October 10 we got a puppy for free from a friend of ours that they were going to take to the shelter. She is 14 weeks now and a border collie/ jack Russel mix from what my friend said. Now this girl from the beginning has been an absolute energy bomb. If she’s awake she is going nuts. Walks, exercises, toys, food puzzles etc have not been able to keep her occupied or energy down at all. She terrorizes my cats. My poor 6 year old can’t even walk by her, put on his shoes, throw on a jacket, or really just be near her without her jumping and biting at him. We have two older dogs as well, a 10 year old pit mix who absolutely loves the puppy and a 14 year old hound mix who absolutely hates the puppy.
A week after bringing her home I find out I’m pregnant. A puppy and pregnancy and then a newborn sounded like an absolute nightmare, but I took her in and now I had a responsibility to her so I have kept trying. Unfortunately the morning sickness hit me like a ton of bricks. I’ve been in bed for weeks now. Her potty training? Halted. Any training really? Halted. I still play with her when I can but it’s obviously not in a way she needs. She’s being cared for, but she’s not thriving, and it sucks. I keep telling myself it’s only temporary, but I feel terrible for her. I do wanna add that my fiance definitely helps me when he can, but he works 12 hour shifts on a weird schedule of days and nights… so unfortunately I am stuck handling everything alone a majority of the time.
Yesterday I had an appointment with my behavioral health counselor (kinda like a therapist but not really. I start actually talk therapy next Monday). She asked me how things have been going and I laid it all out for her. She told me that it may be in both the puppy’s and my interest if we find her a new home. I told her i would hate to do that because I saved her from a shelter, I wanted to be her forever home, and the guilt would eat me alive. She asked me if I would’ve known I was pregnant before getting her would I have still brought her in and I answered honestly that I wouldn’t have. I would’ve known it was too much for me to handle and wouldn’t be fair to the dog. She told me that plans change sometimes, circumstances change sometimes, and ultimately I have to put myself and my family first. She also said that her job is treating my mental health, and she could see the downward trend since bringing her home.
I’m in a group chat with my siblings and their significant others and I brought it up to them. The gist of what was said was pretty much “you do have a lot going on right now, but we can get it from both perspectives. If you decide to rehome we can ask around family and friends to try to keep her out of the shelter. Whatever you decide though, we’ll support you”. My sister in law also recommended that I don’t make any decisions yet and maybe get a second opinion from my therapist once I start seeing her…. Which I agreed with.
Ultimately I figured I’d come to Reddit too and ask the dog communities. I know in the dog world rehoming is seen as one of the worst things you can do…. Hell I’ve even thought that way my entire life myself. Never ever ever did I think there’d come a day where i rehome a pup, But I’ve reached a point where I don’t know what the most responsible decision is, but I do know I want whatever is best for my puppy and this has been eating at me constantly.
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