Hi to all- I don't know if this is the right place, but I feel I know you all so well. You all have been there for me when I needed someone. Even the people here at home aren't like that! I have found a puppy that I am really liking. But after seeing her and filling out papers, I have a guilty feeling. I feel like maybe she isn't right, maybe I shouldn't get another dog. I know no one is ever going to replace my Zipper. And yes, I still miss him with all my heart. Is this normal? I haven't adopted her yet, I'm supposed to go back tomorrow. She is so cute, she will be a medium sized dog. She is black with brown intermingled. She has white paws, a white chest, and a white spot under her mouth (it looks like she's got milk running down her chin). Also, I was wanting some ideas for names? I don't want anything run of the mill, ie...Missy, Lady, Princess. I want something that is unusual, something like Mystic, or Payton, something different, yet beautiful. I am into Egyption stuff, and into spiritual stuff. Any ideas would be helpful, I have to have a name for her before I can take her home from the shelter!! Please help me, I have come to think of you all as trusted friends, and so I turn to you for help. Thanks-----Zippers Momma

Hi Zipper's mommy:

I posted you much earlier this evening, but I went & looked at "Egyptian names"....when I did that....I lost the novel that I wrote to you!!!

Oh well, such is life...

We "humans" do a great job with making ourselves feel guilty; don't we????
I think that we surely do!!!
Does Zip want you to feel guilty??? No, you know that he doesn't!!!

No-one WILL EVER REPLACE YOUR ZIPPER...EVER, EVER, EVER!!!!!
That will never happen!!!

And, yes, of course you miss Zipper with all of your heart; that is sooooo normal!!!!!

First of all, Zipper is not really gone; He will ALWAYS LIVE INSIDE YOUR HEART!!
Forever, until you are reunited again for all eternity...
I know that FOR SURE!!!

And, I've always said that, "The wonderful thing about memories is that they
can NEVER BE TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU".... They are YOURS TO KEEP!!

I believe that the human heart has the capacity to grow & stretch. (although it is only the size of your fist)... Sure, a very HUGE PORTION is ZIPPER'S; no question about that!!!!!

But, as for us human people, I believe that our hearts have the ability to LOVE
SOOOOOO MUCH!!!! You have a lot of LOVE in your heart still, to give to a
lil' pup who desperately needs a home...

Lots of people who have lost their furbabies (doggies), and have gotten another one -- they told me that when they cry for the beloved furbaby they have lost.....their new puppy is right there, lapping away all of their tears!!!
(I think that is sooooo beautiful; really)....

I know that your Zipper never liked to see you unhappy; did he? My Ernestine was "right there" even if I had 1/2 tear in my eye... It was if she was saying, "what's wrong mom???? What can I do to make you feel better??"

In our case, after our Ernie-Bird was put to sleep on 2/7/2004; (she was two months shy of 20 years old).... After two weeks, the silence in this house was deafening... Very much so!!!!!

So, we adopted two "teen" kitties at a shelter.... I Know that Ernie had given HER OK....She didn't want us to be sad at all!!!
I thank our girl for all of the years we spent together!!
We will be together again; that is definite!!!!

I have never heard of a shelter telling you that you need to have a name before you can adopt a new furbaby.... If you aren't sure of a name, I would just give them one;

After you get to know this beautiful new pup; her personality, a name that is perfect for her will come to you..

When I looked in the female Egyptian names, I noted my name: "Denise".... but, that doesn't "roll off your tongue when you're calling her"...
There is always "Cleo"; but I did see tons of great names!!!!

I think that Zipper would be proud of you that you are opening your heart to love another little soul... I really, really do...
It just goes to show how much love you had for your boy Zipper.

And remember, (I know that you know this) - your new puppy will in NO WAY replace your Zipper; it just cannot be done....
This little girl will be a brand new baby; a new personality....
And, if your heart is ready to receive a new baby, I know you will be sooooo happy!!!

Good luck in whatever you choose to do!! Please let us know!!!

Love, Denise (Lucy & Yo-Yo Ma)

Thanks Denise- I always feel better after getting posts from you. I have been all over the internet looking at names. I like Ailionora (Al-an-OE-rah). It is an egyption name. But last night laying in bed, my husband and I were thinking of names, and at the same time we both said "Payton"!!!

