Hi everybody. This might be long. I've written to this sub a few times over the past month or so about my adoption journey. It's had it's ups and downs, with so much research and second guessing myself, almost adopting before a foster decided they couldn't part with the pup, then finally taking the plunge. And what did I learn?
I'm not ready for a dog. And guess what? That's completely O.K.
I'm sitting on the couch writing this, and my foster JRT Wishbone is snoring next to me. I've had him since last Saturday, and today I'm taking him back to the rescue. It hurts my heart, sure, but .... let me back up, start from the beginning.
When I was with my ex, we had two dogs. Long story short, he took them in the breakup. It was for the best - he had a fenced in yard and 2,000 sq. ft., and there was no way I'd separate the two troublemakers to force one to live in a 600 sq. ft. apartment. So I left them behind with a heavy heart. After living without a pup for over a year, I began to think .... is it time?
So for the last 6 months, I'd been researching. And researching. And guess what? Doing more research. What kinds of dogs of what sizes are allowed in my apartment? How old would the dog be? Crating? Training classes? Can I bring the pup into the office? Anything and everything. I read this sub like a Bible.
I began seriously looking at rescue dogs at the beginning of May. I was ready. I filled out applications to two rescues and went through personal reference checks and multiple phone interviews. One of the rescues has an event at Petsmart every Saturday. I decided to go out last weekend and meet a few pups. After all, I was ready. I walked a few dogs, I decided to foster this grizzled pup, Wishbone.
He's honestly everything I could want in a dog. I didn't go in with the intention of taking home a senior dog. But, even at 10 years old, he still has so much puppy in him. We didn't have one accident this whole week, he didn't cry when crated at night.
His mouth is in an abhorrent state, however, and he'll require $350 - or more - in dental work. I also live in a 3rd floor apartment, and over the course of the week I noticed that he had a consistent level of trouble. Never any audible pain, but he slows down quite a bit once we hit the stairs. And the kicker: 3 nights this week, I should have stayed late at the office. But I didn't. Projects went incomplete and I have so much to catch up on
But I was ready - wasn't I? The truth is, I'm not. And that's O.K.
Dog ownership requires so much more than your heart being ready. I came to the realization that I need to be thinking more about myself, not just what I can provide for a dog. So I put my pride to the side and boiled down the facts.
I'm not ready for a dog. And guess what? That's completely O.K.
I'm sitting on the couch writing this, and my foster JRT Wishbone is snoring next to me. I've had him since last Saturday, and today I'm taking him back to the rescue. It hurts my heart, sure, but .... let me back up, start from the beginning.
When I was with my ex, we had two dogs. Long story short, he took them in the breakup. It was for the best - he had a fenced in yard and 2,000 sq. ft., and there was no way I'd separate the two troublemakers to force one to live in a 600 sq. ft. apartment. So I left them behind with a heavy heart. After living without a pup for over a year, I began to think .... is it time?
So for the last 6 months, I'd been researching. And researching. And guess what? Doing more research. What kinds of dogs of what sizes are allowed in my apartment? How old would the dog be? Crating? Training classes? Can I bring the pup into the office? Anything and everything. I read this sub like a Bible.
I began seriously looking at rescue dogs at the beginning of May. I was ready. I filled out applications to two rescues and went through personal reference checks and multiple phone interviews. One of the rescues has an event at Petsmart every Saturday. I decided to go out last weekend and meet a few pups. After all, I was ready. I walked a few dogs, I decided to foster this grizzled pup, Wishbone.
He's honestly everything I could want in a dog. I didn't go in with the intention of taking home a senior dog. But, even at 10 years old, he still has so much puppy in him. We didn't have one accident this whole week, he didn't cry when crated at night.
His mouth is in an abhorrent state, however, and he'll require $350 - or more - in dental work. I also live in a 3rd floor apartment, and over the course of the week I noticed that he had a consistent level of trouble. Never any audible pain, but he slows down quite a bit once we hit the stairs. And the kicker: 3 nights this week, I should have stayed late at the office. But I didn't. Projects went incomplete and I have so much to catch up on
But I was ready - wasn't I? The truth is, I'm not. And that's O.K.
Dog ownership requires so much more than your heart being ready. I came to the realization that I need to be thinking more about myself, not just what I can provide for a dog. So I put my pride to the side and boiled down the facts.
- I'm not financially prepared. When you read about people putting together a pet emergency fund, don't disregard this information. If I were to keep the dog and pay for the dental work myself, I'd have to bypass my own emergency fund and go into debt (otherwise I'd be draining it to nearly $0). Further, as a senior dog, the problems are only bound to compound during the last 5 years of his life.
- My living situation is not conducive to a senior dog. I am a single woman and nobody else is available to care for the dog during the day. Further, 2 flights of stairs are trouble now, and it doesn't look like it's getting any better.
- My career just won't allow for a pet at this time. After having to skip out on late nights at the office and finishing problems too close to deadline for my -
and my boss' - liking. And while I was absolutely certain my days wouldn't leave him home alone for more than 9 hours, I didn't factor in my commute. A friend came over to walk him 3 days this week, but the other 2 left him crated for close to 11 hours. And that's not acceptable to me.