Hard to believe that it’s been almost a year since I took my dogs on a cross-country road trip and resettled on the west coast. Time sure flies! A lot has happened in that year, too (and poor Moose was at the center of a lot of the adventures).
Since I just renewed my lease, the apartment management offered me my choice of three thank yous: a carpet cleaning, a blind cleaning, or a ceiling fan. I knew the fan was out — Lally is (for some strange reason) scared to death of ceiling fans. She won’t even walk into a room when an overhead fan is on. So my choices were blind cleaning and carpet cleaning.
Considering how much mud the dogs and I bring in after each walk? (Not to mention Moose’s colorful barf now and then…) I picked the carpet cleaning.
My cleaning is today! I figure it’ll be easiest for all involved if the dogs and I hit the road when the carpet cleaners show up — rather than try to rotate the dogs from one room to another while the cleaners work. The cleaning should take between a half hour and an hour (hey, it’s not a huge apartment).
So… I need to entertain the dogs for an hour or so.
My first thought was a trip to the park. Moose’s hip dysplasia doesn’t let him do too many laps of the fenced area, but he still enjoys the chance to sniff and roam. As long as it isn’t raining too hard, we’ll probably hit the park. An extra-long walk is kind of out of the question, because of Moose’s hips.
But if it is raining? My options are limited. Maybe just a drive — they like car rides. I could bring the dogs along while I run a few errands and let them hang out in the car for a few minutes. If it was going to be the least bit hot and/or sunny, I wouldn’t have this as an option. Closed cars can heat up quickly, threatening the health of pets or kids left inside.
I guess my other option is to make a surprise visit to a friend. Depending on how early the carpet cleaners show up, it might or might not be a possibility. Anybody have any other ideas?