Susan your words touched me and I'm so glad you came back to let us know how you are doing. It will be nice to see you on here from time to time and we look forward to getting to know any new furkid that may find its way into your home and heart!

When my husband and I finally started thinking about adopting a new dog (after two years) we were conflicted about the color. Our last standard poodle was black and definitely was the *apple of my hubby's eye.* For that reason he wanted another black female. I didn't like that idea for the same reason you mentioned. I didn't want the new pup to have to live up to any expectations and I felt that being the same color as Whitney might create sadness as well as unintentional comparisons. Hubby actually wanted to see a litter of blacks and I visited a breeder with cream standards before he got a chance to! I called him at work from the breeder's (he didn't even know I was there! ) and told him where I was and asked him for permission to get a cream colored puppy. He gave me the OK and the rest is history.

I think when the time is right you will know it. Also your new furkid will probably give you some signals that he/she wants to be yours. We have heard lots of stories like that on Pet Talk. I would have personally liked to adopt sooner than we did but my husband kept saying he couldn't handle the grief and sorrow when they die. It is horrible, no doubt about it, but the love that we can give and receive over those short years to me is well worth it.

I wish you the best in your search someday for a new little one to love. In the meantime stay around. We enjoy hearing from you! Hope each day is a little easier for you.