Before being a mother of two children, I was the proud mother of a pup named Petey.
Petey, was the most abnormal of specimens. He was a basset hound. 
But not like just ANY basset hound. His coat was course and dapple like a Dalmatian. His legs were short and mal formed. His eyes were soulful and the sweet soul sucked on his over sized ears, as if he were a child sucking his thumb. I loved him, immediately, and for eight years he was my child.
That all changed the day I delivered my first child.
I delivered a beautiful 5 pound, 10 ounce baby girl with a set of lungs that only Tommy Mottola could appreciate. She was the light of our lives.
For six weeks, it was a constant power struggle between the two of them. My daughter would cry and Petey would “mark” his territory. Petey would bark and my daughter would cry. At any given time, one of them would be protesting the other’s existence. This situation was not exactly what I had planned. I’d envisioned my loyal basset hound standing guard as my newborn and I peacefully slept. Boy was I wrong.
Now, don’t get me wrong… I tried all the recommended advice…
1. Obedience classes before the baby arrives.
2. Having your dog thoroughly checked out by a veterinarian before your baby comes home. This will give you time to deal with parasites or other problems that could pose a family health risk.
3. Letting your dog get used to the sights, smells and sounds of a baby in advance. Let her sniff baby blankets and lotions, and get her used to the sounds of rattles and other baby toys.
4. Before bringing your baby home from the hospital, send home a blanket or gown that the baby has been wrapped in. This will get your dog used to the baby’s scent.
5. Let Dad or someone else carry the baby inside at the first homecoming, so that Mom is free to greet the dog with open arms. That way the dog will be less jealous of her attentions to the baby.
6. Praise your dog when you’re near the baby so she will think of the child as a positive influence on her life’she gets praised more when the baby is around.
7. Reassure your dog, each time your baby cries, that this is a normal sound, and train her not to bark when she hears it. Use positive reinforcement as much as possible, a treat or a hug for doing the right thing.
8. Spend one-on-one time with your dog while the baby is napping, or during walk time (your baby can ride along in a sling or front-pack).
After all that failed… I had a husband who resented me, a child who 
couldn’t sleep and a dog who was no longer the center of my universe.
As a mother, I made the difficult decision to adopt out my beloved pet.
I’m here to tell you that it’s ok.
As a mom you make tough decisions and heartbreaking sacrifices. Sure, it may start off with a pampered pup you’d grown to love for eight years but it won’t end there. As a mother and wife, we will forever brush aside our sadness, sweep away our resentments and solely thrive on the love of our families. It is what sets us aside from the general population and makes us mothers.
Please share any tough decisions that you have had to make for the greater good of your family.
What a great article. I remember when you were going through all this. I know it was a tough decision but you made the right decision!
Thanks. I still think about that darn dog. One thing I didn’t mention was that he was adopted out to a great family through The SoCal basset hound rescue. They were a no shelter place that only had foster homes for the animals. Really great place!
Dog-gone good article. Great perspective.