(((hugs)))
Kudos on gaining a really good awareness and trusting your instincts.
Going "no contact" with emotional abusers has been the quickest route I've found in healing due to:
1. Re-focusing on the good things I'm walking towards. It's a much quicker journey when I keep moving forward. One step at a time.
2. Truth is found in many places. When I'm in need of more good, honest people in my life, God brings me opportunities to see what I don't want and turn towards what I do want.
3. Faith. No contact has strengthened my faith in myself like nothing else has ever done. There's a magic in doing something radically different!
4. Setting my direction. As I set my direction towards healthy living, this opens up a broad new path in front of me. My internal compass has re-set to this also.
Do you enjoy being there and dog sitting? Bringing the dogs to a reputable kennel is an option.