I have Pictures!! Denny, our rescue

[Katrinka]

Denny is adapting better than my son and I. We both feel guilty and are missing Buddy. I know that will pass. Sometimes though, when I am holding Denny, I just cry.

Last night we went for a walk, with my husband holding the leash and Denny pulling the whole time. I could barely keep up! LOL I knew I could not let him walk like that when I am alone with him.

But I did some reading about being the "Alpha Dog" this morning, and I worked on it when we went for a walk at noon. Denny did wonderfully!

Then I tried playing fetch with his new ball. At first he seemed scared when I took the ball from him to throw it, but it wasn't long before he started dropping it at my feet so I could throw it again. He seems so easy to train!

[Alison]

I can understand why you feel sad,soon though Denny will help you remember the good times with Buddy and you'll smile in the remembering.There's no need for guilt.You haven't replaced Buddy.You have room to love them both and you won't love Buddy any the less for having Denny.Buddy would want you to have a new friend.
Fate really did seem to send him your way just when you needed it.Give it a little while and you'll be fine.Denny needs a family and you needed Denny to comfort you.A good cry is just what you need sometimes,Alison

[Andrea]

Sounds like Denny is becoming more at home with his new family.  Of course you miss Buddy and it is a tribute to him that you loved him so dearly that you wanted another   .  No one will ever replace him and you and Denny will start making new memories to cherish like that with Buddy.  I lost my golden last fall and did not want another dog right away, but could not stand it.  I decided to go small this time and got Noah.  I still miss Bailey and her loving ways, but Noah is making such new memories for me and I love him dearly.  You will always carry Buddy in your heart and now Denny has taken a piece of your heart.  I sure that it was nice having Denny to share your tears with and I bet that he understood in his own way.  Happy times and memories starting.  

[Katrinka]

Thanks - yes, he seems to understand. I started crying a while ago, and he came right over, looking sad at me, and gave me kisses!

He is a chewer though, he chewed the ears off his new toy in moments, and today he chewed his harness off - my fault for thinking I could leave it on all day! Now I have to buy him a new harness!

Oh, and it turns out he is NOT a stray, because they found the original paperwork and his real name is Chivas. I tried saying it several different ways though, and he did not respond. I guess I don't have the right French accent? 

We think we will stick with Denny, after all. At least he knows I am talking to him then!

This is a really bad picture - but here is the very first picture they took of him when they took him into rescue:

[MattiesMom (MaryEllen)]

I can understand why you feel sad,soon though Denny will help you remember the good times with Buddy and you'll smile in the remembering.There's no need for guilt.You haven't replaced Buddy.You have room to love them both and you won't love Buddy any the less for having Denny.Buddy would want you to have a new friend.
Fate really did seem to send him your way just when you needed it.Give it a little while and you'll be fine.Denny needs a family and you needed Denny to comfort you.A good cry is just what you need sometimes,Alison

Absolutely!  Well said, Alison!  I've always gotten a new fluff within days of losing my older love.  It is never a replacement, but will give you a focus to help you cope while you grieve.  Just as you love all of your hu-children differently and in special ways, you love your fluffs differently and because they are who they are.  It's normal to be grieving and yes, Denny will do things that remind you of Buddy and bring back memories!  As time goes by, you will come to appreciate those moments as you remember your Buddy and all that he meant to you.  Best wishes to you and Denny!
MaryEllen

[BB56 (Donna)]

Congratulations on your new and adorable addition!!  I remember feeling guilty when I brought Bella home very soon after we lost another dog. I realized soon after that it was because of the great love and life that our first dog brought to our home for 15 years that I was feeling so empty without him. When I thought about it this way, it eased my guilt.  It felt more like a tribute to my first dog and all that he had given to us that made us want another so desperately. Of course there are days you remember and cry and others when you look back and smile at the great memories. I think they are all great healers--as I am sure Denny will be for you!

[Cheryl]

   Denny looks like a little doll.  Congratulations to you for giving that little sweetie a new loving home.

I totally agree with what all the others have said.  love is not halved, but doubled when you let a new  in.

Thanks for the pictures, It looks like this was a match made in heaven.

[Lin]

There is no reason to feel guilt Kat, I am sure you did your best by Buddy, but the sad feelings will come and go, there will come a time when you will be able to say Buddy's name and tell stories of his life without tears, but it takes time. In the mean time you have Denny to put a smile on your face and a place of warmth in your heart to help you heal.
I waited almost 4 months until I got Luigi after I had to put down our beloved Maxi Girl, those 4 months were empty and filled with guilt. The past year had been rough, I vowed never to have another dog, I was getting to the point of feeling she was a burden as I had to clean up after her 24/7 and I hated the way I felt, and no one in my family would help me with the decision of when was the right time to put her down as we knew she was at the end of her life, then one night something happened and again my husband was at work and didn't see it .... I really didn't know what happend to her that terrible night or if she was hurt or in pain, if I waited too long or did I act in haste, I had so many mixed emotions and I had to make the decision and I was angry at my husband for leaving me with the burden to make the decision alone, so I did feel a lot of guilt.
I missed Maxi, I missed a dog in our house so very much, so it was my decision to get another dog, when we did get Luigi I wished Maxi was here to see him, to play with him and show him how to toilet train, she would have loved playing with him so very much... slowly the tears dried and I was able to talk about her without tears streaming down my cheeks, it was also my decision to get Lia, these are my dogs that have helped heal the wounds.
Occasionally I still cry for Maxi Girl, all goodbyes make me cry, reading all pet memorials make me cry, reading of your pain and loss of Buddy makes me cry, but they are different tears now and to dry those tears I turn to the sweet smiling faces of Luigi and Lia and I know I have made the right choice by opening my heart to another 

[EDDEL]

I couldn't have said it better than Alison, and I have a lump in my throat as I read Lin's post.

I think it takes great strength for one to let another fluff into their heart

and I especially admire those who give rescues a forever home .
Just as Denny will fill your heart again, you will fill his.

[MattiesMom (MaryEllen)]

I still get tears whenever I write or talk about my Toby, Molly, and Missy (all at the Bridge).  I don't think that will ever go away.  They get into your heart and make a permanent place there!  It's okay to cry and miss them.  It doesn't mean you love your new fluff any less and loving him doesn't mean that you love Buddy any less.  Feelings are legitimate.  Let them out.  Don't feel guilty for being happy and playing with Denny and don't feel guilty about feeling sad and crying for Buddy.  Just go with it.  I hope you post more pix of Denny soon.  He's a cutie pie.  MaryEllen

[Andrea]

Just wondering how you and Denny are doing as it has been a week in his new forever home.  Hope that all are adjusting well.  I agree that Denny is better than Chivas and he apparently knows Denny.   

[Alison]

Its amazing its been a week already.Like Andrea,I was wondering how its going? Alison

[Lin]

Me too! Full details please. I hope the tummy upset is gone and that he has settled in nicely and that you and your family is enjoying his company totally?

[Katrinka]

We are doing great - thanks for asking! Denny stopped throwing up just around the time I started to feel panicky! 

He is settling in well, no other problems. Some days I think he is just too good to be true! 

I take him with me when I drive my son to work and pick him up - and Denny gets so upset when my son gets out of the car - he barks his silly head off. But when we pick up my son, Denny recognizes him even thru the car window AND store window - and gets all excited!

[Andrea]

I am so glad that Denny has settled in and his tummy is calmed down.  I am sure that he feels the same way about you and family in that things are so good.  That is so sweet that he has bonded to your son and misses him when he goes to work.  I know what a great feeling your son must have to have such a warm welcome back from work.    that things are so good for all of you.