Multiple Dog Syndrome (MDS)
May 23rd, 2007Oh…My…God! You have 7 dogs!!! I hear that all the time. I know, it’s crazy. Thank goodness I have a husband who understands me…who gets that I just absolutely love dogs. Especially those dogs who need a second (or third or fourth or last) chance. Yes, I admit it…I have MDS. I never wanted 7 dogs, I only wanted 2…but what do you do when one presents himself/herself to you? Well, sometimes you take them in and sometimes you have to give someone else a turn to “stand up” and do the “right thing”. I had to realize that I must look at my/our resources for paying for all of the things a pooch needs, ie: health care, dental, vaccinations, blood work, heartworm preventative, parasite preventative, spay or neutering, food, vitamins and/or medications, grooming, boarding…not to mention your time, love, attention, exercise, stimulation (and poop patrol). There’s a fine line between becoming a “hoarder” and being afflicted with MDS. I quickly (or not too quickly) learned that love alone is not enough to sustain life. I have to assess and evaluate that for myself all of the time. 7 is my limit. I hope that for those of you who can welcome another furry family member into your home…that you do so, but please do alot of “soul-searching” first…know your limit for the sake of the dog. Once you’ve decided that you can adopt another pooch, I hope that you will go to a local shelter, rescue league, petfinder.com, or consult with a veterinarian and their staff to find a dog in need. So whether you are lucky enough to have 1 dog or 1+ dogs…welcome to the club…the dog lover’s club. It’s a lifetime membership of pure joy! Love, Norma
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