Putting my Money Where my Mouth is
Yesterday I got a puppy.
Those of you who know me well, know I have wanted a dog -badly- since Rusty (aka the greatest dog in the universe) died. Unfortunately, I've been in school and living in small houses and apartments, so the dog thing couldn't happen. You can imagine the temptation when the queen of the PAC offered me a lovely, black, squirmy puppy.
As certain members of my readership are aware, I turned him down the first time. Then I went out and had a second look. That was when I lost all willpower and took him home.
At first glance, it was love. He was a lovely fellow, very Lab looking, with a soupcon of various other breeds. I had a blissful half hour of deluding myself that I could really keep this glorious creature. Then reality set in. I am planning to do a bit of visiting and travel this winter. Most places, I could not take a puppy. The nearest boarding kennel is in Williams Lake. I 'm going to be renting for a while, and if I end up having to move, most landlords don't allow dogs. Also, let's not forget that I spend relatively little time at home (I practically live at the school). The sad fact is that I would be a pretty terrible dog owner at this point.
It was when I realized this that another sobering thought occurred to me. I've always maintained that I wanted to be the kind of parent who could make decisions in the best interests of the child - no matter how much it would suck for me. I made the decision to take the puppy because I wanted one - not because I thought it would be good for the puppy (although at the time, I got the two mixed up). If I'm going to be an adult here, I need to give the puppy back.
Good thing I was given a week to decide on it.
P.S. If anyone wants a free kitten or puppy, I can totally hook y'all up.
Those of you who know me well, know I have wanted a dog -badly- since Rusty (aka the greatest dog in the universe) died. Unfortunately, I've been in school and living in small houses and apartments, so the dog thing couldn't happen. You can imagine the temptation when the queen of the PAC offered me a lovely, black, squirmy puppy.
As certain members of my readership are aware, I turned him down the first time. Then I went out and had a second look. That was when I lost all willpower and took him home.
At first glance, it was love. He was a lovely fellow, very Lab looking, with a soupcon of various other breeds. I had a blissful half hour of deluding myself that I could really keep this glorious creature. Then reality set in. I am planning to do a bit of visiting and travel this winter. Most places, I could not take a puppy. The nearest boarding kennel is in Williams Lake. I 'm going to be renting for a while, and if I end up having to move, most landlords don't allow dogs. Also, let's not forget that I spend relatively little time at home (I practically live at the school). The sad fact is that I would be a pretty terrible dog owner at this point.
It was when I realized this that another sobering thought occurred to me. I've always maintained that I wanted to be the kind of parent who could make decisions in the best interests of the child - no matter how much it would suck for me. I made the decision to take the puppy because I wanted one - not because I thought it would be good for the puppy (although at the time, I got the two mixed up). If I'm going to be an adult here, I need to give the puppy back.
Good thing I was given a week to decide on it.
P.S. If anyone wants a free kitten or puppy, I can totally hook y'all up.