to board, but I imagine we would be an awful lot like you. I’m so glad your family is back now and you are OK!
Oh boy… that’s an awful first time.
The boarders should not put you guys in the cage when you arrived. That would have freaked out any first timers. They should let you walk around a bit and smell the place up.. and leave a bit of markings here and there.
Hope you are feeling much better now Bailey. Drink more water ya.
woofs n licks,
Dommy