Giving up my dog

Nursing Students Student Assist

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Hi! I am in need of some encouragement and hopefully someone else who has been in my shoes. My husband and I have no kids and have wanted a dog for so long. I have finished my first year of nursing school and have one more year left. With free time in my summer, I got so excited about a dog and we both jumped and brought one home from the shelter. I wish I could say she was a handful, but she really wasn't. She was sweet spirited, easy, fun. However, her very presence in our lives meant one more responsibility on top of an already stressful nursing school life. We both knew we had acted prematurely and, even though we were both in love with her, decided to take her to a rescue yesterday, after having her one week. I have literally not stopped crying. I feel like I've made a mistake taking her back and am just so sad. Has anyone else been in a similar situation...trying to protect your time that nursing school demands while also making the better decision for your sweet dog? I would so take comfort in hearing from anyone. Thank you in advance!

Specializes in Renal, Diabetic.

I have a husband, dog and cat. All are important in my eyes. If you love something as much as you say you do, you fight your hardest to make it work, not give up after a week.

Pets can be worth their weight in gold for stress. Just ask my cat anything about microbiology, because that's how I studied: teaching him with stress-free petting in between. You did yourself a disservice but you did that dog a disservice even more.

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Specializes in MedSurg, OR, Cardiac step down.
I'm not a nurse, just FYI.

But I did, and will continue to judge what I view is mistreatment of animals. Among other things - like flip flops with socks, poorly behaving children and people that don't wear seat belts.

We *all* judge. Some of us just don't bother pretending to be above it all.

And *drops the mike*

P.S. My husband wore socks with flip flops today, no joke..🙄

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Poor dog.

I have a husband, a one year old, and work full time. Sure, some days I want to send my husband back to the shelter because he's being a jerk, but I don't because I love him. Hopefully this post gave you perspective.

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I haven't read all these comments, but wow. People are mean.

My husband basically had a panic attack when we finally got our dog (he was 5 months old). Always wondering how we would be able to give the dog the attention it deserved. A year and a half later, we don't know how we would have survived without the dog! He is constantly being a goofball. And yes, sometimes it's inconvenient when he wants to go potty for the 4th time in 2 hours (we live on the third floor and must walk him whenever he needs to go). But he also gets me up off my butt and breaks me when I am studying. And Saturdays we go to the dog park for a few hours, and they are always something we look forward to.

I think if you got an older dog, like >1-2 years, you should be fine. Also, take the breed and exercise requirements into account. I do agree with some commenters that you probably didn't give it enough time for everyone to adjust.

I work 12+ hour shifts while my husband is away on business and our dog is fine to hold his bladder for that long. We have a second bedroom we keep cleared out for storage and exercise and he stays in there instead of having the run of the house. But before we did that, he stayed in his kennel. And on days I don't work, I've noticed he really spends about 16 hours of it sleeping.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I haven't read all these comments, but wow. People are mean.

Well she asked for opinions. A lot of people feel strongly about animal rights, me included. She jumped at the chance to get a dog, adopted it & then freaked because it was "too stressful" ONE WEEK later. Not only is it irresponsible but shows bad signs of how to handle stress.

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Specializes in ED, psych.
Well she asked for opinions. A lot of people feel strongly about animal rights, me included. She jumped at the chance to get a dog, adopted it & then freaked because it was "too stressful" ONE WEEK later. Not only is it irresponsible but shows bad signs of how to handle stress.

^^^ This.

People are mean. Mean? No. Disgusted with the OP's actions? YES. Since the OP posted her story on the Internet, apparently looking for hugs or a pat on the back, anything to the contrary would seem "mean." This isn't the OP spending $$ on a gym membership and not going because it interferes with her study time; she brought back a dog -- and brought it back to the shelter, where the chances of the pooch getting euthanized can be pretty high.

... all because she panicked about perceived time management. Of all things. The chances of this dog getting euthanized are now far, far greater because the OP and her husband made a poor decision about *time management* and stress.

So mean? No. Disgusted? Very much.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

The moral of the story is:

Don't obtain an animal unless you 1st research the care and commitment required. Make sure you can meet the animal's needs prior to committing to it.

As for me, personally, I chose to obtain a doggie during a time I was off from work and on break from school. I used that time to train her on the ways I needed her to behave, because I knew I'd shortly be back in school/work and away during the day.

Pets are a commitment.

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I work more than full time hours outside the home. My husband is a PA who can be gone until 1 am from time to time. I am taking pre reqs in addition to my FT work...

We have two dogs and I can't imagine giving them up. When I have a free moment, I walk them. I have a dogsitter who I take them to or can call if something happens. We make it work...

I'm happy you gave up the dog because you clearly aren't ready, but I can't empathize. My girls are my babies and my first was attached to my hip by the 2nd day. I can't imagine traumatizing her by returning her yet again (I was her 5th home and she was only 5 months old).

Those dogs have made me cry several times. It's stressful being a first time dog owner (I had dogs growing up, but them being "yours" is different!), but I couldn't imagine giving them up. It makes me want to cry thinking about it.

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.
Lol. That's ruff. Hahaha!

Mee-Yow! eveyrbody pull back those claws. Let's not get Catty!

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

Seriously though, I do feel bad for the OP.

She made a hasty decision and now is feeling guilt and regret.

Pets can be great stress reducers. Our cat certainly is.

I've been wanting a dog for awhile, and would love to have one again, but will hold off for another 3 years when I'm done with school.

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[...]

...My husband wore socks with flip flops today, no joke.

And the problem is?

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Seriously though, I do feel bad for the OP.

She made a hasty decision and now is feeling guilt and regret.

Yeah but those are not good qualities. If she can't handle stress, that's scary. Nursing is all about stress & knowing how to deal with it. You also can't make rash decision.

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