My neighborhood is pretty quiet so it wouldn't surprise me at all to learn that all of these pretty little houses where you hardly ever see anyone outside are owned by vampires! These few elderly people you see occasionally are just a front...
I'm a bit of both actually. I have a couple of lists of books I want to read and I usually know when the next book by my favorite author is coming out but I'm very moody. I have to be in the mood to read something so I can't be very meticulous or else I won't enjoy the book as much.
You've brought up some excellent points that I and many others have probably never thought of before! Wouldn't the mom want to stay at home with her newborn for a little while at least? Animals are supposed to have stronger maternal instincts than humans. I'd think the dad or the mom or even a human close to the mom (friend, sister, own mom etc.) would stay with the kid/pup.