I am in over my head.

[CrazyFowlFreak]

I wish the little turd would keep a belly band on! He manages to wriggle out of them every single time. Ugh

 

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

What types of birds do you have? I have 3 and adore them. I just had to rehome some of our rats as 8 was just over whelming me, it was costing me 10 a week to JUST clean their cages! Their bedding was ridiculously high, and now with only 3 its sooo much easier! We all have to learn our limits and go with them. My sister laughs at how many animals we have as she only has 2 boxers and she said that is her limit!

 

[suburbanminifarm]

Here is a hug
Post pictures on the first page of this thread right under your initial comments, maybe someone will be tempted if they are cute! And also be more specific about your location.

 

[mekasmom]

I would suggest you also see your doctor to have your meds checked. You shouldn't be feeling so overwhelmed so easily. You may have to have them adjusted. If the dogs are upsetting you so easily, then even after you place them, something else will also come to the forefront to upset you. You really do need help in dealing with everyday frustrations, so simple things can't upset you so much. You aren't a bad person, and the dogs really aren't the issue. You just need help dealing with everyday frustrations of life due to a medical issue. Your doctor can help you with this. The dogs are just an issue but not the root of the problem. You need help with the root cause of your frustrations. Nobody should suffer over such small issues looking like big ones.

Placing purebred dogs is very easy. Run a "free to good home" ad, and it will easily place them. As a last resort, don't feel badly about calling a shelter. They will be placed. Purebred dogs, especially cute ones, find homes easily. It is the pits/labs/old black dogs that fare the worst in shelters.

I hope you feel more peaceful soon. (((Hugs)))

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

Quote:
I bet this is true. Could you get help from a vet's office, dog rescue facility, dogsitter, salvation army volunteer, extended family or neighbor while you get yourself cared for? With all your autoimmune inflammation going on, and the southern U.S. seeing a resurgence in flu, you're probably just having symptoms of your illness. Could you see if a little outside help for a month would give you time and space to see your doctors about your symptoms? I just wonder if getting rid of the animals wouldn't be just more stress, not less, then you'd still be feeling quite ill as well as feeling lonely for your animals?

 

[CrazyFowlFreak]

My meds are great, honestly. If they weren't, I wouldn't be able to see what is bothering me. I can finally see where the extra stress is coming from and how I got into this situation. Getting the animals to begin with was a symptom of the Bi Polar disorder, thinking I would be able to handle them all was a symptom, as well. Now that my meds are where I need them to be, I'm seeing areas in my life that need adjusting.

I finally realize that I am not superwoman.

I am not able to do things like everyone, and the things that I can't handle due to the RA and Lupus need to be remedied. It really feels good to admit that I am not a "regular" person, with the same energy levels as other people, I have physical incapabilites and limitations that most don't. I cannot take most pain meds, as I am allergic to all opiate based meds, even the manmade types, so pain is a huge part of my life. I can't even take Ibuprofen anymore due to an ulcer!

I have to laugh or I'd just cry, you know?

Therapy has been a great help. I am (finally!) aware now of what I can and cannot do and am trying to simplify my life. This is one of those steps. As much as I hate to let go of these guys, I have to if I am going to be able to function on the level I can deal with safely, sanely, and with the least amount of pain for me physically and mentally.

Placing purebred dogs is easy if I just give them to whomever replies to an ad. I want these guys to go to good, stable, homes where they'll be loved and appreciated. I've made bad choices in the past, but now I can identify them and just want to be sure I don't make another one when placing them, know what I mean? This isn't a desicion I've made lightly, it has been literally months of hard realities and mistakes I've made and I've been working towards improvement.

I truly appreciate all of your replies, thoughts, prayers, etc. I am working towards a goal for myself. One where I can live peacefully and feel good about myself as a human, wife, mother, dog owner, and chicken freak.

 

[3goodeggs]

Quote:
Don't believe everything you see on TV, dear. None of us are superwoman... there are a few who seem that way, but we don't know the whole story. Sometimes I hit the wall and just puddle in a lump. I like to think that is normal. Then we gather ourselves up and start again. Knowing our limits is a big lesson to learn. What we want to accomplish and what we are physically able to do is never the same.
Those that wear the cape and have the wristbands...also have stunt people.

Hugs to you.

 

[ChickenFanaticAB]

I hope you get to feeling better soon! And definitely be proud of yourself for taking steps to improve the situation, even if it does mean getting rid of your pets. Hopefully with the weather starting to improve you will start feeling better. The best I can offer is to keep doing what you are doing, posting the pups on craigslist (and yes, I would charge a fee. The ones that you listed seem VERY reasonable) and maybe try putting a sign up at the vet's office or feed store. As for the poodle, definitely call the breeder! For what you paid, I'm assuming (hoping) that breeder is a good one, and a good breeder is always willing to take back a dog if it can't be cared for. Obviously, you won't get any money for him, but you will at least know that he is going to a good place, and with him not being neutered, you also know that he won't be bred by someone irresponsible.

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

Quote:
Well OK! I will pray with everyone else here that it all works out. You sound like you really know what you're doing. I wish I could take your poodle for you, but I'm in the same boat, there's no way I could ALSO care for a poodle besides all I'm trying to do. But he's a beautiful dog. I'd love to be the one gooming him, I'd find his soft curls addictive. Prayers coming your way!

 

[Akane]

5 dogs is enough to drive people who don't have health problems over the edge. I wouldn't call that every day stress for most people. A good majority of the population can't handle that many pets and in particular unaltered pets running about the house. When we were fostering 3 dogs it did me in when I was having sleeping difficulties. I have insomnia and the med I'd been taking for years recently quit working so for awhile I couldn't take care of what we had much less anything extra and we only have 2 dogs. 3-4 dogs especially with other pets is my limit when I'm fully rested. Yesterday I had to go hunt down the overly energetic shiba puppy who has learned she can climb a typical 5' fence and tomorrow amongst everything else I have to go run electric wire across the fence to zap her little fuzzy butt when she tries to go eat my chickens. That single puppy was enough for me yesterday. I dragged her back in the house and left her in her crate until my husband got home. She tears the door up wanting out even when she doesn't have to pee and I didn't feel like disciplining and distracting her from it over and over again. Having 5 of those little monsters about would probably have me insane on a good day. We are waiting until she gets older and calms down before getting another puppy that will be a calmer large breed. No more psychotic hyper shibas destroying everything in sight and doing everything imagineable to try to eat my chickens. 1 is plenty.

I definitely would not say someone who is getting stressed over 5 dogs can't handle every day stress or is going to have other problems come up when the dogs are gone. That is a lot more than most handle daily all by itself. There's a reason many towns and individual housing units have a 2-4dog limit excluding litters until a certain age.