Evening all - I have a question that I am struggling with and I have always found the varied opinions of the TE ladies to be helpful in situations like these.

First off, I will be moving in about 2 months back home to start a new job and be closer to my family. This entails leaving a small town in the west and moving back to the Big City in the east. Right now, I have 2 cats and 1 dog, who is over 40 pounds.

The trouble is - I am having an extremely difficult time securing housing (any) in the Big City, especially any that will 1) allow pets or 2) allow more than 2 pets or 3) allow dogs over 40 pounds or 4) has a place to let my puppy relieve himself before he makes a mess in the high-rise elevator or other somesuch.

As many of you know, I am a veterinarian and I am finding this issue extremely difficult being at the top of the Responsible Pet Owner food chain. My two cats will definitely come with me, but the puppy - he's the one making this difficult. For one - he is not doing well in my current apartment - every 20 minutes he feels the need to go outside and will not be ignored at 3 a.m. until you walk him down the three flights of stairs and out to the grassy area. For another, my new job will be 10 hours a day with no lunch break, unlike my current job where I get 2 hours in the afternoon to walk and spend time with him (and let him out to pee!). Lastly, I cannot trust him with my cats at all - due to his breed and temperament, he has a hard time leaving them alone. These are all things I did not know until he was home with me for almost 3 months. As a malnourished stray, we battled distemper, ringworm, kennel cough, malnutrition (cobalamin deficiency leading to chronic diarrhea) and repeated conjunctivitis for a long time before he finally became as healthy as he is today. Now he is truly a puppy. I also did not know in November that my entire life situation would change like this (moving home for my mother who has become ill, not because I don't like my job).

My question is - what would you do? Rehome him with the breed rescue he came from (they brought him to me to treat and I ended up taking him in)? Or try and "make it work" in the new location despite what seems like overwhelming odds against it being a satisfactory life for a young dog? My parents have flat out refused to take him in, even temporarily (the cats however, can go to them if need be).

I know us vets are supposed to be the masters of these situations and have all the pet-related answers, but I am truly struggling with finding the best solution for him. I love my (not so) little puppy and I would love to have him around, but I am unsure that my new living situation will be amenable to his needs.

What say you, oh wise ladies?

Thanks in advance.