Lito has pretty severe skin allergies that his original owners apparently did nothing to treat. He itches constantly, even waking us up sometimes at night with his scratching. He would need ongoing medication, expensive non-allergenic food, and regular vet visits to keep his allergies in check. We were more than willing to take this on for such a great and deserving dog.
But then a family emergency came up which put an extra strain on our finances. Over the next couple of weeks, it was becoming more and more uncertain whether we could take on the additional responsibility of Lito's medical needs. We agonized for about 2 weeks, not wanting to send him back - not only for his sake, but also for ours. We had grown quite attached to him by this time.
Finally my wife and I made what was probably the most difficult decision we've made as a couple. We took Lito back on Saturday and returned him to the rescue group. It was absolutely heartbreaking. His foster mom at Lab Rescuers was happy to see him and totally understanding of our situation. She assured us she wouldn't let him go to just anyone, but she'd find him a home as good as ours. I hope so.
That night even Bruno seemed pretty bummed that his foster brother was gone. The two dogs are both so mellow that they didn't really interact a lot, so you couldn't exactly call them best friends. But maybe they had started to form a bond in the short time they spent together. I remember they seemed to have a particularly good time the night before Lito's return, playing fetch together. It was a bittersweet moment, seeing them so happy, yet knowing the decision we'd made.
Goodbye, Lito. We're happy to have known you for those 4 weeks, and we hope you find the perfect permanent family for the rest of your life. We all miss you (even the cats).
