Sorry if this is long, but I feel I should add my backstory.
I've never owned a pet. My mother wouldn't have it, and when I went out on my own, I always lived in rentals that didn't allow pets.
I bought my first real house 4 years ago and fenced in part of the back yard in anticipation of finally getting my first dog! I love dogs and feel very comfortable around them. But now I'm having 2nd thoughts because of comments made to me. Not in a mean way, at all. As a matter of fact, the comments come from loving responsible people who have owned dogs most of their lives. They have cautioned against getting a dog due to the length of time I am away.
Here is the issue. I am retired and am home most of the time. But I DO travel a couple times a year and might be gone up to to a month at a time.
I know of a pet-sitting service that employs people who will actually take your pet into their own home and live with their family and other pets. This seems ideal to me.
But, would that be cruel to the dog? Would they feel abandoned every time I left? And confused when I come back? The last thing I'd want is to harm a dog in that manner, especially since I intended to get an older rescue dog that probably has a lot of issues to begin with.
What do you think?
Wicked Little Letters? (funny film of a long-forgotten case)