To Get a Dog or Not? That's the Question.

I should start off by saying that my family had many pets when I was growing up. We had dogs from the K9 unit that rode with my dad in his police car. We had several cats including two kittens my dad rescued from an abandoned building that we named Starsky and Hutch. Later there was Boo-Boo Kitty. And I can't forget the occasional hamster who, despite my mother's protests, came to live with us at the end of the school year.

Depending on where I was in my life at the time, I had varying levels of interest in our pets. Some I loved with abandon, like our golden retriever/labrador mix, while others I completely ignored or griped about with a Valley Girl tone (it was the 80s after all). I mean, like, why do I have to empty the litter box all the time? Grody!

Now that I'm a mother of two little boys who really want a dog, I'm not sure what to do. I've always said I would never even consider a pet until both of my boys were completely potty trained and capable of cleaning up after themselves in the bathroom. They are about to turn seven and nine so that benchmark passed quite some time ago. (Although the cleaning up after themselves in the bathroom still leaves something to be desired).

This past week we visited friends and family back in Massachusetts and many of them have dogs. My sister had just put one of her dogs to sleep and she was very upset about it. Another friend had a new puppy and the parents looked tired. "Don't do it," they told me, only half joking. My other sister counseled that I consider a small dog that could do it's business in a litter box and not have to go out in the middle of the night or in blustery snow storms. Another friend advised me to buy pet insurance.

When I see my boys (the younger one, especially) around dogs it's clear how much they would love one of their own. A dog to be their playmate and companion. That friend who always listens and doesn't judge. For the same reasons I loved my dogs growing up I think I should get one for my boys. But what if we get a dog that isn't a good match for the family. How could I ever give it away? What about the expense of an electric fence? Will the deer and fox who like to come into our yard be a problem? Then there's obedience training, kennels when we travel, vet bills.

How will I know if it's the right time for our family and for me? Because let's be real, like most things around here, taking care of the dog is probably going to be my responsibility.