Giving up my dog

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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 GENERAL.

I could never give up my dogs for I live them much more than people. In fact on a scale of 1: 100, dogs:100, people 1 maybe.

Now go get that loving creature, stop crying and find her a home yourself.somebody will krep her until you can resume being the object of her affection.

But I must say whatever happens your tears make me proud to be a human and your colleague.

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I'm in hopes with one of the other posters in this thread, that this IS a troll posting!

If not...I hope you've found the "comfort" you were looking for.

"I want a puppy for Christmas!", comes to mind. Childish behavior.

PLEASE don't EVER get another dog and break it's heart, too. (Just don't ever GET another dog, you don't deserve one.)

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

My heart would break if we gave up our dog. Lately his anxiety has been worse — we adopted him from a rescue group when he was 8 months old and he had been abused (ears lit on fire/burned), so we knew he'd have issues. He has bonded with us, and us with him. I love him. He is cute and smart and eager to please, but if you're a stranger and you come in our house, you'd think he was a vicious killer. We have hired a trainer and are actively working on behavior therapy. We adopted him when my husband was studying for his MCAT in late 2014, which was bad timing on our parts because our dog needed a lot of attention and reassurance, but we stuck it out ... adoption is a commitment and I don't think going back on what I see as a promise is a good thing unless there is a true safety issue (animals fighting, real harm, etc.). OP, I hope you go back and get your sweet dog; stop your tears, hire a dog walker. Our dog is worth every bit of time and money with the training because he loves so completely and unconditionally and makes me happy every time I come home. He gets along well with our two older/weirdo cats, but if he sees the bunny in our backyard, look out!

I expect that many/most of us feel that animals are not disposable.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

I hate to hear when a pet is returned, I volunteer at our shelter and it is sad to see them returned, and they usually don't fair well. Pets and kids aren't impulse "buys". But better returned than abused or neglected.

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Specializes in ER, ICU plus many other.

Hopefully you took your beloved dog to a no kill shelter! Owner surrenders are euthanized first at many shelters. Really sad you didn't realize the responsibility before you got the dog!

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Specializes in ER, ICU plus many other.

Very true! My animals are my children too and you sacrifice what you must to accomodate them!

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

BTDT. I understand your pain OP. I had to re-home my dog and cat after my son was born d/t a litany of issues. ::hugs:: you did the right thing. You recognized that you couldn't care for the animal appropriately and you made sure he would be safe.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
BTDT. I understand your pain OP. I had to re-home my dog and cat after my son was born d/t a litany of issues. ::hugs:: you did the right thing. You recognized that you couldn't care for the animal appropriately and you made sure he would be safe.

Did we read the same post? 🤔🙄

She jumped at the opportunity to adopt a dog then one week later (7 days) returned the dog like it was an article of clothing to the store. How is that ok???

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Specializes in Ortho.

I have dogs, cats, and horses. Nursing school has just about killed me, yet I've never once considered getting rid of any of my pets for even a second. They are my therapy. They are what gets me through, and I took them on for life, not just while it's easy. Pets are for life. I feel terrible for a dog coming from who knows where to a shelter to be closed up all the time and finally going to a home and get a taste of what life is supposed to be for a dog, only to be sent right back. The fact that you're crying tells me you know this wasn't right.

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