Okay, okay, it's either love or madness.
Every time a home offer came up they were not a match for Tag.
Then two offers came up last week, one which would have killed his young boisterous nature and he would have gone mad and surely bounced and then the other seemingly perfect.
I answered "yes" come and visit him. I had to search my heart and in the back of my mind was the dread of stern criticism if we kept him. I got my head around it and said "yes" to a visit from the prospective adopters.
Tag had by this time had about 16 home offers. Homes with cats, with very young dogs, with full time shift workers, with part-time and no dogs, with people with health problems who were home full-time, with people who were first time lurcher owners.
But the home to be seemed perfect.
I came off the phone and Mollie and Hayley were sitting looking at me.
Hayley said "I can't believe that you want him to go". Why can't Megan go instead!!!?
Mollie cuddled him and said "please don't let him go mummy".
Michael was away and so I decided to wait until he returned home.
We had a family conference; one in which we discussed the foibles of Tag. Tag is not an easy dog to manage. He is a juvenile delinquent who is a torment at the moment. He has no bad temperament but if he were human he would be a tease.
He has a tendency to jump up and nip visitors, which Alicia and Barney will vouch for, and now Helen yesterday!. He is just such a boisterous boy. (Upstairs barking at the mo to get Sofi to play!)
If he were re homed to the new home he would be with 3 bitches again. His fate here. If he were re homed with the new home he would still be a naughty teenager, which he is here. But I now know when he is about to kick off, and I am top dog. Tag needs a top dog who has time to sort him out.
He has destroyed our patio furniture, destroyed several beds, including Elly's lovely bed, destroyed the washing, the back of the car and has just stop destroying.
We have been on one hell of a journey with Tag which is still finally getting towards the end.
He does have "bounce" written all over him.
He lacks confidence without the girlies with him. He needs us.
To re-home him is just totally wrong.
So, when Michael got home we left the decision to him.
I asked one question "Do you love him?"
To which the answer came back "Yes, suppose I do".
What could we do?
I just hope that Uncle John and Auntie Viv will foster him for a week's break next year please......
I love him to bits, but I am under no illusions that he will be a good boy overnight. But he is a workable boy, and not a nasty one, just a naughty one.
So... yes I failed. .... But this time the family failed.
I did try, honest....
And yes, I have insured him quick.......
Total anesthetics so far 4.
Total vets visits 8.
Tag is home.... God save the Symmons family. ;D