I need help.

You have no idea how much I need help. Like serious help. Emily has a problem.

I have fallen in love.

With a dog.

THIS dog:

Her name is Lulu. This was taken when she was around 8 weeks old. I think she should be around 12 weeks now. She is a dauchsund mix. She is a triplet and living with her mommy, sister and brother at a rescue in Isleton.

I am dying.

I have wanted a dog my whole life. Since I was 5. Every year, Christmas & birthdays, I have listed #1 on my list, "Basset Hound Puppy." After many years, I had to alter this to a "Real Basset Hound Puppy," after receiving one too many stuffed animals and resin dog shaped music boxes.

I can't really remember why it is I haven't gotten a dog as an adult. I mean, I got my cats, right? What's the big deal about getting a dog? Especially this dog; it will be a small dog.

The only "thing" that has held me back from getting a dog is the fact I don't live in a house. I rent a small condo: 536 square feet. I have always had the mentality stuck in my head that You can't have a dog unless you have a house. That's the rule.

Also, my house is pretty cramped. Me and the two cats don't have a ton of space. Toulouse would love to have a dog. When he was small, my friend would bring her chiahuahua to come over and play with him and they would run back and forth all over the house for hours. We took them on walks around PetSmart together. I fondly remember him leaning and rubbing into her, giving her lovies while we walked around the store. Cutest thing ever.

Amelia was a pound-kitty, and I know from living with my Dad and his dog Clarence- a beagle/jack russel mix that she can tolerate dogs. She mostly ignored him, although I do have some great blackmail-worth photos of her kneading his back on the couch one day. BUSTED! When my friend's dog would come over, she would "supervise" the activity from the safety of the coffeetable, or under the piano bench.

I am a little scared to get a puppy. I always kinda thought I'd start out with an adult dog. They need to be saved from the pound. People don't go for adults. They are frequently better behaved and even trained, which is a huge advantage over a puppy. But I totally fell in love with Lulu. Ahhh, Lulu... <3

Some concerns:

I've never had to potty train an animal before. Cats are born trained. Is it going to destroy my carpets?

What if it chews or is otherwise destructive?

How much more fur can I cram into this house? I'm already a bad housekeeper.

If I adopted Lulu, she would go everywhere with me. I would take her to the kid's games, the parks, when I went to the store, everywhere! Would that be fair to my kitties?

Would my kitties be unhappy with a dog here?

Would it be too crowded?

Ok, the urgency of adopting her is subsding slightly. Help remind of some more reasons why I can't have a dog... Or if you think there is no reason why I can't have a doggie, say that too!!!!