That is the name of his favorite football player, and I have always loved that name!! Even for a girl! I know its not Egyption, but it's the fact that we both said it at the same time! And, when we first got married, we always said when we got a dog of our own, we'd name it Payton. So, I'm pretty sure that it'll be Payton for our new baby girl!! When I get time I will post a picture of her so everyone can see.
I know that my Zipper can never be replaced, but I guess I will still feel guilty about him. I miss him so much every day. Our other furbaby is still really lonely. Our other furbaby is the reason that I HAD to get a puppy. He won't accept anything else. He is very aggressive towrad other dogs, and while at the boarding house he made friends with a girl puppy. Other than that, we probably couldn't get another dog. I actually wanted a 1-3 yr old. But, I'll be happy with a puppy,too. Also, my remaining furbaby has been having freak outs, since I brought Zippers cremains home!! He freaked out by the bathroom. The bathroom was mine and Zippers special place, Zip always followed me in there. I would sit in the tub and sing his silly songs to him. Toto always hated the bathroom, and won't go in there. Won't even go by there!! Then, the other day Toto went over to the cabinet that has Zippers cremains in it, and had a total puppy freak out. He sniffs the air, and makes whiney noises. What do you think it could be?? He even gets so upset he'll pee where he has his freakouts??? I am thinking that Zipper truly came home with me that day I got his cremains. What do you think?
Thanks guys----Zippers (Payton & Toto's) Momma

What about Spirit for a name?

I have become interest in Spiritualism since my girls went and am learning that my instincts are supposed to be true (sorry about the supposed but its early days yet) its only my human nature that doubts my first instincts.

An adult dog is a lot of responsibility so a puppy requires a lot more dedication and love.

Good luck.

Love Sue

Thanks so much for your replies!! Everything is fine here with my new furbaby. We did name her Payton. The other night I realized something. Looking at Paytons furry little face, I realized that she has the same puppy face as my Zip did!The same eyes. The eyes that look past you into your soul! She has the same face shape as Zip did in his puppy pictures!! I didn't consider that at all consciously when picking her out from the pound. It's funny how our sub-conscious works sometimes. But I truly love her with all my heart. She feels at home here, and must sleep between me and doggie daddy at night. And she must be touching one of us at all times during the night. when I get pictures, I'll post them. Has anyone else subconsciously picked a new furbaby and then realized later how much they look/act like their beloved deceased? Thanks again guys.
Zippers Momma

Hi Zipper's Mommy:

Congratulations on your new furbaby family member.. I am very happy for you, Doggie Daddy & Toto.

As for the "sub-conscious" ..... When Lucy "chose me", (she really did - purring her head off & kissing me with her
nose & head butting), I was attracted to her anyway because "she did remind me of our Ernie-Bird". She is a tortie,
and Ernie was too -- Ernie had a lot more white....(face, chest, belly & paws)...
Lucy doesn't have even 5% white.... She has a tan stripe down her head to her nose which is really cute.

Our lil' Yo-Yo is a quiet, shy little boy.... And, he's so very loveable. Lucy is definitely more outgoing --- I love
both of their personalities; both very different. Ernie-Bird was distinctly different from our new babies...

When you went to pick out your furry lil' Payton, he probably reminded you of your Zipper.... And, you may have
been consciously attracted..... He sounds absolutely beautiful...and, I'm very happy that you are happy...
I am thrilled that you have given Payton a wonderful new home!!!

God Bless all!
Love, Denise

Zipper's Mommy,
Congratulations on your new fur baby!

I don't remember if I felt guilty when we got new babies. But I remember how shocked Tim was that his love of Hathor had nothing to do with his love of and missing of Freyja....

Btw, "Hathor" is the Egyptian goddess of heaven and earth (and cows). I can't remember now why we went Egyptian, but we sorta wanted a goddess name bc Freyja is the Norse goddess of love and beauty. Freyja was a white long haired american eskimo and she was SOOOO gorgeous. Her name suited her. Hathor looks totally different -- she looks like a boy dog! And with her name, everyone thinks she is a boy. Her name suits her as well...

Hathor reminds me a lot of Saki (Hathor is a 60 lb sharpei mix -- mixed with lab or boxer or pit bull or retriever or all of the above-- we don't know. Saki was a siamese cat). Hathor is NOTHING like Freyja. But she is something like my kitty. Weird.

I believe that Toto can sense Zipper's presence.

Congratulations again on Payton.

--Jennifer

Well, things are going pretty well here. Payton has a runny nose, and runny eyes, despite being on antibiotics and eye stuff. She also has a cough!! I am worried about her, so we will go back to the vet shortly. It is so uncanny the resemblence between her and my Zip. But I no longer feel guilty. I was afraid to become close to her, and to really let her in my heart, until she had her first check up at the vet. I was scared that the vet would say she had something bad. And I don't want to go thru that again. Like her cough....it sounds like Zips cough just before he died. So, it scares me immensely. But, I love her dearly now. We have made a revelation, she is more border collie mix than anything. The pound just guessed when they called her an Akita mix. I've been looking at border collie puppy pictures, and that is what she is!!! Which is what I wanted when I set out to find a pup anyway. But, like I said, there was something about her that attracted me to her, and I didn't figure it out until she'd been here for a few days. It's the collie connection!!! She looks like Zip, only with different colors!!! The same eyes!! The eyes that look deep into your soul. It's like looking into my Zippers eyes all over again!! At first it made me sad, but now, I'm very happy. And so it Payton!! Thanks all for your feedback!!! It feels like I have quite a few friends who really care!!-----Zippers Momma

P.S. if this works right for me, here is paytons picture!!!