- Joined
- Dec 18, 2007
- Messages
- 3,793
Hello all,
I haven't really been around in a few years, but recently acquired my Grandmother's engagement ring, so I came back to show it off. I remembered how much I really like being on this board, so I thought I'd come to hangout and give an update.
2016 was the craziest year of loss I've ever had in my life - within 4 months I lost my mother very suddenly at age 66, and both of her parents at ages 92 and 93. Four days after the final funeral, my beloved dog Ripley (A cavalier king charles spaniel - I've posted him many times before) died very suddenly in my arms at the vet's office from congestive heart failure, while he was waiting for lasix treatment. I wasn't able to have kids, so my dogs are truly like my children, or the closest thing I'll probably ever have, and my already broken heart was just crushed. My other dog (a shepherd mix named Rhonda) was also heartbroken, as the two dogs were the best of friends. You can see my last thread of Ripley and Rhonda, when Rhonda was a puppy, here: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/our-new-puppy.152869/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/our-new-puppy.152869/[/URL]
My poor other dog Rhonda started to get really sick and when I took her to the vet, they said her anxiety was very bad and she needed an antibiotic for 3 weeks to stop her internal bleeding issues. I couldn't stand another loss, so I came home and told my husband immediately after leaving the vet's office that we would be getting a new puppy ASAP. I didn't want a new puppy, but I knew it was the only choice for our family.
So I contacted a breeder who said they didn't have any new puppies, but someone had just returned this one young dog/older puppy. I asked to come and meet him, and when I got there I knew he had been returned to the breeder to save our family, or at least to save Rhonda. I took him home that day, and I'm so glad I did. It's really hard to be profoundly sad around something so joyful, even when he's eating/chewing up all of your favorite things
. Within two weeks, my Rhonda dog was back to her old self and the puppy had settled right in. I felt guilty getting a dog so soon, like I was dishonoring Ripley's memory, but there were several signs that the new puppy was meant to be a part of our family. So, since Rhonda needed a new brother, we named the puppy Brodie (which is Irish for brother).
I have struggled through the holidays and all of the "firsts" since losing my mom, my grandparents, and my soul-mate dog, Ripley. I've never been so happy to say goodbye to a year in all of my life as I was in 2016. I'm really hopeful that 2017 will be a year full of only light and love, for me and for all of you as well. Since everyone loves puppy pictures, I'll post some for you all to make you smile today and wish you joy in the new year
I haven't really been around in a few years, but recently acquired my Grandmother's engagement ring, so I came back to show it off. I remembered how much I really like being on this board, so I thought I'd come to hangout and give an update.
2016 was the craziest year of loss I've ever had in my life - within 4 months I lost my mother very suddenly at age 66, and both of her parents at ages 92 and 93. Four days after the final funeral, my beloved dog Ripley (A cavalier king charles spaniel - I've posted him many times before) died very suddenly in my arms at the vet's office from congestive heart failure, while he was waiting for lasix treatment. I wasn't able to have kids, so my dogs are truly like my children, or the closest thing I'll probably ever have, and my already broken heart was just crushed. My other dog (a shepherd mix named Rhonda) was also heartbroken, as the two dogs were the best of friends. You can see my last thread of Ripley and Rhonda, when Rhonda was a puppy, here: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/our-new-puppy.152869/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/our-new-puppy.152869/[/URL]
My poor other dog Rhonda started to get really sick and when I took her to the vet, they said her anxiety was very bad and she needed an antibiotic for 3 weeks to stop her internal bleeding issues. I couldn't stand another loss, so I came home and told my husband immediately after leaving the vet's office that we would be getting a new puppy ASAP. I didn't want a new puppy, but I knew it was the only choice for our family.
So I contacted a breeder who said they didn't have any new puppies, but someone had just returned this one young dog/older puppy. I asked to come and meet him, and when I got there I knew he had been returned to the breeder to save our family, or at least to save Rhonda. I took him home that day, and I'm so glad I did. It's really hard to be profoundly sad around something so joyful, even when he's eating/chewing up all of your favorite things
. Within two weeks, my Rhonda dog was back to her old self and the puppy had settled right in. I felt guilty getting a dog so soon, like I was dishonoring Ripley's memory, but there were several signs that the new puppy was meant to be a part of our family. So, since Rhonda needed a new brother, we named the puppy Brodie (which is Irish for brother). I have struggled through the holidays and all of the "firsts" since losing my mom, my grandparents, and my soul-mate dog, Ripley. I've never been so happy to say goodbye to a year in all of my life as I was in 2016. I'm really hopeful that 2017 will be a year full of only light and love, for me and for all of you as well. Since everyone loves puppy pictures, I'll post some for you all to make you smile today and wish you joy in the new year
That face!! We have a Blenheim Cavalier King Charles too! They are love sponges! Brodie looks a lot like our old boy did when he was young. What a wonderful addition to your family! 
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