I am so sorry for your loss. The doggie love of my life was my beloved golden retriever who died at 10 from cancer. It tore my heart out and the grief was a bad as if he were a human member of the family. We were devastated at his passing. I wanted another dog right away. But my husband and two sons, who were teens at the time, said "how could you do that to Indy?" So I waited. We also had an elderly cat who became ill and passed 9 months later and I decided to devote my time to her. So after one year, I got Columbo. The part I wasn't expecting is that although the little fart loves me, he ADORES my husband. It's his lap he's on all the time when he's here, but I have to hold him to get him to stay on mine. Indy was all about pleasing me, but Columbo is all about pleasing himself. The connection between Columbo and I is different than Indy and I. I used to think that when I lose Columbo, it won't hurt as bad because of this. But Columbo is 9 now and gets more loving as he gets older. I look at him sometimes and wonder when he'll be taken from us and I know it will be very difficult. Our sons are out of the house now, so Columbo is our spoiled baby. I don't think there is one answer on how long to wait. You'll know when the time is right for you. |