[sweet_tikka]

WOW, okay let me try to tackle these comments...

It's not a vacation, it's life. My husbands job is to guide American's hunts, I am also involved in those. I never thought we'd be doing it for months on end being gone, it was a temp job that we ended up sticking with. Usually we were home every night even if it's a 12-14 hour day of hunts, but this season we'll be gone doing it for 2-3 weeks at a time constantly.
I had a feeling I shouldn't have even said a word and just simply said "Personal Issues" or not have said a word at all, I came for help, not opinions on my reasoning.

I don't want to make money off him, but for $150 here the spca will give a dog to any home... they take the dog home on a "trial" and after 3 days if they like him they can keep him. They dont do extensive interviews or home visits. The conditions at the only rescue here in town aren't the best either, over crowded and not enough funds, living in kennels being fed ol' roy and not getting daily attention because the lack the money to pay for workers and volunteers are few and far. Of course I'd give him for free if I find the right home where I think he'd be perfectly off.

Even if I work out a plan to keep him through fall/winter despite never getting to see him, we will be moving and finding an apartment that allowed one dog was hard enough. And YES Tikka would love being up in the mountains with us... she's not your average 2lb tiny... she's 8.8lbs and growing. She's been around gunshots, boats, horses, etc and she runs ALL day. Pooter however tires after a 20 minute slow walk, he loves to sleep and lay at someone's feet and cuddle in bed, I just want him to have that kind of home where it's stable and consistent.

I know, I must look like a complete a$$ but you don't think it makes me sad? He's slept with me while my husband been gone, he's cuddled me to sleep when I've had a bad day/night, you don't think that makes me sad to think about? Or reading these comments doesn't make me cry and feel even worse? All I came here for was to find some help on the best way to find what's best for Pooter. If I don't find somewhere where I can feel is perfect, I'll find a way to keep him, but if there's a possibility of him finding a more consistent/stable home that can provide him with love everyday why wouldn't I want that for him vs. leaving him at a strangers house for weeks on end.

I left him with a friend for a month while I went to Iowa, when I came back he barked at me for a good 5 or more minutes and even tried nipping me when I went to pick him up, he's NEVER done that... you think that made me feel like a good owner? Being gone and leaving him alone so long he almost forgot who I was?


All I'm asking is for advice... the best way to do what's best for HIM.
I took him from a lady who could no longer care for him, his rear was matted in poop, he was overweight from too much food and sitting in a kennel ALL day, he was timid and fearful. I have put hours of work into cleaning away his mattes, getting his coat in order, socializing him, and loving him, of course this sucks for both of us. But like I said I just want help finding whats best for him... I want him in a steady environment, stress free and loving!