I'm sorry that you have to be torn like that. It sounds like you are working towards a resolution, which is good to hear. If I was in your area, I'd take Max in a heartbeat! I know what it feels like to be torn like that; there has been a few times that my dogs have destroyed things around the house so badly that my husband wanted me to get rid of them. I stood my ground because my dogs are my children. Over time, my husband has finally grown to love them too.