We have a new care provider for our autistic son Kirk. For some reason she is terrified of our dog Shakespeare and is quitting unless we get rid of the dog. Shakespeare is a large 88 pound mixed breed brindle. Shakespeare is also a baby and completely harmless. Our previous care provider loved him as did her two children. The new provider said that Shakespeare growled at her but our boarder, Michelle, said that Skakespeare had s sneaker in his mouth and was trying to get Chevelle (yes that’s her name) to play. Apparently this woman is afraid of dogs in general and not just Shakespeare. So now Teresa wants me to get rid of Shakespeare. It is not just this incident, Shakespeare does chew up a lot of things (including doors and my books and electronic gadgets) and sheds a lot. But I love him very much and do not want to have to take him back to Heritage Animal Shelter in Williamsburg where I had rescued him. So I am in a quandry as to what to do. A lot of things come to mind.

I actually took Shakespeare to Heritage and was ready to surrender him when they told me they could not guarantee that he would not be euthanized. So I brought him back home with me. I can try to keep him outside all the time, I have a large fenced in back yard and a large dog house, but he is an inside dog. He will go out for a while, but he always wants to come back in. And he will litterally chew through a door to get back in. Or he can hit the door and force it open. I think in the end I will have to take him back to Heritage for surrender. They told me he has an excellent chance of being adopted as he is only two years old. But it is going to break my heart to have to do it. I have always had a dog, they are an essential part of my life and my well being. Having lost my beloved Ginger just slightly over a year ago will make it that much harder to do. Why do things have to turn out like this? More to follow tomorrow.