He came to live here when she was injured in January, 2012, and after many months, we realized that if he knocked her down, he could severely injure her; with a brain injury she's weak on the left side like a stroke victim. She had problems with him before her accident, he used to pull away from her on walks, or break out of the yard or push out of windows or the front door and wander, looking for dogs to play with. That's how he ended up in my yard the first time, and several others after that.

He has never broken out of my yard because he's happy with other dogs, and she realizes he's made the switch to living in a pack. We both know that if he left, all three dogs would be miserable, and he'd go back to breaking out again. This dog is incredibly strong. (Yes, I love him, and I'd hate to give him up, I don't deny it.) When she was injured, it happened that we could look after him best, so he didn't have to be put in a kennel for ages, at an expense and detriment to him. Last year about this time we had a tearful conversation, she called to say she knew she couldn't keep him because he was too strong, that she'd have to find him a new home. I told her if she put him anyplace else but here that my girls would be heartbroken. I think also, that she see's leaving him with me as payment for the extraordinary amount of work that went into helping her for the months she was in the hospital and rehab, and since then. It's the only payment that makes sense between us. Money isn't the issue, making the dog happy and leaving him with someone who loves him is. We all fell in love with him, and he with us. It is more expensive to have another big dog here, but it isn't a hardship because he's such a sweetheart, hard-headed as he is. He's knocked me over a couple of times, in ways that Susie couldn't have handled. He's brought new life and vigor to my two pooches. None of them can leave the yard without the other two making a huge fuss about it. They all expect to go everywhere together.

When 12-pound Max arrived as a stray a year ago, he seemed like the perfect answer to her desire to have a dog, a small dog who wouldn't knock her down, who came with all of the affection of a big one. But he has the little dog attitude that she didn't ever figure out how to deal with, and it has gotten worse. Susie is smart, if she will dedicate herself to learning how to be in charge of this little dog, I support her, I think she can do it. But if he continues to be out of control, then we'll look to plan B.

SRS