I am moving out due to a toxic environment in my family home, and I can’t fathom leaving our family dog behind. I say family dog as everyone would be gutted if I took her, but I pay for everything for her and take her on walks and do all of her training. Whenever I have gone away for a bit, my family rarely takes her out on walks. My mother has threatened to give her away several times as our dog is pretty rambunctious and my mother hates the chaos.
Finding a pet-friendly accommodation is tough, but I’m willing to be patient. I work from home and have always been the primary caregiver for the dog since she was a puppy, and that won’t change in the future.
I just wonder whether I should put myself first and make it easier to find a place to move to or leave her behind and risk her being put in an animal shelter. There’s also the option of me rehoming her myself and vetting a new family, but I will be heartbroken if I have to give her away.
For further context, my parents are extremely toxic and argue/scream a lot, and I’ve noticed it affecting my dog as she gets pretty scared. I want her out of this environment just as I am leaving.
Please take the dog with you. You know the dog is scared of your parents, and it isn’t a good environment for her. If you leave her, it will get worse.
As someone who has left a toxic family, take her. If you don’t, you will always question the care she is receiving. Having a companion as you create new boundaries will also help provide comfort.
I view pet ownership this way: it’s always going to be a little harder to find a place to live with a pet, but that’s standard. Either they’re a priority, non-negotiable part of your life or they’re not.
Seeing as you pay for everything, I would recommend getting her microchip in your name as well. Courts will normally ask for this to prove ownership if needed.
Take her!!! I didn’t take my family dog and I regret it to this day. Imagine how horrible you’ll feel if your puppy is sad and could have had a better life with you.