The Barracks: Night 1

Posted by Jennifer on February 20, 2022


Feel insane, what was I thinking????…….

Not wanting to hear any ‘kudos’ but to honestly talk about sacrifices. As I slept on the couch, the smell of ammonia  hung in the air, from Stella who peed in her crate and had laid in it. As much as I cleaned her crate I realized it was her that needed to be cleaned…………

Cold morning, pending ice storm heading our way. Me dressed in jeans, striped socks pulled up, tennis shoes, sweat shirt, and my red bathrobe pulled over it all for extra warmth. Joe and I were hosing down the walls and floors of the warehouse. Filthy, is all I can say.  Somewhat better, I think……..

Stella howling and whining, not liking at all being in a crate all night. In fact, all these dogs were crated for their first night in a long time. All needed to be in their den (the living area of the Barracks) and sleep as a pack. All crates were strategically placed around the room. Poor dogs, If I were them I would be secretly want to ‘gang up’ on Stella. I mean really…..it was worse than pathetic. I slept on the couch in the room, with a constant heart beat rhythm sound machine playing. You might think that would be soothing. No, it was kinda creepy actually. The only saving grace was the radon train going by that sounded like it was coming through the walls at me. That silenced Stella for a second…..

Coffee….thank goodness for the coffee machine there. Thank you Donna.

Sweet moments of one on one time with each dog. They all crave it now and it makes them all the more want to ‘work’ to please. Every second we spent was having them do ‘something’ to get a reward, which was mostly some butt scathing and ear rubbing. Except the times I caught Joe with Hershey and Bella (separate moments too!) laying on the floor ‘spooning’ them…..

Tired, sore, feeling very very old……

Then I think about what all this is for. It’s for our Military Veterans that have spent time in Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries……and I am complaining about a sleepless night on the couch….

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