When to rehome...

[user1471552412]

I have a beautiful 3 year old Toy Poodle. She is sweet natured, dog friendly & likes people. She has been used to a quiet home with just me(F65) Likes 2 walks a day & some off-lead time. I have a terminal diagnosis & my mobility is already beginning to reduce. I am dreading having to re-home her as she will not understand. Do I keep her as long as I physically can or should I do it when I can no longer walk her?
She deserves to be loved & have her walks. Also selfishly I don't want to rehome her locally because I worry she will look for me at our local parks. I am so sad about this, it feels wrong but I cannot risk her being moved around or ending up in kennels.. .she would not cope, she is clingy and needs a person. I know she gould visit me in Hospice when the time comes, but I feel a clean break may be better for her.
Has anyone got any advice please?

I'm so sorry - my heart breaks for you.
Is there a friend or family member who would eventually have her?
While your mobility is reducing, i wondered if an option would be to get a dog walker to do the walks, but otherwise have her at home? Then you get the benefit of having a lovely pet around, which may do you a lot of good; and she will get to stay where she knows for as long as possible, while also getting used to going out with someone new.

Are there any charities local to you that can help? There is one in NI called Rosie’s Trust who help keep people and pets together in these sort of circumstances. Not sure where you are based but worth looking in to.

https://cinnamon.org.uk/support-for-you-and-your-pet/

Contact them - if they have local volunteers they’ll help support you to keep her as long as you can and then take care of her when you can’t

Cinnamon Trust
sorry for you and your dog 🩷

Thank you so much for your replies, I'll have a look at Cinnamon Trust

We had to rehome under similar circumstances, it was my DH who had the terminal diagnosis then a massive stroke really threw us a curve ball and I couldn't manage the dog, two young children and a husband who had no speech, was bed bound and couldn't call for help if he needed it. We already had a couple who were helping with dog care when DH was going through the diagnosis process and when they offered Muttley an adoptive, forever home it was a real weight off my mind. I would say go earlier rather than later as it gave DH peace of mind to know his four legged partner in crime had a loving new home.

I am so sorry you find yourself here too, it is truly shit.

It is so hard to think of re-homing her but she is young & I know she will adjust.
I waited until I retired & divorced my dog-refusing husband to finally get this little dog, I did not expect to get Cancer. She has been so good & the best thing I've ever done. I keep putting off even thinking about it, but I must face it for her.

I have volunteered for the cinnamon trust. Please contact them. Hopefully there can be a plan in place that will reassure you her needs will be met. Wishing you peace & love

Your post has brought a lump to my throat and a tear to my eye. I'm going to make a donation to Cinnamon Trust now - I really hope that they can help you in the best way possible. For what it is worth, your post is a testament to your character - you are one of the best pet owners out there, hands down. I am so sorry about your diagnosis, I hope that you also have excellent support around you to deal with what lies ahead. Sending you all my best.

Definitely get onto the cinammon trust and hopefully they will find her a forever foster home , a lady local to us had one of their foster dogs and they are excellent and even have approved boarders etc so the dogs are very well looked after . If you have no joy with them and are local to the SE it may be worth contacting Cinque Ports rescue .

The Cinnamon Trust helped my great aunt keep her dog with her to the very end - walking her, looking after her if GA was in hospital, and then she was fostered to adopt when my GA passed away.
If they don't have volunteers in your area they will do their very best to get new volunteers in order to make it work for you

I am so sorry that you are facing this situation, I hope that the cinnamon trust or another charity can help you 💐

I am sorry that you are having to face this but I think that if the Cinnamon Trust, or another charity can help, you should keep your dog with you as long as you feel able. She will only have to be separated from you once, no matter when that is, and I expect will be a source of comfort to you while you need her.
If the charity can help, you will know that she will be looked after when you can no longer do that. So long as she can be exercised, she doesn't need to leave you yet.

I’d definitely look to keep her with you with support from family or charity to walk her.

As they get a bit older most dogs are not much trouble to look after in the house and she’d probably rather have fewer walks and stay with you rather than going elsewhere.

On my lap right now is a little dog who came to me after her owner died 7yrs ago, she was 4. The daughter of the original owner is a friend of mine which enabled her to keep her right to the end. All I can tell you is that she settled down very quickly - but she didn’t forget her original owner, she definitely has more interest in other dog walkers who look like her, I soon learned to recognise that, but she is a cheerful and happy dog who loves life and definitely loves me. I hope the cinnamon trust can help with the transition and that you will have lots more quality time before you have to let her go. Lots of love to you.