Given my dx, should I adopt a dog?

Claire - I'm sorry that I have no advice to offer, but want you to know how much I appreciate you posting about this, as I am in a similar situation re wondering if I should get a pet or not. When you noted that your poor dog had been "your soul", I burst into tears thinking about the last dog I'd had (almost 20 years ago!), as she had been my soul, and I've never been the same since I lost her. We got her as a puppy and she was with me for just shy of 19 years - a small poodle/terrier mix. I raised my kids with her and brought her here with me to this apartment complex I live in when I got divorced almost 20 years ago. She lived here with me for about a year and a half before she died at almost 19. I never got another pet after that because her death was so devastating and I was working full time by then. I didn't want to leave another animal all alone all day, plus I didn't think I could endure another pet loss, as I'd lost all 3 of the ones I raised my kids with in a span of about 3 years and it was just too painful and I couldn't go through it again. Now I'm home much more, but am afraid I would die on a pet, and I know no one who could/would take it assuming I would die first. Couldn't bear the idea of a pet going to a shelter if I died.

I am really interested in reading what others might have to say about your situation, Claire, and I want to thank you again for raising this issue - it's a big and important one.

Claire: I am with others. Adopt a mature cat/dog the NEEDS a home. When our Aelfric died last summer we figured we wouldn't get another cat, given our ages and my MBC DX. The house felt empty without a cat. I did look occasionally at Petfinders and other shelters, but I didn't think I would actually do it until I saw Billie. She had been shuffled from pillar to post. She had anxiety disorders. She is four. I know there are a few people who would take care of her so I made the leap. She is settling in. Having her press her forehead against my hand, touch her nose to my nose and sleep on the pillow above my head brings me such joy and a sense of peace. It has been about a month and half since we adopted her and I have zero second thoughts.

Like exbrnxgrl the moment I saw Billie and her bio —— she needed us!

One thing I would say when you view the dogs on petfinder, make sure they give you tons of info on the dog. I love love love my little malshipoo we just adopted, but she wasn't really housebroken and barks at every noise. I had "housebroken" as one of my criteria but because the bio was short, they didn't put it in there so my search didn't exclude her. We are house training her now. I saw in some other bio's that the dog was working on housetraining and/or barked a lot. I would scroll right past those.

Petfinders connected me to Cat Therapy and Rescue Society. I filled in all sorts of criteria (age of cat preferred, any special needs accepted etc) Then I filled in a three page document where I had to initial almost every paragraph : screens on my window (initial) not let her outside ( initial) cover vet bills (initial) vet check up yearly regardless of health (initial) will notify CTRS if unable to keep cat (initial) —— etc etc. Then we visited Billie at her foster's home, then we had a zoom meeting with a CTRS coordinator. They were, if anything, thorough.

THe first month was hard. She hid under the couch and only came out to feed when we went to bed. She scratched her neck raw until it got infected. We had to tackle her to get the antibiotic cream on and put on an e-collar. I despaired that maybe we were not up to the challenge. Wrong. Yes we were and she is thriving. She still wears her collar as she still sometimes scratches like crazy. I think it might be displacement activity when she gets anxious. We are waiting until some fur grows back so her neck has some protection from fur. She also has a dermatologist appointment late April to test for allergies, environmental or food related.

Found her in the bathroom sink one day. The other pic shows how far she has come from hiding under the couch. She likes to snuggle with my DH when we are sitting on the same couch she hid under.

I would say yes, yes, yes. Adopted my rescue cat (aged 7) in the early months of 2021. Since diagnosis in 2022 she has been the most doglike cat, never left my side when I’ve felt rough. I absolutely adore her. She has made her own (mutually acknowledged) choice of who to live with should I predecease her.

@exbrnxgrl OMG I love her! She reminds me of my Lucy! She is so lucky to be your furbaby!

claire, definitely adopted another dog. One thing I’ve tried to do since being diagnosed with mbc is to live life more fully. I think having a pet, for those of us who love them, adds so much to our life! I have an indoor cat and dh has two outdoor cats who adopted him. Loving a pet is a feeling like no other!

elderberry, I love the photo of your cat in the sink with her collar on! Adorable! It makes her look like a flower blooming, lol. My cat had to wear a collar after a cut to the chest. I bought one I called a little donut, it was inflatable. I was told to keep her inside a couple weeks, but she would not be denied her outside adventures! She ran out the back door within a couple days wearing that donut collar, leapt over the fence and kept going. It was hysterical. She acted like she was wearing a superhero cape and had to go out into the neighborhood to show it off!

Caryn, Pumpkin is gorgeous! Such a beautiful, pure face!

claire, I’d like to punch that mouthy nuclear med tech in the mouth! Those kinds of questions should be asked ahead of time so as not to create anxiety in the patient. My first onc and her nurse both had a wonderful skill of being non-alarming, even when they were giving me really shitty news. It was a true gift. I was aware of it and appreciated it because not all medical personnel have that. Can they not teach these people how to lessen the worry of those having scans? I think they could!

Your Preshy was a beautiful girl! Gorgeous coloring, markings and face! I had to say goodbye to my soulmate kitty of 13 years in 2020 and it is still hard on my heart, so I understand how you feel over your loss.

Yes, they could be cousins! Pumpkin is a real sweetie who loves to snuggle, play, walk, and nap. The perfect pup for senior years 😊

I put in an application on Friday for one of three puppies with a reputable rescue organization. The two males have already been adopted, the female, which was my first choice, is still available, but slim chance my DH and I will be lucky enough to be given the opportunity to adopt her. They don't go by first come first serve, but rather they accept applications for a period of time and then give the option to the applicant that they feel would be best suited. That is one of the things I like about this organization, because these are living beings that are in need of permanent good homes, not objects!

I am 70, but I'm a young 70, look and act many years younger. My Dh is 83. I think they give puppies to young families. My only hope is that I wrote something on the "additional information" page that will cause them to consider us!

Neither of my reference people, one of whom adopted dogs from the same organization, were contacted so that isn't a good sign. I think many people who were already "vetted" applied and were given first choice at the pups.

Doubtful we will try for another dog as my DH is very picky when it comes to which dog/puppy would be a good fit for us because he favors terriers. Most of the available dogs/puppies are large breeds or require a lot of professional grooming. I don't want a dog I can't lift which means no bigger that 20 pounds tops. That alone limits the selection.

I guess if it is meant to be, we will have the opportunity to adopt.

Claireinaz, have you adopted yet?

Mavericksmom- your new pup is so lucky ! Thank you for adopting the mama . She will love her home with you and DH. Post a photo when you can. I'm snuggling my rescue pup we adopted in 2015 as I type this .

aprilgirl1 and devinemrsm Thank you❤️! I will post pictures when we get her.