Of Silence and Barking

Everyone is so right. It's time for you to put the music back in your life. There's nothing like a puppy bark to help you heal. You won't be sorry, I promise!
 
I can only say, when we lost our first Sheltie Skye at age 15, I was plunged into deep sorrow. We had Asta still, but I thought I could NOT contemplate adding another Sheltie. I just hated it when people asked if we would be "replacing Skye".

But, in a Christmas trip where we stopped to show Asta's breeder how Asta turned out, we were stunned to be offered a 1.5 year old girl who is actually Asta's aunt. I tell you I burst into tears. But after a day of really searching my heart, and with my husband saying "I just don't see a downside", Ally joined our family and it was the best thing that could have happened. I often think Skye would have approved wholeheartedly.

It's not disrespectful to your first Sheltie's memory to get another one to love. In fact, it honors your first dog. Just my 2 cents worth.
 
:smile2: I'm 22y now and I've lost three dogs in my life, two of them Shelties and I can tell, that you will never stop crying, but if there is an other little friend, who is there for you, when you cry, he will kiss your tears away and make you lough again and again, so you won't forget all your old friends, but the pain, not to be with them, because they will stay in your heart. :yes:
 
When I lost my Noah unexpectedly in Nov 2009, I was told the best compliment I could give him was to get another Sheltie. I did, two weeks later.

When I lost my Mom unexpectedly in June, 2010, Emma was there to help me grieve, licking away every tear. Even now, Liam does the same.

When you are ready, there will be another Sheltie ready and waiting just for you.
 
I wholeheartedly agree with everyone else. I waited a year after I lost Neechee to get Bela. And that year was so grief-filled. My living arrangements just would not allow another dog at that point (I was newly-married and we were living with my parents temporarily).

As soon as I could, I contacted Sheltie Rescue and they found me the lovely Bela. Yes, you will have a tendency to compare the two, but you get over that quickly, as you discover your new Sheltie's unique personality.

No, you simply CAN'T replace the dog you lost. But having another furkid around certainly does help ease the pain. I still sometimes cry for my Neechee (we were together for 17 years, after all), but Bela senses my mood and comes over and sits next to me, and tries her best to comfort me. (Oddly, this is the only time she wants to sit ON me.)

I hope you can see your way to opening your heart to another Sheltie soon. To me, rescuing instead of getting a puppy was part of the healing process.
 
When my first sheltie, Samantha, passed, I adopted Katie from sheltie rescue. I knew I had to have another sheltie and had discovered rescue, so I swore that from then on I would only adopt from rescue. Two years ago, I added my precious boy Laddie to the family.
Katie will be 15 this March. I hope she stays with us for a few more years - but when she is called to the bridge I feel the best tribute I can give her would be to open my heart and home to another rescue sheltie and give her the loving and caring home that Katie had.
I do know this...that as long as I am able to give them the care they need, I will never be without a sheltie!!
 
A belated Thanks! to all for your comments.

My local Shetland Sheepdog Club doesn't have an open meeting in Jan-Feb, but hopefully they will in March. I plan on going to their next meeting, to visit with some Shelties.

I don't know when, but I will eventually have another Sheltie in my life. My beloved, deceased, Sheltieboy would want me to be happy...
 
A belated Thanks! to all for your comments.

My local Shetland Sheepdog Club doesn't have an open meeting in Jan-Feb, but hopefully they will in March. I plan on going to their next meeting, to visit with some Shelties.

I don't know when, but I will eventually have another Sheltie in my life. My beloved, deceased, Sheltieboy would want me to be happy...


I love your perspective and know when the time is right you will honor your beloved Sheltie by loving another one! :sadsmile:
 
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