not sure what to do

I lost my dog last October, which is something I still grieve about. Through volunteering at the SPCA, I came across an old yorkie cross that was there due to an investigation. I decided to take him home as a foster while the investigation wraps up on the 15th.

He's a wonderful little dog. He's completely housebroken, rides in the car like a charm, is friendly, doesn't show any aggression, and his face is like a teddy bear.

Problem: my cat HATES him. He hated Chevy, too, when I first brought him home, but he took to him shortly thereafter. He's already attacked the little guy once where I ended up being bitten in the ankle - by the cat, lol.

A part of me thinks I'm not ready for another dog, that my cats need my attention and it's not fair to them to throw in another animal vying for my attention. I'm also not sure I want to go through caring for a senior dog again so soon after Chevy. And it IS nice not having to wake up early to take a dog out on the weekends.

I also don't want to throw him back into the kennels at the shelter as he waits for the investigation to end. And then he'll be up for adoption - but with him being 13 years old with a heart murmur, what are the chances?! (he won't be put down, it's a no-kill shelter).

I was thinking of returning him tomorrow because we're both getting too attached and if I wait longer, it's going to be more difficult for both of us. I'm really not sure what to do :(

Badger, can you locate a yorkie rescue in your area and find a foster? Anyone else at the shelter that could foster him? Also, are you crating him away from the cat when you aren't there to watch him?

As for whether to keep him or not, if in your heart of hearts it's not a good fit, then it's probably best you find him another home. You will know when it's right for you. There may be another family out there that is just the right fit for your little guy. :)

My cats took about 6 mos to stop hissing at my dogs and new kitten when each was brought in. I say as long as no one is in danger, they'll find a way to live together. Might not be best friends, but they should figure out a way to coexist. Sometimes the kitties take a while to realise the new one isn't going anywhere and they need to just get over it, which they do.

I think it's great to adopt an older dog in need. Even a younger dog may not be with you for too long, so just enjoy the time you have with them!

well, it's only been 3 days since I brought him home, and everyone sleeps in the bedroom quite happily. The little guy snores away in the corner and both the cats are on top of me.

Crating him was a disaster, all he did was barkbarkbark and me being in a condo that just can't happen all day. They were okay alone yesterday.

They'll eventually adjust, but at this point, it's looking more like am I ready to go through elder care again so soon? Maybe it's better for me to get a very young dog and go through the training with him/her.

I'm not worried about him languishing at a shelter. They assured me that he'll either be adopted out quickly due to my write-up of him, and/or through exposure on the noon news program. Which might be great, because anybody who watches it at that time would be at home, no?

I'm going to England March 19-April 2. I could leave him up for adoption when I leave, and if he's still around when I come back, then I can take him. If he's gone within 2 weeks, that's really good.

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Originally Posted by badger

I'm going to England March 19-April 2. I could leave him up for adoption when I leave, and if he's still around when I come back, then I can take him. If he's gone within 2 weeks, that's really good.

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I think that sounds like a very good plan. You know that he's safe during the time that you're gone (being that it's a no-kill shelter) and if he's still there when you get back, then it's meant to be :)

and if he's an older dog and not aggressive to the cats, they'll get over it and get used to him. They won't like him, but they're not freaked out because there's a dog, they just don't like him.

if it was a younger dog and harassing the cats, i'd see it differently.

I have a cat that hates dogs. There is an uneasy truce between my dogs and him. Most of the dogs we've had here have been able to adapt to the scary cat who hisses at them. Occasionally he has been chased by one or the other dog (not mine, fosters and grand-dogs), and those dogs get a stern talking to from me. The only problem is when the cat decides he owns the stair case, and I'm downstairs and the dogs upstairs. The dogs will NOT pass him on the stairs, so I have to rearrange everyone. Sometimes that's funny, sometimes it is just annoying. Sometimes he does it on purpose!

If this cat would just learn not to run and act scared, the dogs would ignore him like they do the other cat. I am proud of him, though, because he is learning to be more brave around the dogs, and take his rightful place on the bed, even when he has to sneak past a sleeping dog to get there.

I wouldn't trust him with a full-blooded terrier, though.

Karen

I have decided to return him on Saturday. As much as I think he's cute and all that, he's older with a lot of health problems. I don't think I can do elder care again (Chevy had health issues as well).

I have faith that he will go to a good home, so while I'm away, I'm positiive he'll be adopted. When I come back and he's still there, then I'll think about taking him home.

The cats have started to adjust to him. Morley's the dominant cat, and his problem is that someone's entered his domain and he's all bent out of shape on that one. When he started attacking the little guy, I pushed him off with my foot and ended up biting my ankle - so the cat's the ankle biter, not the dog!! lol. The other one's the scaredy cat and even she's coming out occasionally sneaking by the dog (and the cat, he picks on her, too, poor thing).

Badger, if it's meant to be....:)

It takes awhile to mourn the loss of a dog and give yourself time to do so. Whenever you lose a dog, another one comes along at the right time. They always do. They always know.