When we found our dogs here in Akumal, there were 3 of them. They are from the same litter, 2 males and 1 female. The black male stayed here with a friend and it is a big joy to us that they not only recognize each other when we arrive but they snuggle and play as if they had never been separated. That's Chico who lives here in the middle of the couch, that was last year when we were staying in the RV on the beach. He came over every day and although we tried to make him go home at night, sometimes he didn't.

His owner didn't like it and it caused problems between us as well. At first we tried to send him home after a few hours, even walking him over there. That worked ok but then we were told that she didn't want him around us at all as it was bad for their relationship. I've tried very hard to get my head around this but it doesn't work. I'm just really sad about it and I think it is hateful to deprive all of them of spending time with their siblings. These dogs were homeless for the first 9 months of their lives and they survived together, there is a big bond between them.

I realize it is not up to me and that I have to just accept it, I've done pretty well this year. We haven't gone near her house with our dogs so that Chico won't see them and we haven't gone over there either. That was another part of it, if he saw us he would know they are in town so we couldn't see him either.

Still, I resent it and it has soured the friendship which I also miss and feel bad about. What a rotten situation this has become!

We've been here for over a month now and yesterday, Chico was at the door. The neighbors downstairs said he had been here the morning before but we weren't up and he left. My guess is that he found some of Hombre's pee mail and realized we were back. We were overjoyed to see him, and so were his siblings. We let them play and snuggle on the couch and we hugged him alot but we left the front door open and later on he left to go home. Tonight he came back, he whines at the door and our dogs jump up and run to it wagging their tails. This time he seemed to be settling in on the couch so Mimi walked him home. We had brought him a toy as a xmas present and he had a lot of fun with it here so she took it with her and left it on the doorstep.

This whole thing just makes me want to cry. We are going to be as respectful as we can but I am not willing to not love Chico or to not let him see his family. We'll take him home but I'm not going to dime him off and tell anyone that he comes here. I feel like we're the bad seeds that our friends aren't supposed to hang out with. What a mess.