Another dog for a dogless woman
 

I lost my last Borzoi a year and one half ago and vowed I'd never have my heart broken again. While in the hospital the therapy dog came by, a Standard Poodle, and the handler said she sometimes will get on the bed of a patient if she feels a special bond. I tapped the bed and up Chloe came, lying next to me for the next hour so I could pat and love on her. It was then I realized, even if I am 70, I can't be "dogless" so my new 3 year old Borzoi Merlyn will be on his way from Atlanta to Maine this week or next. I'm beyond excited because he's beautiful and beyond the crazy puppy stage.

Congratulations! There is nothing else like puppy love is there?

How awesome for you! I lasted 3 weeks dogless after my schnauzer passed, then I found my beautiful maltese baby, who is now almost 13. She is always by my side and I love it! Enjoy your new baby : )

so nice that you will have a good friend with you

Dogless women
 

I know exactly how you feel. When my late husband's last beloved super bird hunter and beloved lap dog Springer died almost three years ago I vowed I'd never get another dog. Same problem; too old. It only took me two weeks to realize that I can't stand to live without another living creature breathing the same air. I figured I'd look for a rescue of mature years, house broken and leash trained.

Since I'd notified late DH's hunting pals and Shadow's breeder of her passing I received condolences and from the breeder the offer I couldn't refuse. He had a 3.5 yr. old brood bitch which, like all his breeding stock, was fully trained, field trial super star and his personal favorite hunting pal. She'd recently had a serious life threatening uterine infection which necessitated not only 5 days on IV antibiotics but being spayed. When she was released from the hospital he took her into his home where she was on IV fluids for another 5 days. He and his wife tended to her in the house until the surgical wound healed. He said that she was a perfect lady while in the house. He'd decided that she deserved to be a beloved pet and he just didn't have the time to give her the loving attention she deserved so he gave her to me despite the fact that I wouldn't hunt her. She has suffered from a panic disorder since arriving which the vet says between that devastating sickness followed by the flight from Cleveland to Charlotte and complete change of environment were no doubt responsible. That situation has gradually improved with medication, my efforts to resocialize her and the addition of a young rescue of some border collie heritage who is perpetually joyful. He's downright medicinal for Kit and me. He is Rocky which is his macho name to compensate for his castration just before I adopted him.

You deserve to have another faithful companion. While it's sad that we can't keep them forever, it's also a privilege to have them while we can. It'll be a win-win for you and your new 3-yr old baby. Lots of love in your future!

I can't wait until you get him.. Once you have a dog as part of the family, it's next to impossible to live without one.. I'm on #4.. and I can't imagine living without him.. He has all the warts that most members of a family have.. and he gets on my nerves at times.. but I miss to peces when we aren't together.. It's funny but my brother came over, and was going to take him home last night to hang out with their dog.. and he didn't want to go, and I didn't want him to go..
Barri

I am very happy for you! I know how you felt - I lost my beloved "Clyde" in the fall and would love to rescue an older, even medically needy dog but even shelter & rescue dogs are so expensive! I can understand that, but with Soc Sec only, its just beyond my budget to buy one. My daughter is a vet tech & they get many dumped cats, but not dogs.

So again I'm so very happy for you!

so glad you are allowing yourself this wonderful love!

Have you asked the Shelter if the price could be reduced or if you could make payments? They do want to find forever homes for the dogs. My dog died so I got a cat who needed a home but after 3 wks I knew I had to have a dog. I checked a shelter online near me. I checked everyday for almost a month on this 3yr old Pug who was getting over some stuff. I don't know if they knew I was checking but the price suddenly went down. I called and went & got that sweet little dog. The cat was unhappy for a month but they are now great friends. He's the sweetest dog.