I may have found my dog.
Most of you know that about a year ago, I resolved that I needed a dog in my life, and started volunteering at the animal shelter. This was both to get experience with dogs, and to hopefully find *my* dog should he or she show up.
This is Minnow…
http://tinyurl.com/cuenre
I’ve been working with Minnow a lot on my shelter visits lately, and he is a dear heart and a fast learner. He still has manners to work on, but for some reason, I find I have fallen in love with him among all the dogs I’ve worked with. I didn’t realize it until I came in one day and he wasn’t in his kennel. Normally when dogs or cats I’m fond of have been adopted, I react with “hooray!” But when I thought Minnow had been adopted, my reaction was sadness, alas!
It turns out he was just offsite for the day.
I never thought I’d ever want a male pit bull mix. I always figured I’d fall in love with a bigger, leaner, softer dog (like Brenna). But I am stricken by this pup!
The biggest obstacle between me and this dog is purely self confidence. My family never owned dogs, and so for some reason I have this mindset that owning a dog is something that I am incapable of doing, something beyond my possible realm of experience. I know this is silly, but it’s a real fear.
If a stray cat wandered in, I would have no hesitation in taking him in, knowing exactly how to care for a cat and make a cat a member of my family. But a dog, that’s different! What if I don’t know how to own a dog??
And then all the questioning factors come in..
Do I have enough money to support adding a dog to my family?
What if I end up having to move to California after school? Is it too soon for relocating the dog too?
Will I have the proper time to devote to the dog?
What if what if what if.
Logic grown up Lisa knows that she can handle all of these things, and emotional Lisa longs for the companionship of a dog. It’s weird self-doubting Lisa who thinks “maybe now is not the right time, maybe you should wait…”
But what if it ISN’T the right time??
Sigh.
Write out the pros. Write out the cons. Write out the costs that are going to be involved and changes you’ll need to make in your life.
Then analyze that.
Dogs are extremely adaptable, for the most part. Bully breeds are awesome: sweet and loyal, and usually even-keeled. The simple fact that you are -thinking- about all the pros and cons and best options indicates that you’re probably able to provide a better home than 80% of the people out there looking for a dog.
They aren’t really that expensive, except if emergencies arise, and there are emergency sources of funding should that happen. But only you know your financial capacity, and the amount of time you have, etc.
I’ve got three, and even though we’ve had to move a few times, and have had some vet emergencies, and live on one, barely sufficient income, we’re doing fine, they get great care, and regular vetting. It can be done!
And, Minnow is adorable.
Sorry, i’m not very helpful if you needed dissuading. I’m also around to offer support and ideas if you do choose to get a dog. Though i’m sure you have loads of people available to do that.
<3