What to do about the pets?

When we leave the house in July, whether it’s sold or not, we’re going to be staying in our camper until the new house is finished. One of the biggest concerns we have about this move is what we’re going to do with our pets while we’re staying in the camper.

I’m not as concerned about the cats as I am the dog. The dog is rambunctious for such a small space like the camper. We’ve had her on camping trips before and she requires almost constant attention while we’re in the camper. She bounces from window to window looking at whatever might be outside and letting us know that there’s something out there by incessantly barking at it. I have to take her on daily runs where I hook her up to a harness and let her pull me around on my bike. Initially, she runs at a full out gallop until she needs to stop for a potty break or until the last half of the run when she starts to tire out. Doing this is the only way to manage her energy level so she isn’t a monster-dog. I should clock our time/distance the next time we go out to see how fast she’s pulling. I will say this; it’s damned fast on a bike. I have an 18-speed and I have to keep the front shifter in the middle of the three gears and the rear shifter on the lowest level just to feel any resistance when I pedal.

My watch did record our trip although I don’t actually consider it a workout. Look at that first split speed.

I found out today that the campsite we’re going to be staying at is doing renovations this year to expand the number of sites. There may be interruptions in water or electricity at the campsite while this construction is happening. I’m worried if the power goes out during a hot day that the animals in the camper won’t have any air conditioning to keep them safe. If both Adrianne and I are at work when this happens, we may not know until we get back from our respective places of work.

The animals are a burden at times and I’ve frequently said we need to find them new homes. Just today, Nani peed on the carpet in our bedroom while I was out cutting the grass. Ash used the door frame as a scratching post and sprayed Nani’s leash. Fosse is sitting here in my lap being a cuddle-bug, but not before he waltzed across my keyboard demanding my undivided attention. They’re frustrating at times, but I do love them. I would be sad if they weren’t a part of our lives.

I’ve thought about putting the animals in long-term boarding until the move is complete, but then I worry about them feeling abandoned like The Incredible Journey. If anyone has any suggestions on what we can do, please reach out and let us know.

I recently saw a social media post about how the Hawaiian culture sees being a pet owner. The animal isn’t viewed as property. Instead, the human being is a guardian, a beloved attendant, or someone entrusted with the safekeeping of something precious or something cherished. I thought that was really beautiful.