Kitty I could write a book on being codependent with my Duffy. He was disagnosed with inoperable liver shunts when he was a puppy and given a year or two to live. He lived 13years and is still alive in my heart. Duffy was tiny (3-4lbs) and when I received the diagnosis I was devastated and consequently carried him around, his feet never hit the floor. His nickname was Velcro since he was constantly stuck to me.
Are you getting the picture?
Anyway my husband loves to travel but I couldn't leave Duffy. Picture me in a casino in Las Vegas with Duffy in his travel bag playing the slots. He was with us at Circus de Sole until he began to bark at the aerialists. Eventially (after my husband read me the riot act) I did find an elderly lady who took Duffy into her home; I would call her daily from Europe, I even called from the middle of the Atlantic while crossing on a ship (satillite calls and very expensive) for reports and she always said the same thing, "he's fine, don't worry" but of course I did worry. What can I say, it was my own separation anxiety, he always bounced back when I returned home.
We are now looking at rescues and starting a fund for phychiatric help when the time comes.lol