Earning Their Keep

Friday the younger two got a chance to earn their keep for a change.  Late Wednesday evening our landlord knocked on the door.  Friday they were going to bring a Beagle in to do a bed bug inspection on all the apartments in the three attached buildings, so we had to get the kids out for the day.  Three of the five people in my department were already scheduled to be out that day so I was in a real bind.  Fortunately, we have an amazing President and he was happy to let me bring the kids into the office for the morning.  I can't take Curley to daycare because he's deaf and blind in the one eye and I can't take Bailey yet because she hasn't had her second series of Distemper/Parvo vaccines.

So Friday morning I got up early and got ready.  I took the kids for their usual walk and then set about getting the apartment ready for the Beagle to come.  We had to pack up all food, medications, cleaning products and poisons.  We had to empty and remove all the dog food and water bowls.  We put all the dog beds except the one I was bringing to the office in the kitchen and gated that room off.  Then I had to close all the windows, shut off the air conditioner and fans, turn off the air purifier, and shut off the automatic air freshener.  I made our bed, packed up some toys and some food, threw a fleece bed, and a gate into the trunk, and we were off.

Our first stop of the morning was Canine & Company to drop Chica off.  She loves going to daycare!

Bailey and Curley came in with us, then I brought them back to the car and we set off for the office.  I was actually able to get them and all the stuff they needed into the office in one trip.  And since I got there before Laura, Curley had time to check the place out while I set up Bailey's temporary crate.

Then I got him settled in and my computer turned on just in time for Laura to arrive.

The two of them were perfect!  Bailey hardly made a peep and since Curley got a little anxious in an unfamiliar setting if I tried to go anywhere without him, he did get a chance to see our main office (they put us claims people in a separate office as we tend to spend most of our time on the phone with people who are upset with us :).  When Ed told me I could bring them in, his condition was that I bring Curley by to say hello, so that was our first stop.  Ed pet him for a few minutes while we chatted, then when he withdrew his hand, Curley the love bug moved closer Ed wasn't able to say no to him.

He adopted Laura as an honorary Aunt, so a little bit into the morning I took the gate down and he spent most of the time looking out the window.

Before I knew it, it was 1:00 and I had the all-clear to bring them home.  I took the kids back through the main office to meet those they hadn't met when we stopped in after our vet visit two weeks ago and then loaded them up in the car.

I got them settled in at home with the beds and bowls back where they belonged and the air and fans turned back on, then headed back to the office for the last two hours of the day.

Chica was glad to see me as always, and Curley was glad to have her back home as well.  And as for me, the day couldn't have gone better!  It went exactly as Cesar had taught me to visualize it.  I saw Bailey sleeping in her crate all morning and that's exactly what happened.  I did get her up twice to go out.  I visualized no accidents and no messes and that's exactly what happened-Curley was a perfect gentleman!

I hope I get the chance to bring them in again because they certainly were good stewards for next year's "Bring your dog to work day!"  This is one proud mama!