My darling Brandy left us on April 25, 2009. It was a horrible day for me – I cried forever. At B’Dog’s age, Bob and I had already discussed if we would get another puppy when the time came. We felt no, we wouldn’t.
Molly, our Lab/Golden x, was the proverbial middle child (she has since left us and my first post was a tribute to her) and needed to be elevated to top dog, you know? Sara tends to exhibit insecurity and we felt that a puppy would take away needed attention. And Jake? He is the most secure dog in the world – loves everybody and everything – and would be fine!
Once B’Dog was gone, it turned out that getting another puppy was pretty much a moot issue, anyway. I’ve known people whose pet has died and, though their heart is breaking, they refuse to get another! I have always thought those people to be stupid. Getting another dog or cat isn’t replacing the lost pet but filling the void in your heart with new life and diverting your sadness. However, I gotta tell ya…with Brandy gone I understood those feelings for the first time. There was no way I wanted another puppy…because it sorta, kinda would be a replacement for B’Dog and I had no interest…none. It’s been over a year now and I am just kinda, sorta beginning to think about it. So, I am passively looking for a puppy…but just passively.
I met a woman recently who has an incredibly beautiful heart in regard to animals and had lost her dog Pepper who was as connected to her as Brandy was to me. Her gift, borne out of her own sadness, is helping others heal their sadness. She creates “angel boxes” and gives them to people like me. Mine is a decorated octagonal box with a Chocolate Lab on top that has angel wings and a halo. Inside the box is a feather, representing the angel your pet now is. It is beautiful. When she gave me my package, she told me not to open it till I got home. 
Good advice. The balling was so extreme and for so long, I’d have been in trouble if not at home! That was an incredible thing she did for me and I’ll never forget her. She also gave me some little books, a copy of “A Doggie Prayer” (author unknown), and a beautiful frame that contained the last line of the prayer: And when your life on earth is spent and you reach Heaven’s Gate Have no Fear of loneliness For here, you know, I wait. Pretty potent stuff.
I created a collage of my B’Dog on canvas for a visual memory of my best-est puppy ever.