Regret

[Rockbottom42]

This won't be a popular opinion but I regret getting my animals, I'm in tears daily, it's not the puppy/kitten blues because they are 6 and 8.
I really struggle to afford them and they make my anxiety worse especially the dog. I dread to think this is my life for the next 10 years I've already done 6 and 8 😭
Wonder if anyone else feels the same?

I felt the same with my dog, everything was left down to me, walking, buying food, vet trips and grooming trips. We weren't living in the UK and there were stray aggressive dogs everywhere we walked, taxi drivers were scared of dogs so no taxi accepted us, dog food had to be ordered and picked up and the groomers were up 2 steep flights of stairs (the dog didn't do stairs) that I had to carry our dog up whilst trying not to break my neck. All in all my quality of life went right down. I loved her but I didn't realise dogs were like perpetual toddlers. I also didn't realise a dog was women's work.

If they are triggering your anxiety @Rockbottom42 and you are struggling to look after them, have you considered rehoming?

If the dog is a particular breed you could talk to a breed rescue about how you're thinking of rehoming and talk it through with them without committing.

My DS had her dog through a breed specific rescue charity and the people rehoming him got to choose who he went to. Not every charity does this and not everyone giving up their dog would want to know either but it helped them.

Our dog came from a breed specific charity and we regularly send photos via the charity co-ordinator who has been frankly brilliant.

My cats were the only beings that saved me from complete insanity. When I was sad they were there, when I was lonely they were there. I love them more than I love people.
I'm on cats number 9 and 10 now and don't regret a single one of them.
If you feel they are not for you I would rehome them to somebody who really wants them.
As they get older they will get more and more expensive and you really do need insurance, savings and time.