[Brenny625]

Hi,
My name is Brenny and I'm from Meridian, MS. I am here asking for help. This past Monday, my puginese (1/2 pug, 1/2 pekingnese) was killed. He was truly my best friend and this has devastated my entire life. Sounds stupid, I know, but my heart is truly broken.
I know he was just a "mutt", but he was my mutt. I am looking for another puginese and have been unsuccessful. His personality, size, etc. was perfect in my life. Would love to have another to give love and attention to.
If anyone can help me, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank You,
Brenny C

[cigwyllt]

First of all, I am really sorry to hear of the loss of your dog. No dog is ever "just" a dog. Each dog we own becomes a part of our family and it is heartbreaking when we lose them. Allow yourself to grieve and remember that there are plenty of people here on the forum who understand exactly what you are going through.

When you ask about looking for a new dog however I don't think anyone here would be able to help. There are very few members here who are breeders and those that are would not condone deliberate cross breeding.

When you come to look for a new dog (not a replacement, there will never be a replacement) it is really an impossible task if you are looking for a mixed breed such as you had before. You could have 4 pups in a litter and each one would look different and behave differently. There is no guarantee that the pups would look anything like the dog you have lost or have a similar character in any way.

If you can look beyond the outward appearance and just look for a dog to love I am sure you would be able to find a dog with just the personality you are looking for at a size to suit your lifestyle. You might even find that a slightly older rescue dog could be what you are looking for. It is often hard to judge a pup's personality and so if you were to look at a well run respectable shelter you may well find that they could help to locate your perfect pet.

I hope you find someone to share your life with very soon.

[Brenny625]

Thank you for your words.
The loss is devastating. He was truly my best friend.
It isn't so much his looks, but his traits and behavior patterns that made him such a good match for me. That's why I am looking for another puginese. He "fit" me as far as personality goes.
Thank you for replying.
Brenny C

[Lunareclipse]

When my favorite saint bernard died, the dog we got later wasn't even the same breed. There are lots of loving pooches at the shelter. If it helps any, you can go to Pet adoption: Want a dog or cat? Adopt a pet on Petfinder and browse doggies in shelters around your area. One just might catch your eye.

[lange]

I don't think you'll find anyone here who thinks your stupid for longing for your baby. I also agree & think your best bet in finding a dog with just the right personality is through shelters. You can even volunteer your time there all the while you'll be getting to know the dogs personalities.

[reeskujo]

Originally Posted by lange

I don't think you'll find anyone here who thinks your stupid for longing for your baby. I also agree & think your best bet in finding a dog with just the right personality is through shelters. You can even volunteer your time there all the while you'll be getting to know the dogs personalities.

Lange is right..In fact many of us here have been through what you're going through and some not that long ago..Most of us turned to the members here to help us get through it..We all know how extremely difficult it is and how dog lovers like us grieve over the loss just as we would if they were a human family member..Not everyone gets that but those of us here certainly do.

[lange]

Only another animal lover can understand the depth of our love for our babies. <3 Love knows no bounds.

[piratekitty]

Sorry for yor loss of your little buddy, it is hard because they are so much a part of our daily lives. I too have lost dogs in the past. Even tho I have loved everyone of them I have never picked the same breed. Its always been that I fell in love with the dog, and they all have been so different, and so much fun. So take your time and fall in love again. Helping out at a shelter is such a wonderful suggestion.

[juraswiss]

My sympathy goes out to you. I, along with many others here, understand the pain as we too have suffered the death of a beloved dog. However, please take the time to grieve and process the loss before you go looking for another. Let the good memories help ease your pain of loss and honor your beloved dog by making sure these cherished memories are not forgotten. It's only been 3 days since your dog died and you have already exhausted your leads in looking for another?! Your new dog will never take the place of the one you lost and don't expect him to be the same, even if it's the same breed or mix. The one you loss was special and your next dog will be special in its own way. Don't rush out to replace that specialness, just because you think it will stop your sorrow. It's not fair to the new dog to have to come into your situation when you're still in mourning when he should be given the proper attention and care in settling in and adjusting to you.

Right after my dog died, I felt insulted whenever someone asked me “Are you going to get another dog?” I explained to them that losing my dog was like losing my child and I cannot think about getting another at the moment. I didn’t say so, but I was thinking that if a mother loses her child, you don’t ask her while she’s grieving, “Are you going to have another baby?”

I was fortunate to get another dog of the same rare breed almost 2 years later, due to a rescue/re-homing situation where I was recommended to take the dog. I understand every situation is different, but do take the time to take care of yourself before you have to take care of a new living being.

[cigwyllt]

I think everyone has different needs when they are grieving. My parents' dog was taken ill and pts within a week. He was pts on the Tuesday and on the Thursday my dad and I went to see a new dog and brought him home on the Sunday.

My parents have never done that before. When one dog has died there has been a month or even 6 months before they have decided they want another dog but this time it all seemed right. Their new dog, Bonzo, is perfect for them. In some ways the opposite of Ianto who they also thought was perfect, and they both feel that having Bonzo and falling in love with him has helped the grieving process for Ianto.