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I want to adopt a puppy
F/17
A girl I used to be good friends with is giving puppies away in maybe six or so weeks- they're just a couple weeks old right now. And I want one so badly! They're Pitbull/Rottweiler mixes, two of my favorite breeds of all time. I've lived with dogs my whole life and when I move out next year, I want to be able to have a dog with me.
I understand that they're a lot of responsibility and it takes money and work. It's why I'm trying to find a job to afford the puppy I want, but my parents are pretty much set on the fact that I can't have one! I'm seventeen and I'm know what it takes to care for a dog, I've done a lot of research and I currently have two other dogs (A male and a female, both mixed breeds), so I know what's required to take care of one! Basically, what I'm asking is there anyway I can convince my parents I'm responsible? I'm dead set on adopting this puppy, because my town isn't known for taking care of dogs very well and I'm terrified that she might end up giving the puppy to someone who fakes a smile and I just love dogs so much.
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Want to answer more questions in the Domesticity category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Pets?
It's a really bad idea to get a pet, when you are going into a major transition period in your life.
I'm not saying you are wrong to want a puppy, or that you absolutely can't have one, but you need to recognize that your life is going to be completely different than it is today in the next 3-4 years. Your life could change, completely, several times within the next few years.
You are *looking* for a job. You are *planning* on moving out. Are probably graduating from high school and either transitioning into a work life, or into higher education.
That's not a stable environment to bring an animal who lives 10+ years into. That's not a stable home situation, or money situation, or lifestyle situation. You might WANT a life where a dog is a possibility, but you don't know that your life will work out that way right now.
So there are two things here:
First, your parents are completely within their rights not to allow you to have a dog in their home. (There are already two dogs there. They might just really not want another.)
Second, you can't convince your parents you are responsible enough for a pet, 'cause objectively speaking, you haven't had a chance to be an adult on your own yet, go through those major transitions, and supply any evidence that you can manage your independent life with a dog. It's fair for your parents not to want to put the added pressure of a dog on you while you make these major changes.
You need to trust your friend not to be idiot and do a bit of reference checking when she gives puppies away - the fear that a puppy might end up in a bad home isn't a factor in whether or not you can manage a dog right now. That's life, and it's sucks, but you adopting a dog doesn't actually change it.
Frankly, there will always be dogs who need rescuing and puppies who need a loving home. The dog who gets you as it's owner sounds like it will be a very lucky pup, but it's far, far more likely to be a lucky pup if you wait until you have some reasonable certainty that you have the home, work and lifestyle that will enable to you support and care for a dog for it's whole life.
Live on your own for a year, or at least six months, and then decide if you can share your life with a dog. Nothing would be more heartbreaking than getting a puppy and realizing a year from now that you can't.
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