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Originally Posted by chattiesmom  Mike, I am so very happy for you and Kelly, Eddie and Jillie. It sounds like Lucy is going to be a perfect big sister. Your post has me in tears. Lucy is going to have a very important job this winter - forging a path through the snow for Eddie and Jillie. I can just see Jack and Rusty at the Rainbow Bridge smiling with joy at your decision. |
Aww, thanks. I struggled with making the decision so soon. I didn't want to disrespect Rusty, and I didn't want to rush into something that wasn't a good fit.
But I've learned a lot about myself and dogs over my lifetime. Every time I've lost one, it's been a rough time. But every time I've gotten a new one, it's helped me heal. When I lost my first Lab, Alex, I waited 10 years before getting another dog. There was no replacing him, and I didn't even want to try.
But when we did get another dog, I realized that I'd had this huge hole in my life all that time. I'd denied myself the chance to love, and I'd denied lots of dogs a good home. When I lost Jack, I felt the same devastation, but I knew I couldn't wait as long to try to fill that hole in my heart. We got Jillie, and it eased our grief without diminishing my feelings for Jack.
So here we go again. I've had such good luck with a senior dog in our house that I want to try it again. We have Jillie, the pup; Eddie, the mature adult; and Lucy, the senior citizen. All the ingredients for a balanced pack.