Should I feel this way already?!

[PANAMA69]

So sorry about Toby . I think is a wonderful idea to get another baby I'm sure it will honor Toby's memory just to know that another one got blessed like he was

[TatumsMom]

I had the same feelings of guilt after the loss of my 15 year old poodle. I was knocked for a loop when we had to put him down - more so than I thought I would be because we had known it would be soon. After about a week, I realized that I was just MEANT to have a lap baby. I felt so guilty even considering it but I talked to a really good friend who told me she had been the same way and had broken down and got a new pup. Never regretted it! Then I had a long talk with my vet who had taken care of Dax (my poodle) his whole life and he told me how good of a mommy I had been to Daxton and that any other pup, whether it was now or later, would be lucky to have me. He said that if thought I wasn't ready, he would say so but he gave his full "blessing". We got Tatum a week later. Although I miss Dax terribly, the love that Tatum has given has helped ease that grief so much.

And I agree with Karen.... your feelings are a tribute to how you feel for your angel baby.... no other dog will replace him in your heart and a true animal lover will not think that is what you are trying to do.

I say go for it!

[SophieRose]

Oh, thank you because it has been 2 mos. since my beloved Sophie 13 yr. female was helped to cross the Rainbow Bridge. She was my constant since she was a puppy, and we grew into our senior years together. There isn't a "patch kit for a broken heart" and very close to adopting a rescue male 9 yr. old Yorkie with health issues. My family feels it is too soon, my vet examined him and felt I should have a healthy pet since Sophie was extremely ill for years.

I have read pet loss articles extensively, write in a daily journal to help work through the grieving process. BUT I am so empty without a little friend to come home to or take for a walk.

My main question is: Will you know without a doubt when it is the right time to have another pet? No hesitation?

Thank you for this website and the honest writing. Warmly, Deborah from Seattle

[Ozzie'sperson]

I think you'll know. Sometimes you don't pick them ... they pick YOU!

I was blessed to have that experience almost 10 years ago. We had to put our first Yorkie down (cancer at 11.5 years). I've had animals all my life (pick a creature and we've probably had one) but NEVER had to put one down. It was the right thing to do of course but that doesn't diminish what you're actually doing. I was devastated.

A week later, we went to "look" at puppies. I was definitely against getting another dog. I picked up one of the puppies and he immediately settled onto my shoulder. He was SO CUTE! I asked him if he was "lovey" to which he answered by licking my face. For the next 90 minutes, I would shift him periodically from one shoulder to the other and he never budged. I kept getting kisses ... and by the time we were ready to leave -- I had my Ozzie. That was in 1997.

[Yorkiedaze]

I think it would be selfish "not" to give another needy baby a home in honor of your beloved Toby. What would be wrong is expecting the new one to be exactly like Toby. They are all different, just like human kids! That's the beauty of it all.

[DianeW]

I Understand What You Are Feeling.

We Lost Our Benjie In July 2005, And We Were Heartbroken........

I Insisted We Were Never Having Another Dog, But My Daughter And Husband Finally Persuaded Me To Change My Mind..... And May 06 We Got Harvey..... He Is Such A Special Little Baby - Just As Benjie Was In His Own Way Too.

You See I Needed To Realise You Can Love Another, Without It Being A Reflection On Your Feelings For Your Other Dog.

Getting Harvey Was The Best Thing I Ever Did - And You Cant Go Through Life Avoiding The Things That Hurt Us - At The Cost Of Giving And Recieving Soooooooooo Much Love.

I Thought It Best To Avoid Getting Another Dog - To Spare Us The Pain Of Losing Another - How Wrong I Was.............