Twas the Night Before Christmas…

A Canine Christmas Catastrophe!

Not exactly the night before Christmas, but it wasn’t too far off when this unforgettable holiday tale took place. 

At the time, my now ex-husband (let’s call him X), our two dogs Sam & Joey, a lively, medium sized dog breed mix of English x German Shorthaired Pointers, and I were in a transitional phase, living temporarily with his cousin ( and my best friend) Heidi and her husband. While we searched for our next adventure, I had secured a temporary position at the company where Heidi worked. 

The Calm Before The Storm 

The day started like any other. After an early morning walk on the beach with the dogs, Heidi, J, and I rushed off to work, leaving  X at home with our four-legged boys for the day.   

When we left that morning, the house was a festive wonderland. Heidi, a Christmas enthusiast, had gone all out, spending the entire previous weekend decorating a breathtaking Christmas tree that stood tall and proud in the living room. It truly was a work of art, radiating holiday spirit and transforming the house into a Christmas fairy tale.

A Holiday Wreckage

However, upon returning that evening, we stepped into what could only be described as a Christmas disaster zone. It looked like a tornado had torn through the living room, and that tornado had two names: SAM and JOEY. 

The tree? Uprooted

Tinsel? Everywhere

Lights? Torn out of the socket

Decorations? Scattered across the floor, down the hallway, and even into the bathroom.   

We even found Christmas ornaments in places we couldn’t fathom how they got there. And the guilty culprits? Well, they had that look, you know the one I’m referring to: the unmistakable expression of two dogs who knew they had seriously messed up!

The Aftermath 

Heidi, understandably so, exploded with anger. 

As it turned out, X had decided to visit a friend that afternoon, and instead of leaving Sam and Joey outside in the backyard, he thought that it was a wiser decision to leave them inside the house, perhaps believing they would be safer. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for the poor Christmas tree. 

As Heidi’s fury reached its peak, I, ever the calmer of the two, decided to remove the guilty parties before things escalated further. I quietly loaded up the offending pooches and drove two hours to my dad and stepmom’s house, where they would stay temporarily while tensions settled. X, on the other hand, was left to face his cousin’s wrath alone. 

A Christmas Miracle

The next morning, I returned bearing the peace offering of a brand-new Christmas tree. We set it up in the place of its fallen predecessor and decorated it with the surviving ornaments. Thankfully, the boys didn’t attempt to feast on these; they did leave a few teeth indentations as their signature touch. 

A Memory that lasts a Lifetime 

Years have passed since that eventful holiday season. Though X and I have gone our separate ways, Sam and Joey have crossed the Rainbow Bridge, and life has changed. Heidi and I remain best of friends. We still laugh about that night, reminiscing about our beloved mischief makers and the chaos they caused.  

Sam and Joey were more than just pets; they were family. They left paw prints on our hearts and in the memories of everyone who knew them.  

Have your own Holiday Pet Tale? 

It feels like a rite of passage for all pet carers to experience a Christmas “adventure” at some point. If you haven’t yet, trust me, it’s only a matter of time! 

Have you ever had a pet-related holiday catastrophe? I’d love to hear about it! Please share your stories in the comments or submit them to be added to the Tails section of the website. Let’s keep their memories alive, one story at a time!