Regular readers of these articles will remember that after a long illness I had to put my old Cairn terrier Lady to sleep two months ago.
In what in hindsight looks like an act of serendipity, before Lady died and before she became very ill, one of my clients offered me pick of litter from three Norfolk puppies.
We visited the litter when they were four weeks old and duly picked a little bitch that we called Tessa.
Over the next few weeks we visited regularly and finally took her home when she was eight weeks old.
We had her home for one day before our old Cairn Lady suddenly took a turn for the worse and we had to put her to sleep.
It was almost as though she had hung on to hand over the baton, so to speak.
Tessa had so many similarities with our old dog.
As new puppies they both came into the house as though they owned it, gathering up all the bones and toys for themselves.
When we were having a meal, Lady would bark at us.
When we told her to stop this she would then sneeze at us instead.
After a very short period of time Tessa was doing the same.
I have talked to many clients over the years when they have said goodbye to a much loved pet.
We all agree that you can not replace what you have lost.
These pets are part of the family and you never forget them and always miss them (this is the problem with animals having shorter lives than ours).
However what I have discovered is that we can love another pet for its own personality without trying to replace a previous pet and we can have a new and different relationship.
Tessa has already given us much joy as we watch her grow.
She is progressing through her puppy classes well, despite (or because of) her feisty nature.
She has undoubtedly helped us after the loss of Lady who we miss very much.
Alder Veterinary Practice, 58 Bourne Road, Spalding, PE11 1JW. Call 01775 766646. Opening hours 8.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 10am alternate Saturdays. 24 hour emergency cover.
