Should I or Shouldn't I?

Should I or Shouldn’t I?

I have never been one to give up on a companion animal. Once, when I did so, it was with the animals’ best interest at heart.

Case in point: When I adopted my greyhound, Eli, the timing was all wrong. I had an elderly black Standard Poodle, Tyrone, who was dying of lung cancer. I did not get that diagnosis until a few days after I adopted Eli. Eli. Strong, athletic, young, handsome Eli. Some say it was a slap in Tyrones’ face to bring in a “newer model” who was so young and athletic while he was still king of the castle. I did it because I thought Tyrone would appreciate some company, and because Eli needed a home right now or be in danger of losing his life. He had been a racing dog for five years, and it was time to retire (or, be put to sleep).

But Eli and Tyrone didn’t like one another very much, and so I asked a friend to foster Eli until after, well, you know, until after Tyrone went to the Rainbow Bridge.

A few weeks after Tyrone crossed over, Eli was back in my life and my home. I love Eli, he’s a good dog. He loved kids and made a great humane ed dog as well. But then, one day, my sister came to visit. She was sad because it was Christmas Eve, her cat had died, and she was about to lose her job. She was in a very sorry state. So, when she left to go home, I offered Eli to go home with her, provide some therapy for her. She readily accepted.

Naturally, that was the end of my life with Eli. That was five years ago! Eli is now ten and living the good life with my sister over on the west coast.

Now I have Murphy. Big, strong, loving, lovable goofy Murphy. I lost him and I got him back and now I am not so sure that having Murphy in my life is what’s best for Murphy. Some say that he loves me and just wants to be with me. But I say, maybe he would be happier with a family who goes traveling a lot, takes him to the beach more, for longer walks, for more playtime. Maybe a family with a big backyard and a pool. Murphy would like that. So, the question becomes, should I keep Murphy, selfish as it may seem, because I love him so much; or should I find a better home for him, a home that is more suited to his need for an active lifestyle? I just don’t know. Murphy is a great humane education dog, and he loves to go with me to work and to do my humane education classes, so I do keep him busy. But its not physically demanding, it’s just fun and games and letting kids pet him and learn to be safe around dogs. He is the perfect dog for that.

I have a dilemma, a storm in my soul. I don’t know what to do. My family says, “keep him, are you nuts?” My heart says “you love him; he loves you, what more do you need?” My head says “What’s love got to do with it? This dog needs exercise, lots of it, he needs to work, he’s a working dog after all.” And so the storm grows.

I am hoping that my indecision will last long enough for it to be moot because he will be old and sedentary and for that reason, my home will be just fine. Sometimes not making a decision is the best decision of all.