Puppy Fever

It's official:  I have puppy fever.

Much to the Hub's chagrin, it is now full-blown.  His aunt and uncle and their two girls recently got a puppy; then his cousin (my friend) Taylor got one.  Granted, both of their family situations are different than ours, but still.  The youngest of my kids (the main herd) is going to be 4 this year, and I just have this bleeding-hearted desire for a new baby in my life.

A friend of mine told me that my yearning for a puppy is due to a subconcious desire for a human child; because I'm now spayed,  she said the realization of my sterility is coming to a head with this desire for a canine child.  

Another friend mentioned that it could be that all of my kids are more independent in their older years, and that I need something to nurture.

Another person just flat-out told me I was crazy, and that the last thing I really want is a puppy (um, housebreaking in January? not fun).

We've thinned the other herd substantially since I last listed them all.  We're not breeding rats anymore, and the two females remaining are going to live with a friend of mine at work.  Many of the tarantulas had grown full-size, which is the optimum time to sell them as you can make top-dollar on an adult (as opposed to making $15 on a spiderling),  so they found new homes via the last Kansas City Reptile Show.  The Hub is thinking of selling the rainbow boa instead of purchasing a male or borrowing a male for stud;  the fact that they have live birth and we're still 2 years from breeding her are main factors in that matter.  The female bearded dragon, who is only a few months away from being able to be bred, is also on the market; she's beautiful, but she's a little shithead, and the expense and effort of raising a clutch of beardies far outweigh the experience, according to most breeders.  All of these issues are under review, but not likely to change.

So, in reality, another dog wouldn't be thatmuch trouble, in my opinion.  We have 3 dogs and 2 cats as the main herd, and the secondary herd is comprised of 6 snakes (not including Rita, the boa), 1 millipede, 1 frog, 1 turtle (that I'm holding for a friend until she can get a set-up for him), and 2 lizards.  All of these, with the exception of the frog and the turtle, live in one room in the house, and take up only a small amount of time.  The frog and the turtle are in a terrarium in the living room, and they're really no trouble.  So, I say, why not a new baby?

I need something to need me.  I want something to love me and look at me like it's mommy; something that is going to depend on me to nurture it and care for it.  My other kids are like that to an extent, but not so much anymore.  The dogs are very independent, and only want my attention and love when it works into their agendas.  Peter the cat is always loving and allows me to spoil the crap out of him, but I somehow feel the need for more.  But, as the Hub asks (quite often), "When is it ever going to be enough?"

 I just know that the Hub isn't going to give in.  Maybe he'll get me a Furby instead?