For what it's worth, my article was a rant--a way to vent frustration in dealing with an immature animal. I could almost as easily have written about my daughter, except it would probably have gotten a much more critical look, and I find it much harder to focus on just her faults (because, she's, well, my daughter). I probably will write one at some point about my coworkers, bosses, neighbors, or conservatives, since they all fall into that immature animal category as well. But that doesn't mean I’d quit my job, or sell my house and move, or relocate to a Blue state (well, maybe relocate to a Blue state).
I would no more abandon an animal I'd taken in than I would my daughter; and in case it's not clear, that means I wouldn't abandon either. I've had, loved, and been loved by pets my entire life (just never had a puppy before; kittens galore, just no puppies, or inside dogs for that matter). While the types and circumstances have changed from time to time, I always have and always will love my pets. Only once have I had an animal I could not adjust to or provide for (a kitten that had serious medical issues that I could not financially afford to have addressed), and in that case I found a loving, resource-and-education-rich home for it rather than simply abandon it. And my wife has had inside dogs her whole life (until she met and moved in with me, unless you’d consider me an “inside dog”), and is pretty knowledgeable about dogs in general.
As for Bella, it's not all bad. But the article was "why they suck", not a comparative monologue of their good and bad qualities. And it was written with a mind towards entertainment value in addition to the need to vent a little (or a lot). The situation's not 100% negative now; and I'm sure as Bella gets older, my wife and I adjust more and more to her and her needs, she gets some professional training (and WE get some professional training), my daughter gets older, etc, all or at least most of the points I made in my article will no longer apply. But right now, it's frustrating.
What I find difficult is taking advice from someone who's first line of their first response to me calls me an idiot (and then repeats that sentiment again and again), and then proceeds to accuse me of being an eventual abuser/abandoner with no other info about me besides one much-needed (for me at least) and not 100% serious rant, and tries to pick apart line-by-line everything I say thereafter. I understand a love for animals, even if mine isn't quite so overwhelming that I can't feel and express frustration at times. But it's difficult not to get offended and defensive when being verbally (textually) attacked by someone, especially when they think they know more than they do.
I'm far past wanting or needing lectures from people. I'll accept advice, especially when I've asked for it, but only when it's given in the form of advice and not ridicule or chest-thumping. I’m simply not going to sift through a tantrum to pick out the useful bits.
