Homesickness for your dog

We have now been on vacation for over three weeks. The last time I was away from home for so long was before I had a child or a crow. Yes, my beloved, but I had that with me. So homesickness, that word I did not know. Now I have taken almost everything I love and brought it to Italy, except for our little, fluffy animal. Now she is in the best hands with the sweetest friends who take care of her at least as well as we do (I think there will be even more long walks, which I sometimes want to rush through in the evening), but the absence is great. It grows day by day.

I try to imagine evenings with pouring rain where I have to separate myself from Netflix and the fireplace to let Monti pee and poop, just like Sunday mornings when I would really like to turn over one more time, but I don't because I know she is eagerly waiting by the living room door for a cuddle. It doesn't help at all. I have homesickness. And apparently, I am not alone.

Google teaches me that research has been done on pet owners on vacation without their animal and this is what they do.

1. Calling their animal
We do that too. To be honest, only when she is at my parents' house. I am too ashamed to do it with others. But facetiming, calling her name, making the sounds we make when I cuddle her. Really embarrassing, but she enjoys it, we enjoy it, and we don't harm anyone with it, so.

2. Buying a gift for your animal
We haven't done that yet, but we could easily do it. A collar, a blanket, a toy to bite.

3. Sending a card to your animal
That even goes a bit too far for me. Also because I really don't send anyone a card. And because I really don't do her any pleasure with it here.

4. Fantasizing about next year
That she just has to come along. That we will drive the whole way to Southern Italy by car and if necessary, not go to the beach anymore. And in the meantime, our girls are counting the days until they can hold our little fluffy animal in their arms again.

It can't get any crazier...

Are you about to get a dog and need some convincing material for your housemates? Here are the good reasons to get a dog.