Miss having a dog so much!

[Mrsnothingthanks]

Long story short, I adopted an elderly rescue in 2015. She had been in kennels for months on end because most people don't want to take on a dog who is already old for obvious reasons. I had her until she passed 2 weeks after my daughter was born in 2020.
I still miss her so very much - she was just so amazing in every way and very much a part of the family.
A good friend of mine who lives just down the road is breeding her lab this year but I've told her I honestly don't feel I can visit when her gorgeous girl has her babies because I know it is just not possible to have one.
I now work out of the house 9-4 most days so I know it wouldn't be fair
to get another dog but how do I get past the longing?
I have said the first thing I'm going to do when I retire is get another rescue, but I'm 45 so that is at least 20 plus years away!

Id love a dog also.
but i will also wait until retirement age.

@Notarealblonde Have you had one before? I think that's where I struggle as I know how special they are as pets. We have a cat but of course it's not comparable.

Yes.
It's when they leave us, thats the hardest part.
an absolute delight to be a dog mum, it just needs to be fair on the dog.
also cats are great too!!!!

Definitely don’t go to visit as you’ll walk away with one. Labs are the best, I still miss mine.

@Glitchymn1 They are - I love her lab! So intelligent and calm!!! One day...

Have you tried something like volunteering for the cinnamon trust or using borrow my doggy? I lost my old girl nearly 3 years ago and I still miss her everyday

Very wise. Our second dog happened when we went to “just visit” a friend’s litter of puppies.

Working and dog ownership are very compatible if you're able to afford the help of day care or a walker.
Lots of people do this.
I guess it really depends on your financial situation?
You obviously can't leave a dog alone 9-4 every day but working out of the home doesn't stop you from owning a dog it just means you'll need assistance in caring for it.
People still have children even though they work out of the home all day everyday.

I would also consider the issue of a small child and a puppy too. We got our pup in April and my son is similar age to your daughter. I work from home so our scenario is different, but I hugely underestimated how much work it would be teaching both pup and DS to respect each others boundaries. On many days I questioned my decision for that reason alone.

I'm the same but with a cat. He went in 2023 and I would so like another one as I really miss having a cat around. I've had cats since 1977.

Due to age I've decided to not get another as if anything happened to me, I would hate to leave a pet behind and not know what happens to them.

Sorry about the loss of your cat.

I've had cats since 1967, we currently have one cat and we got a puppy last year. I couldn't survive without pets.

I don't think it makes any sense to give up having pets due to your age, unless you are too infirm to care for them any longer.

I'm going to go against the grain here but I was always firmly of the opinion we couldn't get a dog because we are both out of the house 8-6pm (only 3 days a week though) and it was cruel.

Then we went to a shelter where we found that the dogs are in their kennels for 23 hours a day with only a short break to go to the toilet outside. No proper walks, no exercise or stimulation, nothing. The volunteer showing us round said that 8 hours in a warm and safe house is significantly better than being in loud and cold kennels all day every day.

Anyway long story short, we now have 3 dogs 😂We take them for an hours walk before work, they have breakfast and then chill on the sofas for the morning. We then have a dog walker that goes in at lunchtime and takes them out for another hour. They sleep in the afternoon until we're home then they get another short walk before bedtime. They're all happy, well exercised, well fed and very much loved and part of the family which is all any dog wants.

Just food for thought!

Sounds perfect!

It is 😊We have a camera in the living room which I used to check constantly but all they're ever doing is sleeping!

I WFH 2 days a week and they have the same routine on those days too so it's not like they'd be doing anything differently if we were home.

It helps they have each other for company I guess but I genuinely used to be so critical of anyone who worked full time with a dog but when I saw it from the point of view of shelter / rescue dogs who just want a home then it changed everything.

I think you definitely can have a dog and work the hours you do if you have the resources to make sure the dog isn't alone all day and gets enough exercise. You can't have a puppy as they definitely cannot be left alone that much for many months, but a calmer and house trained adult dog could work really well.

I’m not sure how old you are up surely taking on elders cats from a rescue but with the understanding that if anything happens to you the shelter would take them back, would seem really beneficial for everyone

Dog walking, borrow your doggy, dog sitting for friends - there's lots of ways! But also I would consider the comments here which is many rescues live a very traumatic, kennelled life that you potentially could rescue them from with some support (I say potentially, as we're were unable to as I had a DS who was 11 at the time and no local dogs trust would consider us even though we more than met the other requirements and I had previously trained dogs). Don't wait until your retire!
(Having said that, I own a mad loopy spanner who goes through about 4 towels a day, has a really high prey drive and cannot switch off, but I love her to bits).

You could volunteer at the local dog's home, if you have the time.

My friend has a dog walker come in to play with and walk at lunchtime daily. Would that be an option? My friend is there every weekend and weeknight and the dog is her partner in crime!!

We have a lab and work full time. We do however work from home 3/5 days but on the 2 days we are out all day, we have a dog walker come in at lunchtime. When he was younger, we had someone come in twice per day. It's hard but doable.

I know it isn't for everyone, but there are a lot of older cats in rescue centres and some will help towards associated vet fees. Its a shorter term commitment and it's such a lovely thing to do to give an older animal a nice warm home to end their days in.

Have you thought about long term fostering? Lots of cat rescues have cats they can't home due to their age and/or medical issues. They are often desperate for longterm fosterers. Usually the charity covers the medical bills and guarantees to take the cat back if ever needed. Cat gets a hapoy home and a lovely warm lap to sit on. You get a cat to love.

Do you know that animal charities have a register to sign up to that will take care of and rehome a pet left behind once you are gone.think its the blue cross that do this ive seen it on an advert recently

Lots of our local rescues let you register to go and walk their dogs whenever you can, the greyhound trust and happy staffie rescue do it , theres lots of places that are after people to foster short term even just for a few days
Theres lots of ways to enjoy having a dog around without actually owning a pet
Maybe a neighbour who cant get out would like someone to walk their dog or take it for days out and visits

The Cinnamon Trust is a charity matching people willing to walk a dog with someone who is too elderly or disabled or ill to continue walking their dog themselves. By walking a dog at weekends you will build up a relationship with that animal. Alternatively, you could dog walk for a local rescue centre.