I have a new Golden Retriever puppy in the house / yard and his name is Billy. I lost a good friend, my previous Golden, Sam on Dec. 28th 2006. Three months later, I thought I was ready for another dog and Billy came home. He is a good dog & I love him. Things are going okay, but I still have a longing and do still shed some tears for Sam. I try not to compare the two dogs and I am trying to do my best for Billy. We are establihing a bond.... I don't really know what I'm trying to say, why I am posting. Maybe for some tips / support? I have to go. Work is over & I have to get home to my great puppy....

Your new baby is positively gorgeous!!

A year ago in February, I lost my sweet Milo. He was fourteen. His companion is still with me, at least for a little while longer.

When Milo died, I won't say I said "never" but I was in no rush to get another dog. Until I saw my new guy on a rescue website, that is. We brought him home in August of 2006.

As you say, the new ones never replace the ones that went before, they just expand the circle of love we make and are a tribute to their predecessors, your Sam is smiling.

Best of Luck with him!

What a ham Billy is!
I adopted another cat just two days after I lost "Simba 1." The year anniversary is quickly approaching at the end of July. There's nothing wrong with establishing a new bond with your new buddy while remembering and honoring your lost one. Not a day has gone by where I don't think of "Simba 1" and sometimes even shed a tear or two still.

We will never get over losing our good friends.

JimmyPat

Oh Billy is beautiful! A new baby does not "fix" anything. We still have all the same feelings for our loss as we had before, it's normal. I think it's impossible not to compare a bit. What I try to do is find the great things that the new baby does and not focus on what I WISH he did.

Give it time. Know that you will still feel everything and more for Sam as you have been feeling. Billy will grow in your heart and fit into your home more and more.

I feel guilty sometimes because as much as I love our new kitten, he just isn't Moose and I wish he was. So I try to give Majik more love and acceptance.

All a new baby does if give us something else to think about and somewhere to put all the love we have. That's a lot, you know? I wish you and Billy long years of love and joy.

Love

Billy is beautiful. I will soon be bringing home a new cat and I too worry about how I'm going to feel. I already feel guilty but I know that Alley would want me to have someone to love.

Just take it slow and don't try to force the relationship. It will happen in its own time.

Thank You for the wonderfull picture of Billy, he is loving You, and that is all that counts.
When I was young, my beloved boxer-girl, called Freya, died, it was 1975, and I still miss her.
I will allways be missing her.
But then, when I look at my cat called Jimmy, a 12 year old grayandwhite, ( I got him from television called : "who wants me", they told me, nobody wants him, anyway,
lying on my bed, sleeping, breathing, jumping up and down, playing, a.s.o
I don`t ever want to be without him..........I am so thankfull

I have to get the right camera to send a picture of Jimmy
Maybe, all of You will say.........oh, Jimmy, how wonderfull You are looking
(I would be very glad.......)

So, Billy is waiting for You, and Sam will allways be in Your heart......EAB

Dear JimmyPat:

Billy has those sweet big eyes that could work their way right into my heart, for sure!!

Everyone here is right..... Your beloved Sam has a huge part of your heart, and you will always think of & miss him.....but, we (the very lucky people who are "owned by furries") have VERY, VERY HUGE HEARTS....
We have a lot of love to give.

Billy loves you soooooo very, very much for bringing him into your life.... And, I believe with all of my heart that your precious Sam is looking down from the Bridge, and he is smiling at the both of you.

Peace & Love to you and yours,

Denise

Hi Jimmie Pat, I understand we had complete ying and yang feelings when we first decided to adopt Auggie, and at first it was strange, he was a little stranger to us and us to him, now he is getting to be part of the family, but the comparisons can't really be made because they are two totally different guys, and the new babies are truly innocent they don't have any idea about anything and just need your love and care, Enjoy honey, I understand your heart can never completely heal from your loss, but you are a different pet parent because of your first experiences, and probably better...enjoy that puppy breath and okay the biting I had forgotten about, youch!! check Auggie's picture, he is 9 weeks old and really a good boy, mostly your buddy Billy is gorgeous... Bye for now, Love Tory, Hrudey and Frank;s Momma