Dogs really are wonderful, and I've always had a dog for many years, rescuing many and paying expensive vet bills to get them healthy, then finding them homes.
I am now dog-free, after the last one which I had had for 8 years, but when I moved to this new residence, she got it into her head to be an escape artist, despite fenced yard. I spent hundreds on escape prevention, including the shock collar/electric fence, but she still braved it and escaped daily. I came home from work each day feeling the anxiety mounting, wondering where i would have to go to rescue her, since I had an ID collar on her and people would call me from far away. Reluctantly, I ran an ad to find her another home, as I wasn't able to deal with it after 1.5 years of this. She is now on a huge farm in the country, and the new owners have assured me she is happy.
I now just have three cats, who are free to go roam in the woods and then come inside as they wish, asking nothing of me except pettings and food. Sometimes they sleep with me if they wish. Cats are so much easier!
Today I babysat with my uncle's Australian Shepherd while they and the company with me took a boat ride. The dog fretted the whole time they were gone, pacing and clawing at the screen doors. Dogs are much more demanding than cats, and actually much more like having a child.
Though I love dogs, I've come to the conclusion I will not have another since they demand so much.
Patty