Sorry it took me so long to respond...I got a last minute trip assignment this morning.
I've said it before and I'll say it again...everyone here is so amazing. You guys really know how to help someone put things in perspective and your offers are so very kind.
As far as family...while they love JoJo and don't mind helping me out while I'm away, they still consider having him so often a nuisance, and are always happy when I come back to pick him up. I totally respect that...after all, he is not their dog and they were not the ones who made the decision to have him. So I can't ask them to watch him more often, because even if they said yes out of guilt, they would end up resenting him or me and ultimately it would only become a problem.
As for my nursing goals...I'm planning on getting an ADN (associates degree in nursing) to become an RN. My sister is currently going to school for the same thing while working and I see how hectic her schedule is, and that's what I went off of. There is a doggy daycare near me that I do utilize every now and then (they always tell me he's one of the most well-behaved dogs there and they always get so excited to see him
), but they charge up to $30/day (overnights) and I know I wouldn't be able to afford that as often as I'd need to. Today, for example, I had to take him there as I got a last-minute one day trip and no family member was available to take him, so I paid $24 for 8 hours. Yes, I could have left him at home for only 8 hours, but with my job we can have flight delays or be reassigned mid-trip, so it's hard to determine when exactly we'll be home sometimes...and I'd rather be safe than sorry when it comes to leaving him.
I know I probably made my situation seem worse than it is, but just the thougt of not having him in my life gets me so upset and I guess any rational thought leaves my brain.
To those who offered to foster...you are angels. But I just can't help but wonder how even a foster parent could let go of a dog they've allowed into their homes and hearts after so long? I give those who do it much credit...I certainly could never be able to do it because I get attached too easily. And I wouldn't want to do that to someone else.
Throughout the day I was even considering quitting my airline job (which I've had for years) and finding a local part-time job, perhaps in some sort of entry-level medical environment. That way, while the days I have school and work would be long, I would still be home with him for most of the other days. And this could also be useful in getting my foot in the door for the career I'm pursuing.
Again, thank you all so much...all of your ideas/suggestions have been so helpful, and I'm thinking a little more clearly now. I want to keep him more than anything, so I'm going to try to find a way to make it work. But if I can't, I hope I can still take you up on your wonderful offers.
I have a lot of thinking to do and decisions to make now....