Oh my goodness, I just did it!

[catnapper]

Oh boy... when it rains it pours. I got an urgent email from someone in the cat rescue today. A friend of theirs is going through a divorce and needs to find a home for her lab mix dog. She sounds just like Nicki at 3 years old. A bit more energetic than I wanted around Nicki, but at the same time she could be what Nicki needs to be more spritely.

Here's the two pups:

Millie, who's 6.


Brooke, who is 3 - the electric collar would go bye-bye in a heart beat

[Taz_Zoee]

Ahh, they are both beautiful pups. Are you going to meet both of them to see how they are so you can decide which would be a better fit for your household?
That would be a tough decision for me based on the photos. I would probably lean more toward Millie though, just based on looks of course. (I like her spots)
Or are you considering taking them both? (just kidding....kinda)
I know you will make the right decision with Nikki in mind.
Good luck to you in whatever you decide.....and I can't wait to see pics of the newbie.

[lizbud]

I have seen this a few times on pettalk where people start looking around when a dog gets old, I don't mean to judge but it just seems kind of callous. Maybe I have a hard time relating, casey is my heart dog and she will be eight this year and that alone stresses me out, I can't imagine life without her and if her time was near she would be my only focus.

Me too but, not everybody feels that way. What ever a person does
to compensate for the loss of a friend & helps them cope is ok.


What bothered me about the original post was being left to think of a
dog in constant pain & nothing can be done to help her. Why let her
suffer though that?

[IRescue452]

There's nothing wrong with opening your heart to a new dog right away. I like the idea of my older dog meeting the new one before she dies. It doesn't mean you love Nicki less. I really wish you'd put her to sleep though, but that is my position on keeping animals in pain alive. I know its hard. And why not get both Millie and Brooke?

[Alysser]

They are both so adorable!! I'd say go with what your heart is saying. I really hope Brooke finds a home soon. Poor girl.

[jennielynn1970]

Whomever you choose, let's arrange a play date!!! I think Woody would love to meet Nicki and either of the other dogs you choose.

[Sevaede]

Millie is an English Springer Spaniel? She is such a cutie! Kind of reminds me of a Clumber, as well. Brooke is an absolute doll! Very cute. I hope you find the exact right pupper for you at the exact right time for you.

[K9karen]

You need to do what your heart tells you. Period.

Brooke looks like my RB Cody, a yellow lab mix! But Millie is adorable too! Hmmmm. hard decision..2 different, awesome dogs!

Thank you for taking such loving, gentle care of Nicki. I know it's terribly difficult.

[Cookiebaker]

Wow, I found that some of the criticisms here are pretty harsh. I think to each individual, when and how and where to get a new pup is intensely personal. And certainly I don't think that Catnapper is viewing a new pup as a "replacement"....

Kim, here's a {{hug}} and I am sure that the right pup will find its way into your heart at just the right time. And here's to Nicki, and the wonderful life that she has and all the fun times you have had together.

[Husky_mom]

Don´t feel guilty Kim... as Cookiebaker said... it´s up to an individual when and how to add a new member.... and I soooo understand it

In my case I would be devastated if I lost a dog and had no other, not to replace as no dog will ever replace another, but to help me mourn ths lost one.. make me shift my attention into giving love into that other one, and not let myself depress more.... a seond dog will be able to help ease the situation but not forget it and never ever will he replace your lost dog´s place in your heart.... and this second dog would not be just "used"...

when loosing a dog it´s hard itself but I feel personally it´s more painful if you have no one else there to cheer you up as another dog would.... I mean there´s family and kids.... but it´s not the same.... I love my kid very much but he just wouldn´t understand how I felt... and hubby, parents, bro and sis....well.... they would just not get it at all... and a dog is always the best listener and the best furry shoulder to lean on....and cry on....

I so hope Nikki will be fine for the time she has left...and if adding a second dog bothers her more than brighten her up I´m sure there´s always a way of keepeing them separated and still give both of them quality time... the newcomer so he gets adjusted and bonded, and Nikki so she has her lasting moments full of love as she always has...

in Kim´s case, if she lost a cat,(not saying it won´t hurt like hell, but) she has other cats to ease the pain... and if she lost her only dog..... there´s no other dog around....

and it´s not like finding a replacement once the dog is gone, but we know our dogs and know almost when it´s their time.... some may wonder why is Nikki allowed to suffer if no meds are making her better??.... well let me tell you we as humans are selfish and want to try the impossible to keep our pets as long as we can...it´s hard on it´s own to loose them on their terms, but I think it´s harder to loose them on our terms (PTS)... but if needed we will always make the right decision but not the easiest one...

Kim: whichever pup you choose they are lovely.....but I´m leaning also to Millie.... those spots are way too cute!!....

[carole]

Kim whatever choices you make will be the right ones, you and you alone know what is best for your dog, and we all know you as a very responsible pet owner,personally i think she is in very good hands, and very lucky to have such a good mom,if you need to ease her pain,by letting her go ,then you will know when to do just that.

Everyone is different and deals with such things in their own way, if thinking about getting a new pup takes your mind off what is happening with your dog, then it is all good.

It will all work out in the end, and bless you for taking such good care of your dog,here's hoping she is not going to suffer much longer.

[Suki Wingy]

I have seen this a few times on pettalk where people start looking around when a dog gets old, I don't mean to judge but it just seems kind of callous. Maybe I have a hard time relating, casey is my heart dog and she will be eight this year and that alone stresses me out, I can't imagine life without her and if her time was near she would be my only focus.

I think they're trying to shield themselves from the pain of loss, thinking if they have another little pup around to keep them busy they won't have to experience that feeling of loss quite as strong.

[WELOVESPUPPIES]

I wish you luck in chosing the right pup for you, your household and Nicki. Just because you are opening your heart to love another pup does not mean you are closing your heart to the one you already have. Sometimes it does make things a little easier when one passes if there is another furkid there to help bring joy to your heart. They feel the pain you feel and know just what to do to give you a smile and help you make it through the hardest of days.

[lizbud]

and it´s not like finding a replacement once the dog is gone, but we know our dogs and know almost when it´s their time.... some may wonder why is Nikki allowed to suffer if no meds are making her better??.... well let me tell you we as humans are selfish and want to try the impossible to keep our pets as long as we can...it´s hard on it´s own to loose them on their terms, but I think it´s harder to loose them on our terms (PTS)... but if needed we will always make the right decision but not the easiest one...

Well said.

[Pam]

I brought a new puppy into a household with a 13 year old dog. The senior dog, Pumpkin, was a toy poodle and the puppy, Ashley, was a mini. I did find that the senior dog was not at all interested in playing with the puppy. They got along OK but there was no bonding as Pumpkin was just too old for any kind of play. In your case, a dog in pain might not feel well enough to interact. This is not a criticism but, rather, so that you don't feel that something is wrong if they don't strike up a friendship. My senior dog did live another 4 years after we adopted the puppy. He was never in pain but was deaf, blind from dense cataracts and was developing a serious incontinence problem. It was our choice to eventually help him to the bridge at the age of 17. Had he been in pain, with no remedy for the pain, he would have had to leave us earlier. Each case is different, but I wish you well. Out of the two pictures posted I fell quickly for Millie. Please give Nicki some extra hugs from all of us.