Hi Barbara
You are a really wonderful person to be helping out these Westie rescues. I think Charlie is working through you! Maybe Belle will like the next one you foster so much that you'll get to keep him or her permanently. I'm trying to keep my head above water here and not dwell on my sadness with Sammy so much. We don't have a local Westie rescue chapter that I know of -- I'll have to check it out to make sure -- but that would be a good thing to do. I've been helping out our local humane society as much as possible -- I know that Sammy would want me to do that. One of the Westie breeders that I've been in contact with let me know that she had 3 females born about 4 days ago. It's tempting to tell her that we want one -- but I have so many things to work through yet about a new puppy. Like - what do I feed it -- which vaccines do they really need ( wow - from the books I've been reading - it's those annual vaccines that cause so many of the illnesses and cancers in our animals). I have to come to some decisions on this so I can relax and enjoy a new puppy when we finally do get one.

Take care.
Sharon

Well, if the pups are 4 days old, they won't be able to leave their mother for another 7 1/2 weeks and you can get a lot of reading done in that time! Actually, I just spoke to the Rescue Coordinator and she told me they have 3 little female puppies whose mother was rescued from a puppy mill. They're 11 weeks old now but they're only allowing 'veteran' Westie owners to adopt them. Apparently she thinks I'm a veteran (I did raise Charlie from puppyhood) because she suggested I drive down to Colorado Springs this week (I live in the Denver area) and take a look at them. I'm going on Thursday, with Belle, to see them and also to see how Belle responds. A pup might just drive her up a wall, but she's very good with human babies, so maybe she'll take to canine babies. I suppose it would be a way of killing two birds with one stone. Part of me wants to start over with a puppy, but another part really wants to help a Rescue, so this might be the best of both worlds. Also, a female would be different enough that I might not make comparisons to Charlie. I'm sure the pups are adorable. All puppies are cute, but Westie puppies are so cute they ought to be outlawed. Anyway, hopefully the nice weather will hold out so I can make the drive. Monument Pass can get ugly when it snows and we always get snow right before Easter. It's like a tradition or something. A stupid tradition, but a tradition nevertheless.

You might want to go see the pups that were just born. I saw Charlie for the first time when he was only 3 days old. They're adorable even at that age, like little white rats, only cuter. They make peeping sounds, like baby chicks, and their little ears are the size of commas. You may not be able to handle them (a responsible breeder isn't supposed to let you touch such young puppies, though the breeder I got Charlie from did) but you might be able to look at them and see how you feel. Couldn't hurt. In fact, it might help you come to a decision about whether or not you're ready. When I first saw Charlie, I was still getting over the loss of an older dog three months earlier. I wasn't sure I was ready then either, but one look at those little white rats and I was gone. I couldn't wait for the next 8 weeks to pass. and it actually felt kind of nice to have something to look forward to. Try it and see!

Barbara

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Belle will take to one of these babies -- this might just be what both of you need! I wish I could go to see those new pups, but the breeder is about 900 miles away and that's just too far to go for me right now. I've had a couple of good days now -- I'm getting my things ready to make my memory photo album and am thinking this is going to be a healing process for me as well. Have a wonderful day and let me know what Belle thinks of the puppies.
Sharon

900 miles is indeed a long way. I'm glad to hear you've had a couple of good days, though. I'm sure the memory album will be therapeutic. I put together a DVD of Charlie's photos with Phil Collins' "You'll Be in My Heart" playing in the background, and I found it very therapeutic. It reminded me what a happy life he had and how much joy he brought, not just to me, but so many others as well. I hope putting together all Sammy's photos does the same for you, Sharon. I'll let you know how it goes with the puppies tomorrow (I might even take a few photos, if I get the chance). Take care!

Barbara

Good luck with your trip tomorrow. Tell Belle to pick out "the very best one". Send me a picture if you get the chance to take one.
I'll be thinking of you and Belle.
Sharon