I need DU help. My heart is breaking. My partner of 17 years passed the 28th of last month
Between us we have seven rescued dogs. With two of us, they had time, 24-hour supervision, abundant love, and care. My job is a 55-mile each way hike. That keeps me from home 12 hours a day. The eldest was his service dog to whom I give great credit for keeping my beloved alive so long. I owe her a loving and dignified retirement. The next, close in age to her (they're both just over 12) is a senior we took in when her original parents lost their home due to foreclosure. The middle child, Emmaline, is extremely devoted to me.
The weight of grief and the responsibility of holding a job that's far away, trying to keep house, AND give them the love and devotion they're used to is proving to be too much. My first responsibility is to them.
It seems now the right thing to do for THEM is to find the right homes for some of them.
The youngest, Roxie, a BC/ACD mix, is a super-bright, super-sweet pup we had designs of training up to be his next service dog. She's extremely fun and funny, but needs more attention than I can give to bring her to her full potential. She has a super-bright future ahead in the right hands. She would have been the perfect new assistant for Rob. She has become buddies with her next-older "sib", Julie, a purebred BC we hoped would be Rob's new assistant. Julie is extremely bright, friendly, affectionate, and socialized, but her interests lie in companionship, not in assistance. These two need to stay together.
I've posted about Callalily before. She was extremely abused, malnourished, untrusting, scared, had little fur, and had many emotional problems when we rescued her. She has become loving, trusting, adores showing off and being petted, lives for the camera and praise. She has healed and needs little more than steady love and approval. She is SUCH a lady. I'm so proud of her accomplishments.
Ashley-Marie is my darling. She's a GSD/Lab/Collie? mix. She's extremely sensitive, loving, and tender. It would be ideal if she and Callalily can stay together. They're very close.
It has taken forever to write this. I'm sobbing profusely. Dear DU, I don't know where else to turn or what to do. My heart is broken. I've lost my beloved partner and in order to do right for our children it looks as if I'll have to lose most of them too.
BUT the ones I can bear to part with can ONLY go to well-qualified, homes on some conditions. They can't be passed again except back to me. They must continue to be "mostly indoor" dogs. They're used to sleeping inside and having continuous guidance. The yard must be fence or they can only be walked on a lead -- not just "turned out" to do their business. And I want updates on their health, lives, progress.
They're still my kids.
I always said I'd rather give up both kidneys and an eye than a dog. There comes a point when one person trying to do a job two people used to and can't, it's called "hoarding" and that's immoral. These kids deserve ever so much more than I alone can give them.
Please help if you can.
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You pointed me to your website one time to see your babies when I was talking about my own BC. I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. I hope someone can find help for you in this time of need. I can't imagine your pain of losing your beloved and now needing to find homes for your animal loves. I just wanted to express my sadness at what you are going through.
i wish i could help more than to give you a 
The BC can not be placed in a shelter of any kind. I'm contacting the rescue group I got her from to see if they can help.
Sorry, I can not consider shelters. I need some control over where these kids go. These kids came from shelters and it took us years to heal the trauma. The setbacks aren't worth it.
Thanks.
I am so sorry for your loss and the losses you're facing.
You're a good man.
I think you're on the right track with the breed rescue groups. We've had dealings with the local BC and GSD breed rescues, and, for our little Shih-Tzu, a small dog rescue group. These people are dog lovers and remarkably protective of their charges. All that is to their credit and hopefully will lessen, at least a little, the burden you're obviously feeling as you face this.
I wish I could do more.
Dear One, you're doing the right thing for your babies!!
I've been thinking about them SOOO much since Rob passed and wondered how they'd stay outside and find cover and warmth w/o anyone to let them in & out, in & out, etc, etc. You're to be commended for realizing that they need far more attention than you can now provide.
I know it's taking all the painful Courage you can muster to do this. But please know you're not abandoning your girls to shelters; you have control and ultimate say-so as where they're re-homed. You'll be able to video skype and email their 2nd parents and then you'll have the heartfelt relief in knowing that they'll be well-loved and cared for.
I sure wish we could take a pair of them, but DH says we cannot have another baby until we move back to the mtns where we'll have many acres. Where we're living now, we don't have a fenced yard and I don't have the energy it'd take to exercise them enough.
As long as you know your girls are dearly loved and cared for, you'll find peace in letting them live with some other parents.
I'm sharing Ashley & Callie pics on my FB page. Trying to get the message out.
Love YOU!
...other folks in the world who could love the girls just as much as you do, as much as he did, and who, under the adverse circumstances you must now deal with, can give them not more love but better care. He would want what's Best for Them.
And he would not blame you!
Now, the hurdle is to find those loving homes! I'm sorry to hear that Roxie cannot "stay in the family.". But there's a loving home out there for her. And for the other girls.
Sending much love to you. I'll hug you tomorrow, my dear friend.
