12 years ago a dog, a girl and 3 airplanes

[LucyTudeOn4Feet]

12 years ago today Lucy turned 8 weeks old and I met her breeder at the Salt Lake City airport to bring her home. We had met the litter the week before, and our puppy was chosen and graced with a colored collar, which she proceeded to scratch at for the entire week, including all the way to the airport. She stopped only to shrink back into the safety of her breeder's arms as she looked upon me, her new owner, with a look on her face that I will never forget. She looked like she wished she could hide from the world. The wandering, scampering, exploring pup that happily ignored us the week before looked like she was not at all happy with this day. My heart melted, I took her in my arms and I think she's held a grudge against me for what transpired over the next 36 hours that exists to this day!

We had a flight to Cincinnati, then to Tampa. Two hours in the flight, we hit turbulence, the seatbelt lights stayed on forever. She woke up and started to scream. I tried to soothe her, and soon became mortified, for her, and for the other passengers. The flight attendant came and said "WHAT is the problem, does IT need to pee?" I nodded. She hissed "Take her in the lavatory and BE QUICK about it." I gratefully hustled the under seat kennel to the potty, spread newspapers and took the poor thing out. She let loose a flood. The newspaper couldn't keep up, and pee was rolling everywhere. I desperately began grabbing paper towels to soak up the overflow. After we made our way back to our seat, she fell back asleep and my seat mate let me live.

Weather out east had delayed our departure from SLC, to the point that we were the last to arrive in Cincinnati, and we got to spend the night there. I slept on the floor with my hand in the kennel. She would stir, I'd wake up, take her out to pee on newspapers. The next day wasn't much better, we finally got to Tampa at 5 pm, by way of Atlanta. So in the first 36 hours of her life with me, Lucy saw 3 airports, 3 airline club rooms, 3 first class cabins and countless handicap stalls in airport bathrooms, and spent her first night at an airport boarding gate.

When we hit the green grass outside Tampa arrivals, and she met her new Daddy for the first time, I think she saw him as her savior from this wacko woman and the airplanes. She's been a Daddy's girl ever since. I love you anyway, baby girl, and I'll never forget our trip home.

[Snowshoe]

You scared me.

What a little traveller. Love your story but bet Lucy was glad it was over.

[WhoopsaDaisy]

Awwww! Happy bday/gotcha day Lucy!

[kelsyg]

Oh, the things we do for our pups!
My girls came from Tampa. Four hours there, four hours back, first for our interview with the breeder and then for each pick up, and some overnights at the Hard Rock Hotel, (where we won $200 at the casino).
Best trips I ever made! I love my girls just as you love your Lucy!

[smartrock]

Wow, what a trip! Those airplane bathrooms are so small, I can't imagine trying to let a puppy pee on the floor on papers or anything else. Then picking the papers up and disposing of them, washing your hands, trying to keep the puppy from putting her mouth on anything- gah! I'm not sure who of you was more traumatized, since the story is still so vivid in your mind 12 years later! Thanks for sharing.

[battmain]

Awwww. Only dog lovers would understand what we go through for these canines. Thanks for sharing.

[Meeps83]

What a story!

[POPTOP]

What a trip! I'm sure Lucy has long since forgotten and forgiven.

[Halcyon]

What an eventful journey home!

[4Thelove]

Love story!