Dear slophry:

And don’t forget to extend compassion for yourself.

If the 17 year old is not very attached to the dog, that is one reason to not have the dog and keep the cat. As far as the dog vs cat- obviously it is one OR the other. Are you willing to … get rid of your cat?

In a perfect world there will be a way for you to keep the cat and take in the dog. But it is one OR the other. And then, in a perfect world you will be able to take in all the neglected and abused animals… and children.

Wait, in a perfect world there wouldn’t be neglected and abused animals or people.

In this imperfect world, a world very far from perfection in regard of what is good and just, you have to make choices of This OR That … or neither.

anita