I have an "animal adiction" that I have gotten undercontrol. Mostly due to the realization that my H is not capable of sharing emotional bonds with me, but its not my problem its HIS! At the moment, hes the pleasant "stray" that is in out of the cold as one of your wife's rescues.(I'm staring at that line, over and over, oh to have the self confidence to do something about that. NO MORE CRITTERS and place what I have to a reasonable number so that I have the freedom to act and fix this)
You are quite right that the number of critters limits the degree of care they receive. This in itself isn't too bad when you have healthy adult dogs; however, when their ages get over 12 and the health issues, blind, deaf, incontenent bladder/kidney stones start setting in, maybe even cancer, the bills become untollerable (easy surgery now-a-days for bladderstones is in excess of $750usd). You start getting a "family of geriatric" critters and you are forced to limit service. Then there is the ache of euthanisia for the favorite 16 year old, cuz its the kindness thing to do.
Sure the puppy is cute and you get such an emotional HIGH. Its almost like falling in love again. You experience the "dance of life". NOTHING can go wrong in the world (if the irritations dont stand between her and her momentary happyness)
I'm with GEL on this one...Why do you stay again? And, cuz I haven't read as much as I should have, why is she dependent on these animal ppl and dogs and not being fulfilled enough by the two legged family and you? Have you been able to get to the real root of that?
Pity me that the heart is slow to learn
What the swift mind beholds at every turn.
Edna St. Vincent Millay
