Wild Coyote, I really wish you had some animal friend. It's hard to always know what we are capable of handling at certain times. I don't know if your area has such a place, but my area has a wonderful animal shelter that is a no-kill shelter. They have numerous volunteers that come and help with the animals, which of course includes walking the dogs. I know that many of the volunteers end up adopting a pet.

I can certainly understand the concern about a white carpet. Frankly, a white carpet would be in extreme danger even with my presence. I'm so clumsy and dropping things all of the time! Perhaps if/when you move you can revisit the idea of a new animal companion. There are so many animals that just plain need a home and someone to love them. To many animals, a depressed owner that loves them and feeds them and does their best, is better than no owner at all. Or being put down. Of course we never want there to be any form of neglect (or of course worse), but as I wrote, to be loved goes a long way, even with basic care. I don't know. That's just my view on things. I could say that my husband should have left me a long time ago, but he wouldn't think that in a million years. I couldn't leave him, either, if he was in a long-term distress.