1. Lucy might fill the same hole in your life when you move to your new home, the same hole she filled when you came to Amerika.

2. It depends where you are going in "Southeast Asia." If you will be living in a high-rise in Hong Kong or Singapore, what Cary says may be true. However, if you are going to Indonesia or the Phillipines or Vietnam, or many other places, you probably can rent a little house, and hire a house-person to clean/shop/cook for you, and to take care of Lucy while you are at work. Some places, you may even NEED to hire a guard, anyway. And that person could see to Lucy's needs.

I think he hit the main points.

Firstly - I understand the adoration of ones pet completely, but extra kudos to you for considering her needs and best interests first. A true dog owner.

Some other things:

- What sort of dog is Lucy? Smaller less active dogs are much easier in apartments

- As a earlier poster said where you're going makes a difference, culture, apartment vs house vs yard.

- How long are you staying and where will you go next? Some countries have *very long* (> 6 months) quarantine periods, especially if you've been in Asia or the Americas.

- Lastly, I would leave the dog with your friend even if you want to bring her over. Easier for you to go over first, get settled, find a place, then arrange for her to come over if you think circumstances allow it. Plus you could assess how well she's settled at your friends place.

All the best,

Blackpaw.

Having lived in Southeast Asia, I saw that the way animals are treated is very different than the way they are treated in North America. Dogs and cats are left to their own devices - even those with owners. I saw sick and starving dogs in relatively middle class neighbourhoods, and I saw a man deliberately and slowly run over a dog with his car because it was in his way. Of course, countries differ and you may have a much better experience. It might be a good idea to find out more about your potential living arrangements before you uproot and traumatize your friend. That being said, if Lucy is happy to be with her former owner, don't go borrowing trouble. Thank her for her love and support and let her go.

If by "Southeast Asia" you mean "rural Thailand" then no, you should not take your dog there, or at the very least wait until you get where you're going and can assess the quality of the dog food and veterinary care. I think you may find that dogs in America have it relatively cushy, and traditions in other parts of the world with regard to, say, what one does and how much resources one expends when one's dog comes down with a disease, are markedly different.

I'll put it another way: imagine being in a place where children go without medical care because their parents can't afford $50 treatments. Now imagine your dog suddenly needing a $50 treatment to survive. How are you going to feel spending that kind of money there? Imagine explaining it to some of those parents.

Also, there will be plenty of dogs already there for you to play with. Cats? Not so much.

DO NOT TAKE THE DOG!. She might easily not survive the trip, the quarantine is hell on them and dogs in many Asian countries are considered game and delicious dinners. Make some videos of your dog and leave her in the same place she is familiar with.I'm not joking about the dog being eaten, even in large Asian cities. She could also easily become ill from the strain of traveling, holding in urine or feces and lack of exercise. It's bitterly cold in the cargo area of a plane. If your dog lands and shows any sign of illness, it will be destroyed right there. Please, please do not do this.

Cary's answer is full of nonsense from someone who talks as if he's never owned a dog. Yes, dogs know why you're using that tone of voice.

Talk to your colleagues who have brought their dogs over. The internet is a great thing - you should be able to converse with these people. Find out if they feel like they have enough time to spend with their dogs and if they think it will be a good idea for you and your dog with her issues. Don't take advice from a guy who doesn't own a dog and a bunch of strangers who have never been to Southeast Asia.

I'd advise against it for all sorts of reasons...I live in Thailand and we have seven dogs...we lost one last week to a guy who sells them to dog eaters. Yes, dogs are eaten here. The locals don't but claim that illegal workers from Cambodia savor them...I do know that black dogs are valued for some reason by the dogeaters.

I lived in China for a year and would daily visit the local open air market...half skinned dogs with chunks cut out would hang on hooks while young dogs sat in cages waiting their turn for the butcher's cleaver.

If you value your dog keep your dog at home.

First, I don't think you have anything to feel guilty about if you decide not to bring the dog -- she will be okay either way.

But if you truly want to bring her to Asia, I think you should do it. She will hate the trip. She won't like quarantine. But if she lives to be 15 years old, those 30 days will be 0.5% of her life with you. I don't know much about pet quarantine, but from what I understand, the pets are safe, well fed, and looked after by trained staff -- and you can visit her, maybe every day. Your dog might be unhappy, but it would not be cruelty.

Some people might say it's selfish to put Lucy in a foreign pet hotel for 30 days so that you can have your pet in Asia. But if that's what you want, it's okay to be a tiny bit selfish. It's okay to want your dog to stay with you. You would be putting her through a brief period of discomfort, but you love her, and you will take care of her, and she will adjust.

Some posters have suggested that "South Asia" will not be a safe place for your dog, but we don't know your exact location. Talk to your colleagues who have brought their dogs. If their dogs were safe in quarantine, and if their dogs are safe in the South Asian country, your dog will also be fine.

I'm a grad student too, and I have a pet who has been my best friend through the awful times. If I moved to another country, I would bring her because I love her and I need her. You will be moving across the globe by yourself... I think you will need your dog. And you can bring her. Find out about quarantine, and find out how your colleague's dogs are doing. If their dogs are okay, yours will be too, and you have my permission to take her with you. You don't know me or anything, but I love my animal more than life itself, and I say it's okay.