Allergic to my dog
By ammyers05
@ammyers05 (71)
United States
February 19, 2007 9:15pm CST
I grew up with dogs and never had any problems. I went to college and got away from being around animals. When I graduated I decided to adopt a dog (I love animals!). I love this dog. After about a year and a half of having her (which I had been sick the whole time) I found out I am severely allergic to her. In fact it was a contributing factor to me being on a respirator for a week and in a drug induced coma. I had to give her away and I felt a huge loss on top of the fact I felt like I took her promising to take care of her. I also felt bad because she had been abandoned previously and I didn't want her to feel that way again. I refused to give her to a shelter for fear that she could be uthenized. After searching through friends and others, my aunt decided to take her. I feel I did the best thing that I could, but I still feel bad about the situation. What would any of you do in my situation?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@monalizra (219)
• Romania
20 Feb 07
this really is a drama... i am so sorry for you, and hope you'll find a cure for that allergy
@quatelmon (955)
• United States
20 Feb 07
You did the right thing, I think. It's unfortunate that you developed that allergy. I completely understand, though, as I am now allergic to cats and citrus fruit, and I was never allergic to them before!
There are things you can do to control the dander of a dog, but it sounds like you have such a sever allergy that those things would not have made a difference. I'm glad that your aunt took your pooch. Can you go visit your dog?
I think you did the right thing, and I probably would've done the same (including suffering and being sick for a year!)
@freak369 (5113)
• United States
20 Feb 07
Allergies can happen at any time; I used a certain contact lens solution for years then one day my eyes started to sting and swell shut. I went to the urgent care clinic and they told me I had an allergic reaction to the solution.
What good would you have been to yourself or anyone else if you had kept the dog? I don't mean that to sound cruel but if you were ill, it wouldn't make a difference if you cared for the dog or not. At least you know that the dog is in a good home and you can always call and check up on it.
@nowment (1757)
• United States
20 Feb 07
It was obviously necessary that you give the dog to a good home, which you did. You did the best you could for this dob by making sure the dog had a home instead of going to a shelter.
I don't think you need to feel bad. It is unfortunate that you developed this allergy later in life, it could be breed specific or something specific to this dog. But either way you could not continue to risk your own health.
If something happened to you it is likely that someone would have just put the dog in the shelter.
Finding the dog a good home was the best thing you could do for her.
