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I had my beloved dog Sheba an Alsatian x Collie put down in 2008, it will be 4 years on December 1st and I'm now aching for another dog where I'm constantly looking at puppies for sale but my parents won't allow us to have another dog. What can I do? I miss having the company I used to have with her and miss her deeply, please share your opinions x

I sympathise with you so much as we are in the same position. The pain of losing Pippa was so bad we said we couldnt go through it again. So many ask us if we are going to get another dog but I am still at the stage of feeling I would be betraying her some how. It really is not a nice space to be in.

it's really not, I miss Sheba so much and the pain and betrayal of getting another dog kills me, I just miss having Sheba coming to lie on top of me and scratching the heck out of my bed sheets, I just want me to feel that closeness again!

From Facebook:

Zoe Millen: Although another Dog can't replace the Dog you lost, you have enough love in your heart to give another Dog a wonderful life!

Marilyn Ann Cocking: I had to get another dog missed our's so much best thing i ever did .

Belle Chapelle: Bless Sheba's precious soul

Carl Bear: You are a kind loving owner that has so much love to share........give another lucky dog a chance to sample that love. Especially a rescue dog that hasnt had such a good start in life.

Jill Gibb: I've have had dogs all my life. And when we lost our beloved German shepherd. I said I couldn't go threw it again. I was heartbroken. Any my daughter had a mad staffi. She was a nurse and her boyfriend was really poorly. So
she nagged me to have billy. I said yes eventually. Best thing we ever did. I love him so much. Our house is now a home again. Not a empty shell. He will never take the place of Ben. But he has helped me feel better. And billy is not a mad staffi anymore. Think he needed us as much as we needed him. Good luck. X

Karen Tulley: Ooh such lovely comments, I lost my cat 3 years ago and couldn't never have replaced her but we went on to have 3 more rescues and have never looked back. They heal your heart and bring you such love. If you have a big heart there is room for all of them, good luck x

Jane Britcher: Sheba would be so pleased if you gave another dog a chance of a good home.

Penelope Patton: please think about getting a recue dog, one that so desperatly needs a loving home.

Carolyn Pearce: If you have the love for one dog you have the love for many. Dont ever let the upset over losing one put you off getting another because it damages the memory of all the good times you had. Having a dog is not about the bad way you felt when they died it is about the good times you had when they were alive. Give another dog a chance.

Tammy M. Barnhart: when i lost my saint bernard i told myself i would never had any dogs again but something was missing..and i figured it out..when i came home all i got was a wagging tail happy to see me when the human kids only said "whats for supper" lol get a rescue dog

Ron Clater: We have always had a replacement we feel we are saving a life

Liz Randall: Rescue dog. Right now!

Lorraine Szymanski: You must get another dog to make your home complete.It will help you to remember the good times with Sheba

Linda Coull: THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS. AS THE THOUGHT IS IN MIND I THINK THE ANSWER IS YES, GET ANOTHER DOG BUT GIVE YOURSELF TIME TO GRIEVE PROPERLY FIRST . X

Hi Kelsey,

In addition to what everyone else has said, a couple of things you might consider if you are not sure you are ready for another dog or your mum is not keen: one is fostering - there are lots of rescue dogs waiting for forever homes who find kennels very distressing and would benefit from a temporary home and this would also allow you to see how it feels to have a dog in the home again. The other is to spend some time volunteering at a rescue centre which would allow you to be around dogs without necessarily having to take the step to home one straight away; obviously it is not the same as sharing your home with one but might help. Just some suggestions and hope you have found all the comments useful.

Take care.

Hi Shailen

I already volunteer with owls on a Saturday but will have a look into volunteering at a rescue centre on a Sunday. My parents don't want to get another simply because we are all out at work all day and it wouldnt be fair to leave the dog on it's own, I want to get my own house but a lot of landlords don't allow pets and I don't want to be put down with a mortgage at my age as I am only 20

Re volunteering, something else that always seems like a great thing to do is helping the Cinnamon Trust walking dogs for the elderly, e.g. see here http://www.cinnamon.org.uk/volunteers/. Not sure if there is a need near where you live but you never know. That seems like quite a rewarding thing to do...

Hi Shailen, there is one in Preston which is a 45 minute bus ride away!