EBHS Unleashed

Mud Happens

Posted by Karen Sparapani on March 24, 2009

Rain, rain go away! I am happy that spring is coming, and that it continues to get incrementally warmer each day, but for those of us with furry dogs this kind of weather means only one thing.

MUD.

People learn to live different lives in order to live with certain animals. There is a very noticeable difference in the lives of people that own a pet, and people who have an animal companion. I have met people with birds have really warm homes, and the utility bills to prove it, in order to keep their feathered friend comfortable. Some people have special furniture like a chair or a couch that no one can sit on because that belongs to the cat, or dog.

I used to be a neat freak until furry dogs became mud mops each spring and winter.

I used to try and catch them when they came in to dry their feet, but this wrestling match became un-winnable when the second mop on 4 feet came to live with us. My dogs learned to jump over me if I am kneeling inside the door with a towel, causing way more destruction to my house, and my head. I was quickly trained out of this technique.

I tried boots, which was hilarious to watch as every step was an effort to shake them off. Eventually when they would not come near me when I called them over to put the boots on, I knew they were on to me and I gave up on that fairly quickly. Easier to run upstairs and poop in the hallway than put on boots, they decided.

I lost the battle with them. I had bottles of every liquid known to modern man to clean carpeting, upholstery, and other fabrics under my sink. Eventually, I had to move my cleaning arsenal to a full closet. None of these cleaners could keep up with the mud trails of my dogs. I had mud everywhere - bedspreads, living room furniture, clothes, walls, cabinets. I decided that in order to keep my sanity, and my happy relationship with my dogs, I had to admit defeat.

My light colored living room furniture is now covered by blankets as wet and muddy dogs tend to go right from my muddy front garden to the couch to dry off and wipe their feet. My living room now looks like I am going away for an extended period of time with covers on everything. It used to be my showplace. Now, it is a battlefield where mud wins every time. But, now, I do not care if they muddy up my blankets. Quick washing machine and dryer and we are ready for the next battle.

My previously immaculate kitchen floors go un-mopped until bedtime, only to be muddied up after the dogs have had their breakfast. Long gone are the days I followed the dogs around with a Wet-Jet until they had dry feet. Now, I plan for someday when I can get my kitchen redone to go with a "dirt" color scheme. It will make me much happier to know that it is there and not have to see it.

When our addition is built, we are going to have a special "mud-room" in order to have a place to contain really bad problems before they have a chance to get too far into the house. Martha Stewart has a whole shower set up in hers for her dogs. I doubt my husband or budget will allow for that. But again, to live happily for whatever will come my way in life, I want to be prepared.

Some people get rid of animals because they are messy, make mistakes, poop in the living room despite being outside for 5 hours, chew on things, claim things as their own like comfy chairs, or beds, shed on things, require attention at the end of a long day, or have special needs. Those are people that have bought a pet.

For those of us that consider these high maintenance creatures family, you understand. Mud is just mud. Family is forever.