Dear Amy: My wife and I have an older dog that we got when we were first engaged.
“Cassie” has grown along with us and now that she is in her elder years, we are protective and concerned about her.
Well, about six months ago we fell in love with a small-breed young dog and brought her home. It did not occur to us that this might create a problem.
Cassie now seems stressed and unhappy all the time. She tries to hide from the younger dog, who has playfully nipped at her.
We spoke with our vet, who suggested “rehoming” the younger dog. She told us that some animal dynamics just don’t work out.
We don’t want our elder dog to spend her final years stressed and unhappy.
We have learned that friends of ours would like to take the young dog, but we feel so guilty about doing this.
We are reaching out for some of your compassionate common sense.
— Guilty
Dear Guilty: Assuming responsibility for the life, health, and happiness of an animal is an almost sacred stewardship. We owe it to our animals to make the hard choices in what we believe will be in their best interests. And yes, oftentimes guilt follows the hardest choices.
You are choosing to protect the more vulnerable animal, and that’s the right thing to do.
Dear Amy: “M” reported a “mysterious mourner” at their father’s funeral, which took place many years ago.
This mysterious mourner didn’t introduce himself to anyone, leading to speculation that he was perhaps a “love child” of the deceased dad, who had been an alcoholic.
It is quite possible that the mourner was a friend from AA.
— Friend of Bill
Dear Friend: Several readers suggested this. Thank you!
“M” was fixated on the thought of having a half-sibling out there, and, according to the narrative, this was a distinct possibility.
(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)
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