Some of you may have read regarding the recent loss of my beautiful Dakota Rose....I was having a lot difficulties in not understanding why I'd look so shortly after my baby's death even though in my heart of hearts I knew I wasn't looking to try to replace her, she is irreplaceable and I wouldn't have it any other way. I met a puppy 1 week after I lost her, the second I saw the puppy I knew she wasn't meant to go home with me. Then a week after that, met another same thing knew she wasn't meant to come home with me. Then 1 week after that I was going to meet a little puppy named "Lilah" and also figured I'd meet her sister "Tina" even though looks wise from the photo felt drawn to "Lilah". I met them and instantly knew "Lilah" wasn't for me, but kept being drawn to "Tina" and noticed afterwards she had 2 similar markings on her face that Dakota had when she was a baby. Including a line on her nose and a mark above her eyes. Anyhow I was very very scared, but decided to try to follow my heart and adopted her. I named her Montana Rose, in honor of Dakota Rose....

Original Post to fill in additional blanks - http://lightning-strike.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7025

Here's where I'm trying to make sense of things, when Dusty died he was 19 1/2 and I waited 6 months to adopt Dakota because I felt I'd resent any dog for not being my baby.....why is it I'd look SO soon after losing Dakota? I don't know if it's possible she pushed me to this dog? There have been little things that cause me to pause a bit I admit. The night I brought her home, 1 week ago now. Montana was freaking out crying and climbing my shoulder from her first car ride. I kept saying "it's Ok....it's Ok...." and finally 1 block from my house I said to my mom this is so hard, this reminds me of the night I brought Dakota to the ER saying the same thing "It's ok...It's ok...." and in that instant Montana laid down on my lap and went to sleep!! I'm spiritual, but not religious and couldn't help but feel is it possible Dakota told her she has to calm down, this is hurting me?!

Anyhow since then so many have said to me - by giving a loving home to another you are honoring Dakota and I feel that to a point, but can't help but question ok why is it an honor to Dakota? Because she is seriously my "kid" and with people if you will they don't lose a child generally and a week later say "Ok honey lets have another kid in honor of so and so's life". So I'm questioning and wondering why do you feel it to be an honor to adopt another?

Montana's adjusting well and I'm not reconsidering....more would like to hear your thoughts on why it's such an honor to bring another in your home especially so shortly after their loss. Know that the second I heard Dakota stopped breathing, I wanted to die and go with her so it's by no means a situation of not caring, if anything I loved her and have been grieving her more than close relatives that have died young....

I'd love to hear your thoughts....it would be so helpful to me to better understand why I'd look so soon after...or maybe hear your own personal stories of adoption of another so soon after.....

When I lose a cat, it leaves a hole in my life. I know that no other cat will ever fill up that special hole...But I still have love to give. My kitty gone ahead doesn't want me to waste that love. There are so many unwanted and needy kitties out there, that it feels more "right" to give that love to someone else who needs it. And sometimes the best way out of my grief is to help someone else. Who better to help than another kitty?
I'll admit, I don't usually go looking. They seem to just show up...

I'm glad you are opening your heart to another dog. No, she will never be Dakota Rose, but she's not supposed to be. She is Montana, and she will be able to benefit from the love that you have.

Hi, Dakota Rose's Mom, thank you so much for sharig with us how you and your precious Montana Rose are doing.

It is strictly a very personal decision when it comes to embracing a new companion in our hearts and lives. There is no doubt in my mind that your beloved Dakota Rose guided your and "Tina's" paths to seeing one another and knowing that your lives would be shared together. Embracing another companion does honor the life and eternal love you and your beloved Dakota Rose share. Love is not timid or limited - - but rather grows in capacity the more you share it. Your beloved Dakota Rose KNOWS your heart, and KNOWS you have a HUGE capacity to love another precious companion. The "timing" to share your life with Montana Rose just happened at the time that it did. Your precious Montana Rose is a special gift to you from your beloved Dakota Rose to be enjoyed and cherished.

I hope today is treating you and your precious Montana Rose kindly, and that you will have a peaceful evening together blessed with your beloved Dakota Rose's sweet Living Spirit to comfort you. Please know you and your precious Montana are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Oh Dakota Rose's mom

There is NO question, absolutely NONE, that Dakota sent Montana Rose to you. After I lost Gretta, I was talking to my neighbor about getting a new dog, how long to wait, etc. and she said something very helpful - that for some people the next day is the right time, for some people it may be months or years, and for some people it's never.

When a spiritual person like yourself feels that instant rush of love and "knows" that this is her next furchild, it IS a sign that your furbaby or babies in heaven have sent that precious being to you. Dusty and Dakota Rose KNOW how much love you have in your heart and when love goes out unanswered, it's not only an emptying, IT HURTS, it physically hurts. Dusty and Dakota don't want their precious mom to hurt. They're still on their jobs, watching out for you, loving you, and lighting your heart. There is no need to second guess yourself about the timing. And, while some people may say you're "honoring" Dakota Rose, you're really just doing two things: receiving a gift from them and following their instructions.

Montana Rose, you are one blessed dog! (Hope your mom sends pics of you soon!)

Gretta and Rufus's mom

After losing my Chewy I thought I would never love another again. I even couldn't like my two youngest for a while. I found myself going on adoption sites I think to start with to remind me of how good of life I had given Chewy and Chewy had given me. And just by chance a month later I cam across Ellie. She reminded me of Chewy because of her markings and her description was very friendly just like Chewy was.

I kept thinking no I couldn't not so soon after losing Chewy. It would look like I had replaced him and forgotten him. But then about 8 weeks later as we got closer to march I kept going back to the site to see that Ellie still had not been adopted. And I could not understand as they said she was friendly.....who wouldn't want her! So in the end I said to my partner that if she had not gone by march 3rd We would go down and see her.

Of course she was not gone so we went down and I hoped the whole time she was not friendly and that I would change my mind but of course she came running out of her pen and flopped on her side next to me and I knew then that we had to take her home. Then when they put her birthday on the form they put 5th of March......which is my birthday. Then I knew it was meant to be and I did feel that Chewy had made sure no one else took Ellie and he brought her to us.

I love Ellie and my other two Fudge and Pixie and although Chewy was my world, that will never change but it is what Chewy did to me that allows me to help and love other animals.

xxForeverxx

I agree with everyone that your heart and that of Dakota Rose led you to your new baby. You are obviously in touch with your feelings, because you knew not to adopts the first couple of puppies, but were ready when you met this one.

I lost my baby, Anna only 6 days ago. My husband and I know we are not ready yet. we're still deep in grief and could not yet give a new baby what it deserves.

but in the past, I have gone out the very next day and gotten a new kitty, because my heart was ready. We have a wonderful cat Carrie, whom we adopted a couple of years ago and who got along wonderfully with her canine sister Anna. Carrie has been even more loving to us than usual. I think she too is grieving Anna and looking to comfort us ans wee also comfort her.


When Anna sends us a new dog, she will look out for her feline sister, Carrie, i'm sure.