To get a dog or not?

Have you checked that a dog rescue will allow you to have a dog if you are away so often? my DD recently adopted a puppy and the interviewer asked her this question. Personally, I wouldn’t think it fair to have a rescue dog bond with you and then have you disappear for weeks at a time, they often have enough issues as it is.
Not being mean here, but this time it’s all about the dog.

I don't mean to be horrible but if you need to ask if you should get a dog then you are not ready. Taking on a dog is going to change your way of life, they need walks (time) feeding ( expense) house might not be tidy, garden might be a mess until they are trained but most importantly they are not left for long periods, so if you like holidays or need to go away a lot with work, it might not be the fair on him or her.

We are devastated so will share the tragic news. When we agreed to help out with short term fostering to help out the couple, we said VERY clearly it was short term only, and only as long as they were happy to have them back when we want to travel. We explained we were not in a position to adopt dogs, because our flat n UK stipulates we cannot have dogs there, and our SIL is not keen on dogs either, so our visits to GC came first. That was totally understood and clear, and reiterated each time we met, and agreed.

When he came to fetch them before our Crete holiday last month, he said they intended to travel for long periods of time, and that it was not convenient to have them back on regular basis. Huge shock.

We explained we could not adopt the male, although we adore him, because he is a barker, and not comfortable with strangers. He asked if we could have the mum, and we said we could, as she is so easy and does not bark, and could be carried off premises without fuss when at the UK flat for a few weeks at a time- but we did not think it would be fair to seperate them. They are mother and son, she 13 and he 11- and been together all their life.

When we were in Crete, we got message they had put to sleep (murdered) the male, so we could have the female to adopt permanenty on our return.

I cried and cried, and had sleepless nights, and even felt terribly guilty I somehow had caused his demise. Refused to meet him when he brought her, and will never ever speak to or meet them. They said they really would like to keep in touch and remain friends but sorry, I just could not...ever.

Poor Mems s grieving and confused, and has to sleep next to us or she weeps all night. She and Minou 3 legs have become very close friends though, so one bit of good news.

One sentence will always stick in my mind 'we so loved the dogs, but we have totally outgrown them'...

Jura what a terrible thing for them to say and feel. You must be upset but the responsibility lies with them and not you. Enjoy your pets and put the past behind you now.

I know, even worse, what a terrible deed. To be honest I cannot believe a vet agreed to do this?!?

I know I cannot possibly accept any guilt or responsibility, and still, we had got so attached to Zimba we had been fostering for 2 years. There is o way I could remain friends. We have been planning our next holidays in Europe where we can drive and take her with us. Tuscany in September, and Corsica and Corfu next year.

What horrible people!
So the pet sharing isn’t a good idea, the poor old mother dog.?

Get your dog, you will enjoy it by the sounds of it and find a really good pet carer for when you are away. When I'm away my dog rushes into the pet carers home without a backward glance so I know she is right and I am at peace then when I return he comes rushing out to me. Your life cannot be dictated by a dog but you also have to be at peace with his carer

lemongrove nd Menopaws, thank you for your kind words. So lucky we have a great neighbour, but for now we are planning trips where we can take her with us, by car. Tuscany in September and Corsica, Corfou next year, Croatia and Slovenia. As we live in Switzerland it is not too far.

That’s good, a dog is part of the family, but to some just a disposable item to be got rid of ,once surplus to requirements! Quite shocking.A vet should certainly not have agreed to kill a healthy dog.

Orange123 I wonder what you actually did in the end?
A dog is a big committment, but they are wonderful companions,

Come back and tell us?

Yes, it would be nice to know.

Emma is settling down nicely, and her and Minou are great companions. She is 13 but looks like a puppy. When I told the vet in France when we went for her rabies jab and others to keep her EU passport up to date, he could not believe it.

She was born in Danemark, and has a Danish EU passport stamped in DK, France and Switzerland.