My mother has a small dog that is her baby. Taking care of this dog is more important to her than taking care of herself. Now that she is in the nursing home and not adjusting well, the staff said to wait until she is more resigned to being there before bringing the dog for a visit. I can not take the dog into my home and now I feel like I've traded caring for my mom 24/7 to caring for a dog that I have to leave at her house. All of this has happened in this last week I am going to have to get help to clean up the house it's and taske care of other issues like finances, etc. I feel that mom seening her dog might be good therapy down the road, but what suggestion does anyone have in the short term? Thank-you to one and all for the continued love and support.
PUT UP A FENCE for the dog and take care of it. Like one of the other posts states - the dog IS a family member.
I also took in my aunts dog when she died. Her kids and grandkids were going to take it to the animal shelter. It was such a nervous dog after losing its "dad" and then it's "mom" that it took me 3 months to get her calmed down. But when I think of my aunts loyal dog being dumped it makes me sick. Her children and grandchildren who have been fighting over her estate,,,, dumped her dog. It is truly sickening.
Wonder what God is thinking of them? Wonder what aunt Sis is thinking of them?
Sure it is an added expense I cannot afford :) and an adjustment but God gave me resources and the dogs are a blessing now.
My dad is in rehab in the same facility. He asks me all the time to bring the dog in.
The dog is 12 years old, a shiz tzu...hasn't got much longer. It's the least I can do for my parents. I have 4 cats, but we are now one big happy family!!
I do feel for you, and understand what you are going through...there are many of us out here going through it also. Fostering is your best option right now. Your local shelter or SPCA can help you out.
Your comment went so quickly to my heart I had goose pimples. Of all of my "weaknesses," the love of animals is top. I grew up in a farm in western Brazil north of the city of Manaus. All creatures seemed to want to check me out, and I believe they sensed I didn't mean them any harm. (They ran from my grandmother because she often went out hunting to put something different on the table.)
Here in The Bronx, I had three gentle, well-trained pitbulls. Peach, the female, was my guardian. She slept at the entrance to my bedroom and gave laser looks to my dates as if to tell them "Honey, get your own man. ... This one's taken." She got sick in 2002 and had to be euthanized. Peter, aka "Midnight," followed in 2003 after a sudden kidney infection. White Boy lived to the age of 14 and was also put down in 2008 due to respiratory problems.
The cat, Pussygata, is got the house all to herself now and looks so lonely. No dogs threatening her life; mice don't pop up anymore because there's no bits of dog food left, so she doesn't hunt. Roaches followed suit and moved next door with the Ofikurus, a huge Nigerian family that subsist primarily on fried or boiled fish and those decadent root vegetables that now I can't stop eating.
I wake up with the Spring sun shining on my face and the chirp of many birds. I miss the dogs and all that healing, unconditional love. ... Mother Nature, however, is slowly replacing it with other wonders: pigeons, swallows, a stray garden snake. So I say a healing "Thank You" out the window every morning, and pass on the love these animals have given to me free of charge to every breathing object of art; and like Jacob, expect nothing in return.
WUV, thanks for your healing words. Bless you.
-- ED
The pooch is family, and Mom will be heartbroken -- and furious with you -- if anything happened to this special love in her life. His life is in your hands now, so please make sure he's well taken care of. Do it for Mom, me, and every other dog lover in this forum.
You're a blessing Nini.
-- ED
Is there anyone in your family, or among her friends, or yours that could house the pup until you get things under control? A neighbor, perhaps? Or would an older child in your mother's neighborhood like to earn a few dollars by caring for the dog temporarily? Could you contact your local ASPCA, let them know the situation, and ask for temporary volunteer foster parents? It really isn't good for the pup to be alone too long during the day...dogs get stressed too - and I am sure he misses your Mom.
If I were in your Mom's shoes I would feel the same way. Our little guy means so much to us. And if seeing the dog will help with her mental state, that is just the silver lining.
good luck and I will keep brainstorming...