I just don't know what to do. My sister went out and bought me a 12 week old miniature schnauzer puppy. I told her many times that after my precious Snookie dies I never wanted to have another puppy to go through this again. She said she knows me better than I know myself and there is no way I can make it when Snookie goes without another baby to love and find comfort in. She insisted without a puppy she felt I would have a breakdown since Snookie is my very heartbeat.

I cried my eyes out because when the puppy came into the house Snookie would not even look at me. My baby turned her head away from me for the first time and hung her head. It shattered my heart to think my love was mad at me and that I had hurt her. What if my darling never looks at me with love in her eyes again? Even my dad said he has never seen a dog look at anyone the way she looks at me.

My sister brought pictures of what the puppy looked like when she got her, and they were bad. The puppy was without a haircut and she looked dirty. Sis told me that this baby needs someone and I will need her. She said the people who sold her did not like her because she wanted to bite on their hands and such. They simply called the dog sh-t wad. They even gave my sister the registration papers. They said they were tired of cleaning up papers after her.

Try as I might to not let that little puppy get to me I found myself laughing as she tore through the house grabbing shoes that lay in her path.. Then she set the shoe down and showed me a full mouth grin just like my Snookie grins. She lay at me feet and without thinking I said How are you doing little Schnitzel. Oh God now I gave her a name, what have I let my sister do and what have I done to Snookie by letting the little one stay.

Will my sweet Snookie Cookie hate me for letting this puppy stay? Well that's what I have been doing today, spending time with both my darling baby girl and the new puppy who is trying so hard to make me happy already. I know I have love for both but will Snookie know that?
Ann

I THINK AS LONG AS YOU MAKE YOUR BABY FEEL SPECIAL AND NUMBER ONE SHE WILL BE OKAY, SHOW HER SPECIAL LOVE EVEN IN FRONT OF THE PUP IT'LL MAKE HER FEEL SPECIAL AND NOT SO THREATENED. I'M GLAD YOU HAVE THE NEW PUP TO HELP YOU GET THROUGH, THE ROAD YOU MUST TRAVEL. GOD BLESS YOU ANN, I LOVED THE POEM.......MOOSE'S MOM

That is really a tough one. The little one certainly needs a home.

Ann,
Put aside a special time just for you and Snookie and smouther him with lots of love. He needs that...just you and he alone together. That's what I do with our poodle, DJ, when I brought new kittens in last weekend. he was having a problem with it. They need to know they are still loved and that they're not being replaced. I hate to say this but sometimes if a pet feels they're being replaced or that you no longer love them they will die of a broken heart. I don't mean to be harsh. Your sister met well but she shouldn't have did that knowing how you feel. My sisters adult daughter brought her a kitten a week after her 9-yr old furkitty passed and my sister was not ready for another one right then. After my 17-yr old furkitty passed in June I made it very clear to everyone that I did not want anyone surprising me with a kitten/cat and that when and if I was ever ready I would get another myself.

Wanda

Hi,

Can you keep the 2 of them separate? And spend most of your time with Snookie? I think she may come around. The 1st shock of seeing another animal is bound to be upsetting, but they may turn out to be good friends! I don't think Snookie is actually thinking that you're replacing him. He may just be adjusting to the new family member.

Could Schnitzel temporarily stay with a family member or friend nearby?

Please don't feel guilty. You were put into a tough situation and you're handling it as intelligently as anyone could!

Keep us posted!

Love,

Kathy

Maybe snookie is sensing your tense reaction to the puppy. I know my dog was the same way...very jealous. I think the most important thing is that you give snookie your love and attention and make her feel secure. I think after she adjusts and realizes that you still love her she will be able to adapt to having the new pup. It may take time...but you'll see...she will be fine.

Hey Ann,
I was hesitant on this one, but now that I see my thoughts echoed here, I will add what I was thinking. That new precious little baby certainly needs a new, good home with lots of love. I am worried about your little Snookie though. Sometimes dogs do die of broken hearts. I was wondering if you could talk to a vet or maybe do some research about this situation. (I'll try to do some research.) Maybe Snookie is already adjusting, but if she isn't and doesn't begin to soon, I don't know if she will. My main concern is that if Snookie were to begin to get worse, then you might blame yourself for taking in the little one.

I hope you know none of us is trying to bring you down or make you worry anymore than you already are. You have a wonderful, great big heart and lots and lots of love to share. Your sister sounds like a really, really good, caring sister and certainly well-meaning. I know way before I lost little Hannah, some of my friends suggested I should get another puppy so I wouldn't be so lost when Hannah was gone, but I didn't, I couldn't. I know Hannah wants me to be happy now and to share all the love I have to give, but I don't think she would have wanted to share that love when she was still here.

I was wondering too if your sister could keep the puppy or maybe at least keep the puppy part of the time. Or maybe it's not necessary -- maybe your sweet Snookie girl will be okay with it and adjust quickly.

One more thing, I took Maggie to a new vet for a checkup yesterday. I mentioned to the vet that I knew someone whose dog has cushings disease and I said she just doesn't know what she's going to do. The vet said, "well, they can treat it." I just wanted to mention that. I guess that's what your vet is doing, but just wanted to let you know what she said.

Now, you know Snookie better than anyone in the world, and I'm sure you will make the right decision for you and for Snookie. Please forgive me if I have said anything here or in my emails to you to upset you. I have only the best intentions and wish the very best. You are a wonderful, wonderful mommy to your little Snookie, and you will be a wonderful mommy to any and all other little ones that come into your life, I am sure.
Love,
Marcia

Thats a hard one Ann. I know your sisters only intention was to help but now was not necessarily the best time for you to get another dog. I remember the stress I went through trying to introduce a new animal to the family. I have never seen such a look in a cat's eyes as I saw the day the kitten came home. Kasha and LeStat had such a look of betrayal...it broke my heart. It was like they were saying "how COULD you?" They were not nice to Riley at all for the first little while and wouldn't talk to me no matter what I tried. The good news is that everyone eventually did make friends (or at least became civil and divided up the house )

Pay lots of attention to Snookie alone and in front of the puppy. When he see that nothing has changed aside from the new family member he will be fine. I bet that the two will even become great friends. I tell ya, Kasha would have packed her bags and left right then and there when Riley came home but they ended up curled on the couch together in less than 6 weeks.

Kathy made a good point....maybe if Schnitzel spent a few nights a week visiting another family member Snookie would take the adjustment better. It would give you a chance to spend some special time with Snookie.

Hang in there,
Kristie

Thank you so much my dear friends. I think my Snookie girl is feeling a little better today about Schnitzel the new puppy. She did not give me that look of love but she did look at me. For one thing Schnitzel does not like to be held at all. I guess that comes from the people leaving her in a cage all the time. She does follow me around everywhere I go though.

I know my sister meant well but she should have listened when I told her I wanted to spend every moment with Snookie while I still have her. I told her even the thought of having a new puppy made me sick to my stomach because I could never replace my darling Snookie. She assured me I would not be doing that but would instead find a new love different but wonderful just the same.

I just hope after Snookie is gone I never look at the puppy and think you are only here because my Snookie no longer is with me. My husband says he too thinks she will help comfort me and I hope that is the case. Schnitzel deserves a good life too, not one filled with name calling and being locked away in a cage unloved and unwanted.
Ann