The Deal With The Devil

[ACJ]

But I feel like this is it; H is going to take him to live with him and I'm going to have to say goodbye and let them both settle into their new lives.

Hope you may well be right but what I see is that you both look upon your pets as your children. FWIW I think he will continue to use puppy as a link as those of us who have children do. What I don't think he has factored in is that you may not choose to maintain that link (as you undoubtedly would if it were a child). Like everyone else here I'm right behind you whatever you decide.