Comment on Rehoming a pet: How to cope with the grief by Lisa.

I’ve been struggling with a lot of emotions lately, and this article has been a real comfort. I find myself reading it almost every day. Two months ago, we had to rehome our four-year-old pup with the breeder. Sadly, we had a serious problem with dog fights breaking out at home, involving him and our nine-year-old dog. We tried everything: we consulted a psychologist, used training methods, and even tried anxiety medication. It seemed to help at first, but then things took a turn for the worse. The last fight left me with permanent damage to my hands from trying to separate them, and we were terrified that one of them would be seriously injured, or worse, if it happened again. The fights always seemed to happen when we weren’t looking, so we never knew what triggered them or who started it. It’s a complete mystery why their relationship changed so drastically, and we just couldn’t find a way to keep them together safely in our home. If only dogs could talk! We’ve had multiple dogs throughout our twenty-five-year marriage and have never experienced anything like this before. It’s been incredibly sad and heartbreaking. Following the advice of our dog psychologist, I reached out to friends, neighbors, and breed-specific rescues to find a new home for our four-year-old. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find a good fit with friends or family, and to be honest, I was a little uneasy about his aggression. The breed-specific rescue didn’t get back to me until weeks later. When the last fight occurred, we had to make a quick decision. The breeder met us halfway across the country to take him back for observation and possible adoption. I know it was the right decision for everyone involved, but at the same time, I’m absolutely devastated. The breeder immediately kept us updated with a video, and he seems to be thriving. While I was overjoyed to see him looking so good, I was also plunged into a deep depression. I know dogs live in the present, and we’ll become a memory. He’ll have a good life there, or with another family, without the stress he experienced here. I know it’s selfish, but I’ll miss watching him age, and I won’t be there at the end. There’s so much I’ll miss, but I did notice his behavior changing for the worse the longer he stayed. Our 9-year-old seems much more relaxed and enjoying his solo attention. He still looks for him, as we do. THIS IS SO HARD! I’m in therapy to cope with the trauma and the loss. Thank you for listening.