captainsblog | The truth about cats and dogs (Reply)

Things have been a little mellower between the kid and the 'rents this week, and I think I know why. Em done got herself the ultimate temp job.

A week ago yesterday, we got a visit from a couple of our neighbors. Their oldest kid is Emily's age, but she went to Catholic school and they never really got to know each other. She and her mom came to ask a favor; they'd planned a road trip for this entire week, and their housesitter cancelled on them at the last minute, much to the dismay of their two dogs and two cats. Would she do it? Could she do it?

Is the Pope Catholic? Do their dogs shit in the basement?

So three times a day minimum, including Way Before Her Usual Summer Wakee Time most days, Em's been going over to let out the dogs (and occasionally the cats), chase them round the neighborhood when they defeat the fence, feed them, and generally give them human companionship. She's been downright upright about the responsibility, including cleaning up the aforementioned shit in the basement. That's all good.

Here's the part that I wonder about, though. I asked her last night when they were getting back, and she said it would be sometime late tomorrow. So, I went on, in the five full days since they left, have they called to check in on how things are?

No, she replied. Not a once.

Now we, too, have two pair of animals, two of each species. And I know, we're a bit more taken by them than the average pet owner. (We don't buy them Christmas presents and we haven't named them in our wills, but basically they pwn us and the house and, worse, they know it.) So I turn to you, citizens of Poll-land, to tell me from your likely more objective POVs- is it weird for a family to go away for a week and not wonder even once how their house full of animals is?

ETA. Right-click the "view answers" links, then "open in new tab," to see them (thanks to