Dave owned this couch before we met. He bought it for $100 from some friends. It remained our main piece of furniture until we moved here five years ago.
At that time, we purchased a brand new couch (one of my requirements to moving) and stuck this old timer in the sunroom. It was not our plan for it to become a dog couch, but Zeus and Zoe instantly assumed we had put it out there for them.
At first we tried to keep them off the couch. Dogs are NOT allowed on the furniture! They have dog beds and rugs for sleeping. But, for some reason, they believed this couch was theirs.
So, we quickly gave up and let them have the soft cushy sofa for their very own. I tried to keep it clean and covered it with a sheet. But, Zoe had a knack for twisting the sheet off and using it as more bedding for her own. I tried to keep it vacuumed but quickly gave up as the hair kept multiplying and I got tired of dragging the vacuum out into the sunroom.
After a few years, we realized just how stinky and hairy the couch had become. Dave pulled out the duct tape and completely covered the bottom (underneath the cushions) so the dog hair couldn't creep underneath.
Last spring, after my mom completely ripped off the old urine-soaked batting from underneath I knew it was time for the sofa to disappear permanently. The couch was removed to the garage.
After a thorough cleaning (cushions machine washed, and the entire sofa steam-cleaned) I tried to Freecycle the couch. I received one response. She never showed up to claim it. Summer started and we became busy with all our many projects.
Last week I'd had enough. I put an ad on Craigslist. I put my nose to the sofa and didn't think it smelled too bad. Really!!! I sprayed Febreeze and we sat the sofa in the sunshine for a day. Dog odor was barely noticeable. I figured a couple of college guys wouldn't care - as long as they had a free couch. And hey - it was still quite comfortable!
I received a glorious 6 responses for the couch. The first guy was very excited. He planned on coming after work. By 8pm we knew he was a no-show. He called the next morning apologizing and said he got held up at work. He'd come at noon.
He never showed.
I called the next girl. She was very excited and planned on arriving in an hour. Two hours passed and Dave called her to find out why she hadn't arrived. She had some lame excuse about not having a truck to borrow.
I called the next man on the list. He was very excited and planned on arriving later in the day. He never showed up.
At this point I got angry. It was one thing to show up and decide they didn't want a stinky dog couch - but to not even show up at all? HOW RUDE!!!
I called the next man on the list. He was very excited. He said he'd be at our house at 7pm to get the sofa. I told him the couch would be in the driveway. I had no nope.
Last night at 7:15pm I heard Zeus bark. Then Zoe made some fuss. Not wanting to believe it, I looked out the window....barely hopeful. I watched, just in time, to see a white pick-up pulling away with our couch firmly sitting in the back.
And then - I felt REALLY guilty for giving my old stinky dog couch to someone. I hope they can handle the smell.