bradpattison.com

Okay, so i've had a situation come up.. UGH!! i hate situations.. anyway.

My neighboor/moms good friend, has a neutered male shih-tzu-lhasa cross. He is about 3 years old, going to be 4 in november. Our neighboor just got really sick and actually had to be taken to hospital by ambulance and im looking after this dog for now. Went down to the hospital, i guess the ladys cancer is back and she is going to be in there for awhile. she asks ME to take the dog for her. now this lady has no other family, no kids, its been her and this dog (well, another one that passed a few months before she got this guy) for all of her life.

She may be in the hospital for 6 months, or more. Now what im wondering, jazzy is going to be 4 in august and i know her and this boy get along well. would you think it is the right time to bring another dog in the house.

UGH im at a loss of words, at a loss at what to do. I dont want to take this ladys dog to the spca and risk it getting put down for any reason, but doctors honestly dont think this lady is going to make it out of the hospital.

if anyone understands this.. im all scatterbrained right now.. do you have any advice to give?

Gee, don’t take him to the SPCA! Since she’s a friend of your moms, ask your mom what to do, i.e., ask whether the woman has ANYBODY who may be taking care of her stuff while she cannot. Find out whether she has a power of attorney appointed. Since she is so ill and could possibly pass away or be held in long-term care, I would assume this would be the case - she’d need to have someone legally appointed to handle her affairs, and those affairs would include her dog...

I agree with Leelee. Your dog is probably old enough to handle another dog in the house, but the question isn't that, it's whether you can do it or not. Now don't get me wrong, I'm sure you have the ability to take on more than one dog, but you have one already, and you also have a baby on the way, so that would be two really big changes happening at close to the same time, and it can have an effect on you, your family, and your dog. That said, if it's something you want to take on, then I have no doubt that you can handle it. But don't feel like you'd be selfish to say no, especially if you don't think it's the right decision for your family. Talk to your mom, see if your neighbor has any other friends who might want to take on the responsibility, and then go from there. In the meantime, enjoy his company, one step at a time right?

Thanks guys, you have calmed me down a bit. yeah i know jazzy and him well get along fine, it was the baby I was worried about dealing with when it comes. although neither of them are really "demanding" dogs, I don't want them to feel I am abandoning either of them.

I will have to talk to her again, see if there is any other friends that might be willing. I honestly don't think there is anyone, as I said her whole life its been just her and her dogs, and she has no sisters/brothers etc..

I guess the good thing would be that my mother doesn't work either at the moment, so she can help me out during the day. Like you said lynne, ill just take it a day at a time to see what will happen.

Good luck Katie! Things will work out!

I would go for it I agree that your dog and this dog are old enough and if they get along GREAT!!! All the best let us know what you decide

You say in another thread that your sister is looking for a dog. Let her try this one for a while.

wow.. dukesdad i honestly didn't even think about that.. HAHA..

I guess just too much excitement from everything happening today, plus being kicked from the inside all night, not much sleep lately.
I cant imagine being a dog and having 6 or so puppies in ya kicking, rolling etc. all the time.

I will give my step-sister a call tommorow, explain the situation and let her come meet him. Yay it should be great since she has no preference for dogs (breed wise, sex wise, etc). lol.. Thanks for putting my brain back on track dukesdad. Ill update everyone after I call her as to what she decides!

If it doesn't work out with your sister, there are people who just forster dogs.
Sorry - I'm in Ottawa - but for example, there's a lady down the street from my parents' house, who looks after people's dogs (1 dog at a time) while their on vacation, hospital etc.

Maybe that could be another idea. Maybe there's a conection somewhere in your city for people who foster dogs. Ask at your vet, SPCA, etc.

Hey guys! Great news!! My step-sister is coming later on today to pick up the boy. He has been great while he was here and i would have kept him for myself, but being expecting I dont want either of them to feel left out when the baby gets here. My step-sister is actually expecting as well, on aug. 16th, so now she has a well trained dog to raise with the baby.

Never really had any problems with him while he was here, only the first night he whined a bit but other then that its been great! Going out very soon for a walk to tims and then down to the park for a play. Should be lots of fun because he loves to play when hes in the mood. We sat here last night up till midnight playing fetch.