Oh my gosh, you’d think we were leaving a child.  Well, Buddy’s like our 4th son.  He is so much a part of our day, loving fun, his little daily patrol on the golf cart, his many trips.

He tries so hard to please, looking back every few steps to make sure he’s leading the way, correctly. 

Now, we have to go for 2.5 days to a convention.  No pets.  They just don’t understand, leaving Buddy in the care of strangers is traumatic.  How can I concentrate on business?  It’s not like I can call home to check on him, though he would try to answer the phone, I’m sure.

We’ve hired a pet sitter to come and let him out for his walk and sniffs.  She’ll feed him and pet him, and make sure animal planet is on for him.  But, she’s not us.  Buddy will not like it.  He’ll be upset and I don’t know how to explain it to him.

It’s quite disturbing, to be the parent of a dog.

-Buddy’s Mom, an unhappy camper for today.