decision

There's a puppy who needs a home.

It was abandoned on a road in Hamilton, near the SPCA. Someone is fostering it, but not taking it to the shelter, as there's reason to believe it would be put down. She's a female, three months old, adorable, with reports of a happy temperament.

I'm on the fence.

On the one hand, Cody loved Buster, and Clyde before him, so much. She adored them, doted on them, worshiped them. She clearly loved living with another dog.

As Cody ages, it will be less and less fair to bring another dog into the home; I feel if we're going to get another dog, we should do so soon, or on the soon side. If we don't get another dog, when Cody dies, we'll be dog-less for the first time since shortly after we started living together. (We adopted our first dog, Gypsy, in November 1987.) That's a scary thought.

I loved having two dogs, and I know I would love a new dog, we'd give it a great home, and it would bring us much joy.

On the other hand, we are very much enjoying the ease of having only one easy-going, low-maintenance dog. Caring for Buster's many physical and emotional issues left us drained and exhausted. Although we never would have given up on him - and you know how much we loved him - we are really enjoying our new freedom. We aren't rushing into the added expense and effort of a new dog, let alone a puppy.

But I haven't been able to close the door on the idea, either. Something in me wants to say yes to this dog. But not entirely.

We continue to think about it. Meanwhile, I'm hoping some other wonderful family takes the pup, and makes the decision for me.