[Former Military Chick]

I appreciate the clarification and your time should you stumble across something.

I have no doubt a person can find themselves enjoying the company of a new pet. I mean how can one not, pet's bring such joy to our lives. But, for her to say that her children outweigh on the bonding verses 14 years as the faithful friend of a family just hits me to the core. What nerve.

Reading the comments of both rawhide and Salamander it gives one pause on doing the right thing and how difficult it is but the joy of doing the right thing always trumps the sorrow. I cannot imagine a child having to lose a pet, but, I do think an adult can hurt just as bad when beloved friend is no longer with us.

Rawhide's and Salamander's comment's should be the norm of human spirit. Well, I can hope!

[Salamander]

!

That's *got* to be the first time anyone *ever* referred to me as "norm[al]"....;D

I have a crazy suggestion on how to solve this whole thing simply.

Place her and her family in a room with him and his family and then bring in the dog.

Whomever the dogs goes to, gets him.

[just call me Solomon Mander]...;-D

[pepperhead]

I have no doubt a person can find themselves enjoying the company of a new pet. I mean how can one not, pet's bring such joy to our lives. But, for her to say that her children outweigh on the bonding verses 14 years as the faithful friend of a family just hits me to the core. What nerve.

I have had many pets. The longer you have them the more you become attached to them. This has to be really hurting this man. And pets miss their owners as well as other pets. I couldn't imagine how upset I would be if I would have lost everything like this man and had to sign over my dog. I hope she changes her mind soon and does the right thing. It's clearly up to her what she wants to do. It's not to late for her to swallow her pride and give back the dog. She can still come out of this looking ok if she acts soon. Some people will still hold it against her forever. But if she doesn't do the right thing soon it is going to be real painful for herself and the rest of her family in that community.

[LucyJo]

I cannot imagine a child having to lose a pet, but, I do think an adult can hurt just as bad when beloved friend is no longer with us.

Rawhide's and Salamander's comment's should be the norm of human spirit. Well, I can hope!

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Ditto about "the norm of the human spirit". Those were excellent posts by Salamander and Rawhide.

If this "ethically and morally challenged" woman was capable of it, just look what an important life lesson she could teach her children, and help them to be better persons because of it.

Those kids need to experience empathy, compassion, and the selflessness sometimes required in "doing the right thing". The sad thing is that they apparently don't have parents who are capable of setting that example. The mother is evidently incapable of it, and the father is either just like her, worse, or lacks the "male accoutrements" to stand up to her.