Something we don't like to talk about...

...or think about, really: our wills. The legal kind, mind you. Not, like, the will to live. Or to not eat all of the chocolate chip cookies.

Mmmm, cookies.

With my trip to Africa less than a month away (!!!), the fate of my animals, should anything happen to me overseas, has been heavy on my mind. So, I did what any normal, not at all morbid girl would do: I sent a random email to my mom that started off with, "In the event of my death..." No, not really. But basically.

A little over 3 years ago, I did the same thing, after a girl I was boarding with wrecked and died driving home from the barn. I sent instructions to my mother on who she could farm out my animals to, should something happen to me. At the time, I had a much more varied collection of species than I do now, and a lot of the list went like this: "See if so-and-so wants ___. If not, try so-and-so. If they're a no too, then do this." The snakes and lizards were actually the easiest to determine who they went to. The horse and the cat were the hardest.

A lot has changed since then, so I decided I needed to make an updated list that covered my newer additions- namely, a Corgi and a Paint horse.

In the event that something did happen to me, I'm sure my family would keep Romeo and Ramses. That being said, I know they would not keep the horses, as none of them are horse people, and I am pretty sure they would not be interested in the little Duracell battery that is Fiona.

But I'm so cute!

I knew immediately who I would want Chica to go to- I have some friends that I met while boarding that now have their own land, and honestly, I don't think anyone would appreciate and love her more than they would. The wife is always praising Chica and constantly teasing me about letting Chica go to her real home. They have other horses, a cow, and various other livestock. They are very nice people and treat their animals very well. In fact, in talking them up so much, I feel like I should just drive over and deliver Chica to them now.

"A place where I can just frolic and eat? Sign me up!"

If they didn't want or could not take her, then I have several friends that I know would give Chica a wonderful place to live out her golden years. I told my mom that I want her to stay "in the family"- that is, in the horse family. Especially now that she's older and has navicular. She does not deserve to end up neglected in a field somewhere.

Sienna could be sold, as that was always the plan with her. I gave my mom a short list of her abilities and the kind of person she would be wonderful for. With a name like Too Shy To Unzip, I'm sure she has a bright future ahead of her.

Not amused.

 That leaves Fiona. I do not know what would happen to my little Corgi, and that makes me truly sad. I have a couple of friends that might take her, but the list is short- and a home for her might have to be found outside the realm of people we know if my parents decided to not keep her. I was sure to include in my email that if someone took her, they could only have her on the agreement that she never went to a shelter- if that happened, I would haunt them as long as they lived. Like, poltergeist, throw stuff across the room haunt them. I am bonded to all of my animals in different ways, but Fiona is the first dog I've had that was MY dog. She snuggles with me at night, she prefers me to other people, and I cannot leave the room without her bolting after me like she's missing out on something. Meanwhile, Romeo puts himself to bed in the other room around 8:00 PM. I know he's my boy and he would defend me to the end, but there's something about a dog whose main drive in life is to be with you every second that she can. I think she (followed by Ramses) would have the hardest time adjusting to new people/life without me. The three days I was in New Orleans last year that she stayed with my parents were apparently rough for all involved- and then I came home, and she crawled into my lap and fell asleep- the first time she had actually relaxed the entire time she had been there, according to my parents.

"Should I be concerned?"

This is a sad subject, and I have definitely teared up, wondering what would happen to my babies if something happened to me. I don't know why I felt the need to write a post about it, other than to remind everyone- we don't know how long we're here for. Those of us that have animals especially need to be cognizant of what will happen to them if something happens to us- I've seen so many cases where a dog/cat/horse's owner died, and the animal ended up neglected, on the streets, or in the shelter, because no one knew what to do with it.

Also, I'm a controlling person, and perhaps this is just an attempt to extend my influence beyond the grave. I don't know. I do know that it is about an hour from quittin' time and I'm going to go home and hug all of my pets for a long time.

We may all be doofy, but it works.