I feel terrible.

I took my dog, Peanut, to the vet this morning. He was extremely happy to have been going on a walk with his dad. He couldn't wait to see where he was going! We walked into the animal hospital and the doctor was in the lobby as was Sue, the dog trainer. Peanut is familiar with both and, boy was his tail wagging!

Sue took off Peanut's collar and handed it to me along with his leash. She looped a rope leash around his neck and started to lead him to the back of the hospital as I started to leave. He looked back at me just as I was turning to leave and I heard him whimper as if wondering why I wasn't coming along and asking if he could go with me.

I feel bad because I can't help but feel that he thinks that I abandoned him in the animal hospital and I feel even worse because, even though I know I'm going to pick him up at 6:30 tonight, he wasn't entirely aware of why he was in the animal hospital this morning. He doesn't know that he is getting fixed. He's five months old. He's almost like a son to me; a tiny, hairy, hyperactive, son with a tail and big ears. His manhood (doghood?) is gone by now. Poor, poor Peanut. But it is for the greater good.

I hate it when I over-anthropomorphize animals.

-andy