That’s a hard one. We have never been without a dog and when I retired I looked forward to being around her more. However she died only about 3 months later. We had always said that once we were both retired we would travel more, and not have a dog, but it was a couple of years before my DH was to retire. I couldn’t bear the quiet house, so we got a puppy. Hard work, but we love her - and it was lovely to have another wee dog. She’s a working cocker, so she keeps us busy. We now have a motorhome so she comes with us wherever we go. That is unless we want to fly somewhere. Like last year when we went to Canada, and this year when we are going to Florida. We always used kennels but the last couple of times that we couldn’t take her, she cried when we left her. That broke my heart. Our friends offered to take her and she was fine with them but they come from down south and sure enough just as we were getting ready to go, someone in their family passed away and they had to go. They suggested taking her with them but I wasn’t keen and so my daughter who was on holiday from work took her and passed her over when our friends came home. She is going to them again this year and I know she’ll be happy because they are lovely with her but I always have it in my mind that something could happen to take them away again. I do feel guilty using friends although it was them who offered. We have no back-up for if something goes wrong so it is worrying and is something you need to consider. But the house is so empty without her. Would I do it again? Most definitely!
