Why I’m Giving My Dog To My Parents

Almost 5 years ago to the day, I become a puppy momma.

I chose Brady from a litter from a breeder I handpicked and, though we have had our challenges, Brady has been a rock in my life.

He’s been with me through buying a house, selling a house, moving to Florida, roommates, break-ups, and breakdowns.

This summer, I decided that Brady would have a better quality of life by heading back to Maine to live with my parents.

This has been the most difficult decision of my life.

Bar none, giving up my dog child – essentially my son – has been the most difficult choice I’ve ever had to make. It catapulted me into the biggest emotional roller coaster of my life, too. (Sorry, Dave!)

What I keep going back to is the fact that this is really a choice that’s best for everyone.

It’s best for Brady

I haven’t been able to give Brady what he really needs since I moved to Florida: wide open spaces to run around in.

Whether it’s been because of renting or our lovely Florida summertimes, I really can’t give Brady the exercise that he needs and deserves.

Like anything we do for our children, we do what’s best for them.

It’s best for my parents

My parents just relocated to our camp in Maine full time. They are on 14 acres in the middle of nowhere on a lake. Win, win, win.

What’s more is that they’ve been wanting a dog for some time now. So they get one, without having to worry about training a puppy.

Plus, my Dad is gone at work during the day and my Mom works from home. Like me, she’ll have the company of the Bradster for years to come.

It’s best for me

I’ve always known that if and when I met a man who had a dog, I’d have to think long and hard about how I’d deal with Brady.

You see, I’ve done a lot to socialize Brady, but for whatever reason, he simply is not a dog-dog. (He’s very much a people-dog.)

Happy in a new relationship, I knew I’d have to make a choice when I chose to move in with my boyfriend; for Dave has a small mini-Dachshund. If Brady snaps and grabs this dog, he’s a goner. Plain and simple.

So I made a choice.

In the end, I had to make a decision. It was not an easy choice by any means.

I’m going to miss Brady terribly. I’m going to cry each and every time I think about him for a very long time, but in the end I know: it’s for the best.

It’s the best for all of us and I know Brady’s going to be the happiest lab of all time running through the woods and taking daily swims in the lake. Knowing that makes all of this feel like it’s the right choice.