Rehoming Dogs After Childbirth
11.7.2009 I was completely overwhelmed when we brought the twins home from the hospital, and the dogs only added to the stress. There were days they didn't get fed because one of us thought the other one had. The walks were long gone, and every time I looked up, there was a dog's pleading eyes meeting mine begging for attention I knew I wouldn't give them, begging for their lives before Mateo and Harper.
Jennifer didn't want to rehome Molly and Maggie. We discussed it at length over several months. Jennifer wanted to wait and see how things would turn out, but my decision was crystal clear from the first time I had to remove dog hair from the mouths of my sleeping infants. We finally agreed that we would only rehome them to the right families and that they would stay with us until then.
Over the last two years prior, we had taken the dogs with us to San Antonio for the Christmas holiday. My mom would host Christmas lunch and invite a few friends and coworkers. Maggie gravitated to one particular co-worker and she fell in love with Maggie, wanting to take her home. So when now two years later, my mom mentioned at her work that we were rehoming the dogs, said coworker wanted to know if she could take Maggie, she'd even drive up to Houston that weekend. Similarly, we had some friends that had been to our house several times over the previous year. Jackie and Sara adored Molly, and Molly adored them. They would ask if they could take Molly with them, and for the first time we would answer "yes." Molly would be a single-dog in their home, a situation that we hadn't realized was so important to Molly until after we had adopted Maggie a few years later.
Oh, I've heard all the commentary on how cruel I am, how selfish and flippant to "get rid" of the dogs. I've been chastised by people who have twice as many kids and three times as many pets and how they could do it and I could too if I gave a shit about the dogs. I've been sent articles on the social and psychological impact of "abandoning" animals. I've been asked "so will you abandon Mateo and Harper when they're an inconvenience to you?" Well, that's such a logical argument, LET ME THINK ABOUT IT.
But here's the thing: in our situation, it's worked out well for everyone, Molly and Maggie included.
Maggie moved in with my mom's coworker, a single middle-aged woman who is just tickled to have Maggie's companionship, not to mention she became the lap dog she always aspired to be. She gets taken to the dog spa every couple weeks, eats premium foods, and is pampered in a way that dogs can only wish to be pampered. She has undivided attention and affection. And she is happier, dare I say, than she's ever been.
For Jackie and Sara, Molly was a much needed, and unanticipated gift. Several months prior, Sara's mother's life had been prematurely taken by cancer, leaving an unmentionable void in her life. They had talked about getting a dog and when the option to adopt Molly came up, they took the opportunity to direct their energies to a very energetic dog. Molly is so happy, too. She goes on walks, goes camping, gets to play with cousin dogs and people cousins of Jackie and Sara and then gets to go home as the single-dog she loves being.
We've seen Maggie twice since June 2008 and get regular updates through my mom. And just two weekends ago, we met up with Sara and Jackie and Molly for a picnic at the park, a reunion of sorts. Molly recognized us, gave Jennifer a million dog kisses, and let Harper tackle her. And at the end of the afternoon, as we parted ways, Molly happily trotted alongside Jackie and Sara back to their car.
The main thing I've learned through parenting is that there are very few absolutes; "never's" and "always" no longer exist in the places where before we were certain of their certainty. Rehoming pets may not be right for everyone, but it has been the right decision for all of us.
Reader Comments (4)
I have thought about this so often as we prepare for the twins. We have dogs and cats and if they were not older animals that will most likely not make it to the twins toddler years I think we would have done the same thing. I am VERY worried about how this is all going to turn out.We are also taking it one step at a time with this situation. Thank you for sharing this...
I haven't even had children yet and I ended up rehoming my dog this year. It was a very difficult decision to make as I felt like I was betraying her but it was a decision I made because she was happier at my friends house where she got walks several times a day, had children to play with, went to the lake etc. Sometimes the rehoming is such a positive change for the animal that it's definitely kinder.
Thank you for such a wonderful gift. She has meant more to us than we could ever express. Love the picture!
I just read this post. How I have time to read old posts, I don't know, but I wanted to say that you are very good people to know that your dogs would be happier and that you would be happier with your dogs in a new home. And this couldn't be a more perfect situation. Congrats and Kudos. I feel the same way about our cat...and can't find her a place.