I do not mean to hurt your feelings, MariaM. I realize that you are a child, living with your parents still, and have little right to make decisions.

However, I also feel compelled to voice my opinion here.

Those pictures just broke my heart. While it is obvious MariaM loves this puppy, and is trying to make the best of this situation .... I can honestly think of few things that look more sad tto me than a little furry puppy chained up outside.

I believe that very, very few dogs are truly happy living outside, while their family lives inside, away from them. I believe that practically no dogs are happy living their lives chained up. I can't imagine living for fifteen-plus years tied up to a post or a tree.

This is a very cute furry little puppy right now. It is at its most adoptable period in life. Later, when it is a gangly teenager, with no house-manners whatsoever, it's chances of getting adopted will be MUCH lower. MariaM, if you think your parents are not going to want to keep this dog, NOW is the time to turn it over to a no-kill shelter. Do not wait until its behavior deteriorates, and it enters that not-so-cute stage. Let it find a good home NOW, while it still has a chance to.