Do I REALLY have to give him back?
 

Hi all -
Was hoping to get a few thoughts on my little dilemma. Here goes:
I found a breeder with 2 morkies. I bought the girl (Ceiba) and talked my MIL into getting the boy (Ace). We had our pups exactly one month (early March) when she called me and asked me to doggysit Ace for awhile - her father was terminally ill and she had to go away for a few weeks. Well, her father ended up passing away, she had to stay to take care of the estate and other things, etc etc. Here we are 3+ months later and now she is coming back to town. She called last week and asked when she could pick up her puppy and my DH told her that was a sore subject and that they'd talk later.
My dilemma is this: In the past 3+ months, Ace has become a part of our family. He and his sister were only apart that 1 month and not since. When they are separated (i.e Vet appts) they are miserable w/o each other - moping around the house, lying by the door and crying. I honestly don't want to give him back!!
The breeder has another litter due next month (same parents as Ceiba & Ace) and I have the option to purchase one. I would totally offer to buy her another puppy to 'replace' Ace, but not sure she'd go for it.
In my mind, I know it is only right to give him back, but my poor little heart can't take it! I have FINALLY just gotten the 2 of them potty trained, they behave well and just love each other.
What do I say? What can I do? Help?! :cry2:

Hopefully she won't mind you purchasing her a new one because she didn't really bond with Ace like you did - But unfortunately if that's not the case you really don't have a leg to stand on - Good luck!!!!

I hear you on the attachment. Speak to hear and lay it out. I mean she hasn't really had time to bond with him so I doubt that it will hurt her to leave him with you and have you just purchase another puppy for her.

Good luck...it's gonna be a dicey situation.

I agree. Good luck to you!

I would offer to get her another puppy and see what she says. Good luck I hope you get to keep him. It was very nice of you to care for him as long as you did

This is sad, but what is right for the pups?
 

Yeah, I get that feeling too. :(
This just breaks my heart - literally. I was sobbing like a baby last nite at the THOUGHT of having to give him back. I can't imagine not having the 2 of them wagging their little tails with excitement when I get home. Or not having him jump on the bed and lick me awake in the a.m. (she hasn't mastered bed jumping yet!). Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! How did the love for this little animal get so deep so fast?!

Here's a pic of the 2 of them:
Attachment 126876

I think you should lay it out for her just like you did with us. It's not only that you fell in love, but they are sooo attached to each other. I hope she agrees this would be best all around for everyone and lets you buy her a new pup. Best of luck to all of you :)

What a wonderful friend you are to have taken care of her dog during this difficult time in her life. I'm sure she has really gone through a lot herself, and maybe now she could really use the love of her dog to comfort her. I think the right thing to do is to give her back her dog. You could make the offer to buy her a new one, but if she declines, you really need to give her back the dog. I understand where you're coming from, and it was really a lot to have placed on you, but I think we'd all like to know that we were lucky as she was to have someone as wonderful as you to step up and help out with her puppy at this time.

...also they are absolutely ADORABLE!! Perhaps you should tell her all this at HER house or on the phone, before she sees him again :D

Sit down with your MIL and be open and honest. Hopefully she will be understanding..... My heart goes out to you. :ghug:

Farah, how is your relationship and your husband's relationship with your MIL? She is family after all... Maybe you can explain and ask if you can give her a new puppy. She obviously feels comfortable with you if she was able to leave the puppy with you for so long. I hope you have a good relationship with her because unless she bonded well with Ace in the first month (I know I bonded with my puppy rather quickly) if you have a good relationship seeing your heartache and how much Ace loves Ceiba she might go for the arrangement. Good luck, just be honest about your feeling with her, that is all you can do.

Oh goodness...I hope you get him. Mine are attached and if one goes out the other cries so I know why you don't want to separate them. Hopefully your MIL will agree to another puppy. Good luck and keep us posted.

I agree with what everyone has said. And most importantly (and TRUTHFULLY) tell her that you believe it is in both pups' best interest (and of course your own ;)) to keep him and buy her a new one. Honestly, if she only had him for a month, and you've had him for 3, I think it's harsh of her to not let him stay with you, but if she says she wants him back, I'm not sure there's a lot you can do. Good luck, and be sure to keep us posted! Just be friendly and talk it out:thumbup:

Aww this is really tough. Well I guess the outcome of all of this is based on 2 things:
1. Your relationship with her
2. Whether she bonded with him that month he was with her before she had to leave
I think it's probably 50/50 right now for you. Did your hubby elaborate why it was a sore subject or anything in that manner?Did she respond to that in any way? I agree with everyone else, make you case to her in person, offer her a new pup, if she doesn't agree, I'm afraid there's not much you can do. Unfortunately these are the things that happen when doggiesitting. People and other pets of the house get attached and it's hard to give them back. The right thing to do is give him back, assuming she doesn't agree to your offer.

Like everyone else said, just tell her how you feel. She had one month to get attatched, and then three months to essentially lose that bond. I think you should do or say whatever it takes to keep your little boy.

