Too Soon?

I lost Digweed just a few weeks ago and I feel as if I need a new dog to help heal my heart. Is it too soon? I feel bad for my other dog because her best
friend is gone and she has no one to play with.

I belong to a group here in Houston that helps bereaved parents. It's amazing that the grief process
is the same whether you lose a child, a pet, or some other loved one. Anyways...we always tell the parents not to get pregnant again too soon because
you have to go througih the whole grieving process first. A new child won't replace the one who died.

Well, I KNOW I can't replace Digweed, but can't I get another dog to help me through and fill a little of this giant hole in my heart? Sorry to compare losing
pets to losing kids, but I've lost both and it's hard either way. I also know you guys love your pets just like children so I'm sure you can relate.

So, I guess I just wanted some input from everyone. How long did you wait or how long are you planning on waiting to get a new pet? Did you get the same breed or something totally different? I found a dog at a shelter who is the same mix as Diggers, but she's a different color and looks a little different.

I hope I'm making sense. Thanks!

Jaimie

I Never Got To Say Goodbye...

We lost our dog Wed. night unexpectedly. She has had an ongoing battle with Addison's disease, but it's been under control for at least a year. She was showing no signs of any crisis and ate fine that day. She even played for most of the day. At around 9:30 that night she looked a little confused when I called her...almost like she didn't know who was calling her. At 10:30 my husband heard something and saw Diggers convulsing and then she fell over and became unresponsive. I rushed her to the emergency vet but she had already died in my arms by the time we got her there. She went so fast. I talked to my vet and he said that she may have had a blood clot that caused a stroke or hear attack.

She was only 3 years old. She was a great dog and I can't get over this happening. I never got to say goodbye to her. I can't stop feeling guilty. I feel bad because she had really wanted to go with us for a ride and we left the dogs here instead. I feel bad because for the past year she hasdn't gotten the attention she wanted because we had a new baby who is extremely needy. We did get her a friend to play with and for the past two years they have been best friends. I'm not sure how my other dog is going to take this. I think she thinks she is coming back. I am really, really angry right now. I am having a hard time functioning. I know I need to snap out of this for my family's sake but it feels like I have lost another child.

How long am I going to feel like this? What can I do in the meantime to help me through?

Jaimie, Sasha, and angel Digweed