Okay, I Need Some Advice...., Our Beloved Ernestine.... Options

[Guest_Muffins_*]

Hi Everyone:
Call me crazy/nuts, I don't know.
Last night I was actually looking in the computer at "no-kill" shelters, and looking at pictures of all kinds of "furbabies" that are looking for a home and to be loved.
Of course, before this, Ben & I were talking and (we were both "coherant"; ?spelling).
We, like everyone in here: Love all animals, have had much loved "fur-babies" all of our lives. We've loved, we've lost, but, Oh, how much fuller our hearts are for having loved our babies that have gone over the bridge to forever.

I was Ernestine's mom since she was six weeks old, in 1984; we had to put her and sick & hurting little body, to sleep on Saturday, February 7, 2004 at noon. My heart has tripled in size because of my girl... She loved me no matter what. And, I & Ben, always loved her & we always will. She takes up a huge part of our hearts.

I'm probably going to start rambling, and not sure if this will make sense TO ANYONE.......... Here goes....

I put in an e-mail application at this "no-kill" shelter, and I got an e-mail message, plus a phone call. They needed me to call my vet so they could "get a reference on us". That's fine, and very understandable.
I heard the call as I was waking up, and thought to myself, "Hmmm, what did I do????"
And then I started "name calling" myself in my head...... "You must be a non-caring, heartless, expletive(s), human being...." Of course, last night as Ben & I were talking, I felt happy & calm..
I said, "No disrespect at all to our beloved baby-girl ErnieBird, but, she made my heart so big..... I would really love to adopt a couple (so they can be playmates; I should've done that for my girl at when she was 6 weeks old), of babies, I feel good about it" And, again, "sincerely, there is "NO DISRESPECT" to my little girl Ernestine, at all"...

For, my little girl "lives in my heart", she is with me... She knows that we did all we could (medically) for her and she was so sick. I have every comfort in knowing that she is happy, healthy & running around playing... She's young again, and has no pain....

When I was looking through these shelters, dear God, there are sooooooooo many little ones looking for a home, looking to be loved.... It is very sad to see them all.
The "four" I looked at (two different shelters); Two sisters, "Margo & Rita", and the others were brother & sister (Pebbles & BamBam).

I am not a heartless human being, and neither is Ben.... Did "something" just "come over us" for our 2 hour talk last night, or, was it something else???

We "do not feel the need to have a couple of fur-babies", because really, don't our little ones OWN US????
But, we have a lot of love to give - our hearts are big.... Animal friends are the best; so trusting, non-judgemental, happy just to be petted & feel a little love in their hearts... They love their human family; after all, what's better than a full tummy, to be petted & brushed & to feel a kiss on the top of their head....etc., etc., etc....

We're not bad people at all, so I hope all of you won't think the things I said to myself in my head when that call came in......
We will always, always & forever love our girl Ernestine.... For, she really does live in our hearts and in our heads..
What do you think??? Have I gone crazy, or, is this "normal" for us??

Thank you so much for listening.....
Love, Denise & Ben

[MAXIESMOMMY]

I had gotton a little bichon frise named Rosie the day my husband picked up Maxie's ashes. I think I didn't want to deal with it all. Anyway......Rosie is a sweet sweet very lively puppy. I don't think I was ready for a "puppy". I guess still being down about Max, I really was looking for something to hold and cuddle and a puppy is not one to cuddle! She wanted to play and play. So in my experience, I think I am ready to give love to another dog but I think a more mellow one that is more the temperment that my Max was.
Rosie now lives with her littermate at my friends house. She is so very happy. She runs and plays and has a big back yard and my friend doesn't work all day. Her name is Katie now and I still go to visit her. So, I'm not sure if I wasn't ready for another dog, or if it was just the time and energy it takes for a puppy that I wasn't ready for. Also, a week after I got her, my husband went into the hospital for a week and I was very stressed out about going to the hospital and worrying about him and taking care of Katie. When I got Katie, my friend got her sister and told me that if it didn't work out, she would take Katie also. I was very undecided and unsure but I gave it a try because I knew she would be well taken care of if it didn't work out. I think I had too many doubts at the time and I never would have taken her if I had to give her to a stranger. I think in my heart, I knew it wasn't the right time, but I was so searching for something to help my broken heart.
This is my own personal experience and everyone is different. I would try again maybe in the spring with an older dog. My husband so wants another pal to sit on his lap and watch tv at night. I know in your heart you will make the right decision.