Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - I want a puppy so bad...

some one stop me! Aiyana has been gone for a month... Hurley and Dream are so sad and lonely. Dream never gets off the couch and Hurley just mopes around all the time. Aiyana was his play mate, Dream never liked him, poor guy. I want to hold a puppy and get kisses that will heal the hole in my heart... but I am afraid. Afraid of this disease again, afraid that Dream is too old and won't like it... afraid I can't handle another loss after losing Wolfie and Aiyana of the same disease so close together. You are all in our prayers daily. Blessings, Julie

Julie IL

Ah Julie, go for it I say, it may happen again, it may not Dream may like and and then again he may not but then life is a game of chance and as long as you keep the puppy away from Dream whilst it's being too boisterous then I'm sure that it will work and it won't be a puppy forever and will soon learn that Hurley is the playful one. When I lost Holly I was devestated beyond belief and my poor Ellie just hid under the dining table all day and moped along behind me on walks, well they had been together for over 6 years and hardly spent a day apart in all that time. I got Saffy 2 weeks after Holly died and at first Ellie was a little unsure though Saffy took to her straight away and anything that scared her she would go hide in Ellie's legs! 3 months on and they are great friends, to see them playing tag in the fields where we walk just fills my heart with joy and whilst I will never forget Holly I feel content again. Like you I was worried about it happening again, especially as I have another Springer and they can be prone to it as a breed, but for me personally there was no other dog to have. It must have been doubly hard losing two dogs to this awful disease but if that's how you feel and if it helps you all heal. I am hoping to try Saffy as a PAT dog, she is a working dig and I feel this may be a good thing to help others out of my dreadful experience. I wish you all the luck whatever decision you make. With love Keri xx

Keri Lynn Wales

I am another double loss person Julie. I have been contemplating another dog too. I'm really scared too. What kind of bad luck do we have? We have ruled out anything environmental here and we are pretty certain of the triggers for my two dogs. My dogs were 7 years apart. That's why it took us so long to get another one and bam it happened again. Third time has to be the charm - I say go for it! Let us know and I'll do the same. Take care.

Cynthia Grosse Pte

Julie, I say go for it, too. I know you're gunshy; I was, too, and I've only dealt with IMHA once. We even got a puppy who was Bronwyn's half-sister, and the genetic connection does worry me. But I also have to say that getting Amy (we got her 4 months after Bronnie died, when she was 8 weeks old) was cathartic for me and really helped me to heal. We already had another dog, an 11-year-old Black Lab named Trajan, but that little Yellow ball of Labrapuppy was just what all of us needed. I call it fuzz therapy - and I hope you go ahead and get that puppy. I bet Aiyana and Wolfie would want you to. Let us know what you decide to do. :-) Elizabeth

Elizabeth Baltimore

Julie...go for it. I lost my dog to AIHA after a 7 month struggle but I had the best 8 years with her. I am also gun shy to get another dog, but realistically, we all have to realize we are probably going to outlive every dog we have unless we are very old or become sick ourselves. We had my son's 12 week old chocolate lab puppy with us at Christmas and it makes you remember all the fun (and work)puppies are.

Ron B San Mateo

If I may suggest giving a second chance to a shelter pup in honor of all of your sweet furkids at the bridge? Adopting and rescue can be a wonderful gift for you and a heartfelt tribute to your furbabies. I think that getting another dog is by no means a replacement, and it will fill your heart and home with love. Ask Sharon! She rescued two at once! Just keep us posted, we would love to see pictures. best, melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

Thanks all, Well... Hubby and I stopped by our local shelter this afternoon. Something happened and now I am really confused. Three years ago when my parents lost their dog - mom and I went to the shelter to look for a dog for them. There were two huskies ... beautiful dogs, and they were calling to me. I had 3 dogs at the time, so knew it was not possible. When Wolfie died I went to the shelter and the dogs were still there and still calling to me. Well guess what.. they are still there and calling to me even more. They are older, 9 and 10 now, and inseparable... I know I will not sleep tonight thinking about them... I cried when I saw they were still there. Tonight I have been trying to figure out ways I could do this... I want so much for them to have a forever home with us - they deserve to be loved and cared for entering their senior years. Of course this opens up a lot of problems for me emotionally - am I ready to go through that kind of loss again so soon? This is something we would have to work into slowly, spending some time with them at the shelter - bringing our dogs to visit them and seeing how it would all work out. Then we would need to put up a large run, even though our yard is fenced, I think I would need a place to keep them all apart safely in case of problems. oh what to do? praying for all of you and your fur kids, Julie

Julie IL

Julie, how clear can the message be? FATE seems to have called to you many times over the years. It'll work out; it just does. :-) Two years ago I rescued a Newfie that was a few weeks shy of turning 12. Most Newfies don't live to that age. I knew I'd be saying good-bye to her too soon. I had her for 11 months, and during that time she and Maddie became fast friends, she went to school with me and gave my third graders great joy--and they her--and she enjoyed life to the fullest. (I think she had more social interactions in her last year than she had had in several years because her previous "mom" was in her 80s and had become frail.) Good luck!

Ruth Aptos

Julie, I have to agree with Ruth. It sounds like these two dogs have been waiting for you. Yes they are older and not the puppy you were thinking about. Even though their time with you may have limits you would know that you had given them the gift of a truly love filled life. I hope that things work out. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Wow, that seems just too crazy that they are still there, still tugging at your heart. It's so sad to think about loss again, but here we have all learned not to dwell on the future, and to take it one day at a time. And I suspect those two sweeties will give you many, many days of joy, and you would be giving them the tremendous gift of a forever home in their golden years. Keep us posted :))) melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

Thanks all, I guess it is not meant to be.. I called the shelter yesterday for more info on the huskies. They were both adopted and returned quite quickly in 2007 - I knew they had been there a really long time. The web site and their cages both have signs that say good with other dogs, I guess that is not the case. They are both very aggressive, the female has bitten children and adults, and the male is extremely food and toy aggressive so not good with other dogs at all. I can not risk my two dogs safety, or the safety of my neighbors small children who love to climb the fence and play with our dogs (supervised of course). If I did not have my two dogs, I would take them in a heartbeat, my heart really aches for them. The right dog will fall into our laps, they always do. blessings, Julie

Julie IL

Julie -- sorry it didn't work out, because I'm sure you would have given them a great home. Of course, we never really know what kind of home environment they had and how that may have contributed to their behavior. But, you have to do what's best for you and your dogs, because it would break your heart again to bring them home, upset your dogs, and then return them to the shelter. Please take care.

Brenda VA

Julie - Puppies do help heal the heart and dogs are pack animals and love canine companionship. I lost 2 dogs between Nov.26th and December 31st of this year. I actually had to euthanize both. It was a very hard thing to do, but the right thing to do. Five days after the 1st dog died, I got a new puppy. I was reluctant but I couldn't resist. It doesn't mean I didn't love the others who have passed on, or that the new puppy replaces them. My old dog ignored the puppy but I expected that. Old dogs are old, puppies are bursting to explore a new world. I believe dogs are a very special gift from God; a unique creation made especially for us to love and to enjoy. Listen to your heart.

Karen R Augusta

This thread was discussed between 02/01/2009 and 05/01/2009

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