Will You Be Able To Love A New Companion?

Will You Be Able to Love

A New Companion?

When is the right time to acquire a new companion, after losing a beloved pet? The right time is when you are ready....everyone is different, and it is definitely an individual thing. While acquiring a new companion right away works for some, it can be a disaster for others who rush out in haste, when still grieving, and make the wrong choice. You, and only you, will know when it's the right time to begin your search....do not bow to pressure from others. If you are a couple, discuss your feelings regarding a new companion. Be sure you both are ready and comfortable that it is indeed the "right time" to begin your search. There is no need to rush or pressure your partner, if they are the least bit hesitant...give it time. The following is my story, and hope it will be of some help.

When I lost both my girls within a very short period of time, I soon realized that even though my home seemed empty, and I missed them terribly, the time was not right for me to begin my search. I was tired after dealing with Jingles' lengthy illness and then Jezebel's for a couple of months. I really needed time for me, and time to catch up on many things I had to let slide while dealing with my girls. Initially, I found myself checking out various dogs up for adoption on the Internet, and also a couple of nearby shelters, but my heart just wasn't in it, and decided it was best to wait. However, I did know exactly what I would be looking for in a new companion. After a few weeks, I let my Animal Control Officer know that I would be looking for a German Shepherd girl, or mix of, and wanted an adult, not a puppy. My reason for the latter was that most people want a puppy, and it is more difficult to find a home for the needy, older dog. I had no interest in dealing with all the "puppy stuff"...gettin' too old for all of that LOL. I also wanted a dog with a lot of "spirit," as opposed to one that would just lay at my feet...I wanted to have fun playing, and interacting with my new companion.

I knew that a lot of time could pass before the right dog for me would come into my life, but somehow I felt that the "right dog" would find me, the same way Jingles and Jezebel did....I was right, with what I believe was a lot of help from them. Two months after the passing of my girls, my phone rang early in the AM of January 5, 2004. It was my Animal Control Officer asking if I had acquired a new dog. I said "no," and hadn't been looking at this point. He said, "I think I have the dog you are looking for, if you are interested." My Animal Control is really a pound, and does not take in owner-surrenders, but do work with people who plan to give up their pet, while it is still in its home. This was the case with the dog he phoned me about. My ACO gave me a brief description of the dog, and the one thing I wanted to know was if she had standing ears (I have a real thing for those big standing ears LOL) and he said she did. He then put me on the phone with the owner who was planning to give her up.

The really good thing about this situation was, I was able to find out quite a bit about her, and get answers to my questions. "Sasha," the name given her, had been adopted by this family about 1 1/2 months earlier when in another pound, after being picked up as a stray. They had young boys as well as a toddler. Sasha played with the boys, but had a load of energy and was also "mouthy," which concerned them regarding the toddler. After speaking with the owner, I had a feeling Sasha was the right dog for me. He said he would bring Sasha to Animal Control within an hour for me to meet her. The minute I laid eyes on that pretty girl, I knew she was the right one...I was delighted. Her tail was wagging, and she got up on her hind legs, placing her paws on my shoulders to give me a kiss. I had brought a leash for her, and asked if she had any problems riding in the car, such as car sickness...answer was she loved to ride, and she does. Sasha had already been spayed (I found the scar) and recently had all her vacs. All I had to do was license her, attach the leash, and off we went on a nice drive to a large pet supply store for new toys (mainly balls) and the food I was going to feed her. The store owner told me to bring her in, so he could see her. How she loved all the attention, and the gift the store owner gave her, plus the "extra" ones I purchased, that she had helped herself to LOL.

Sasha is German Shepherd and I believe Belgian Malinois, is a very high-energy dog, who wants nothing more than to play ball 24/7. She's a busy dog that requires a lot of exercise to keep her happy, and she's a very happy dog. She loves the children in my neighborhood, and looks for them to kick her soccer ball for her, much to their delight. I put her through her paces the first day I had her, to see how much in the way of commands she knew...she knew several. Obviously, her first owner (whoever that was) put their time in with her. She knew sit, stay, down, come, and found out she's excellent on recall. However, she is clueless about "heel," and is a terrible puller, which I have been working on. It also was no big deal to correct her mouthing, as when she became mouthy I said "no bite!" She knew what that meant, and stopped. She was totally housebroken, not a chewer, but likes her comfort, and has taken over an old chair I have....not a problem for me. She is a "thief," and will countersurf, so I make sure there is nothing on the counter that she can get into.

Sasha has filled a huge void in my life, puts a smile on my face first thing every morning, and is everything I could have hoped for, and then some. I had always hoped I would own a dog that likes the water, and she does. She had a ball this summer swimming in the lake...a first for me as a dog owner. She also loves the snow.

My new companion has brought a lot of happiness into my life again. While I have never forgotten my girls or any other pets I have owned in the past, life goes on and there's always a new chapter. I opened my heart to a dog in need, and I'm very glad I did. I really believe my girls sent her my way, knowing we needed each other. Every dog I have owned has been a unique individual, and I loved them for what they were. Each one provided me with new experiences which I truly enjoyed, and cherish those memories. The same can happen for you, when the time is right.