MistyInca - I totally agree with you about her needing the comfort of her dog. Heaven knows I would if I lost my father. I do agree, I do, but... :(

Reesee's mom - Luckily my relationship w/her is fantastic. I haven't had this discussion with her yet, but I feel we have to and SOON. I hope she is the bigger person and lets me keep him. If not, giving him back will absolutely be gut wrenching, but I will do it. I can't jeapordize my relationship w/my family over a puppy - even if he means the world to me. :cry2:

I hope to gather up the courage and be able to have a conversation w/her about it and not break down into total tears like I did when I talked about it w/hubby last nite. I'm on the verge of tears again now! (Maybe it's the pregnancy hormones?!)
This just sucks and I hope none of you ever have to go through this!

Boy that's a tough one!!!

I would have a hard time giving him back as well! But if she will allow you to buy her a new pup, then that's what i would do, if she don't like the idea, I would explain to her what you have told us.

I had Baby given to me, a friend could no longer keep her so she called and asked me to take her. I have had her for about 3 months now and the thought crosses my mind, what if she ever tried to come take her away? I would just die!

Hi, the babys are very cute, hope things work out for you, is so easy to become attached, i hope they can continue to be with each other:)

I feel so bad for you and I hope that you can work something out with her. I had the same thing happen to me, but I understood that when I agreed to puppysit that he would be leaving. I had him for 6 months, and fell deeply in love with him but I knew that I couldn't keep him. Also, I knew that he was going back to a VERY loving home. These little ones can bring so much support and love to someone who has lost a loved one. Hopefully you have a good relationship with her and she will work something out with you. You're both at a loss right now.

Let us know how things go.

you've had the puppy THREE Months ? That's a really hard decision and I'd for sure talk to her about how well they bonded and how much you love him. I feel for you - that's really hard especially when it's family.

Im sure she would understand...you had him through the puppy times...its not like hes an older dog...I bet if you offer to buy her another puppy she would go for it...good luck talking to her...I have a good feeling this will work out for you...

Dawn

ceibasmom,
I completely understand what you are going through!! While we were living at my mom's house, my hubby and I brought home a puppy for her...We actually wanted him for us, but there was no way that we could bring another dog to her house. And we wanted the pup to go to a good home, so we gave him to my mom...
Well, my mom was out of town for two weeks, and wasn't there when we brought her dog home. So we got to bond with him for those two weeks. He and Miko became best friends!! Completely inseparable. I would even take him with us whenever we went to my hubby's parents house to visit. We fed him, bathed him, and he slept with us half the time.
But my mom was totally in love with him!! He was exactly what she wanted. She had told me awhile back that she either wanted a maltese or a shih-tzu, and it just so happened that this little baby came from a home that could not take care of him, and he was a maltese/shih-tzu mix(the people were not breeders, they had purchased him for their kids and it didn't work out).
Anyway, 6 months later, my hubby and I purchased our new home and it was time to move...I wanted so badly to take him with us...I cried for weeks thinking about how we would have to leave him.
I mean, he looooved my mom, but he loooooved us so much too. That was the hardest thing in the world! But it was my mom's dog. I offered to get her another dog, but this is the little guy that had stolen her heart. And I dug deep in my heart and realized that I needed to let him go...It was such a hard thing for me. I even tried to get a different dog for her and told her that if she ever couldn't take care of him, that we would take him no matter what. Never to hesitate. I still think about him, but we get to have playdates now!
Just recently my mom was moving into a new place, and he got to stay with us for 2-3 weeks!! My mom missed him soooo much, but she knew that she wouldn't be able to watch him while she was getting everything organized. And I take every opportunity I can to watch him for her :)
After we moved, it took me a whole month to be able to go back and see him because I just knew my heart would be broken. But when I went back there, I could tell how happy he was with my mom :) And that made everything okay.

Praying for you!

Here's a pic of the 2 of them:
Attachment 126876[/QUOTE]

With faces like that, I'd be heartbroken too. Tell you what, just give them both to me and it will all be done. Just kidding; hope all works out for you. Sounds like you guys have a good relationship which is more than some women have with their MILs. Keep us posted.

I feel the same way! You already know what to say. If your MIL understands that the puppies will suffer more than even you will she can't help but relent. She would still get to see the little guy and watch him grow up! Do offer to buy her another puppy though. I think she'd go for it.
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I think a new puppy would be a geat idea for her and start fresh. Just lay it out like you have on YT to her and appeal to her reasonableness to let the two stay together. I'd beg, plead or whatever to see if she will understand your attachment and the furbutts' attachment to each other. Maybe if she can see with her own eyes how much they love and need each other, she will agree to your suggestion. Let's hope she is understanding and reasonable.

Have you had the talk yet??? In my heart .....I believe if she really is thinking of the baby she will let her stay with you. He has bonded with you and your baby girl....JMO. Good luck either way I feel for you!