Look who Ella sent us.

[smkie]

This may sound weird, but she has the same peaceful, almost... wise? look in her eyes that Ella did in some of her photos.

I'm so happy for you two to have found her, and I am positive she is lucky to have found you It is unbearable to not have a dog in the house.

i agree, I have the biggest smile on my face. She is perfect in every way. THere is nothing wrong with going out and in Ella's memory keeping the chain of love going. Bless her heart and yours for coming together.

 

[Pam111]

She's gorgeous!

 

[Brattina88]

I cried, too! But I'm soooo happy for you & your new pup. She looks simply perfect

 

[KenyiGirl]

She's beautiful and her eyes look very kind. Bless Ella for taking care of you and helping you heal...

 

[MPP]

Ophelia is beautiful, just beautiful. And Ella absolutely did send her; even now, taking care of you both.

 

[oakash]

Awww.... As soon as I had gottenover crying for Ella, I was thinking how you should get another dog. The right dog of course. I am so glad Ella sent this beauty to you.

 

[Doberluv]

She's adorable! I love her name too! This is wonderful. You don't have to justify getting a new puppy soon after losing Ella. There's nothing wrong with that. You have the ability to love and give another dog a good life. Why waste time? Of course she'll not replace Ella. But there's this sweet little pup who needs a home and you can divert your attention a little bit away from your pain and give her that home.

It always helped me that I had other dogs in the house when I'd lose one. That comfort they give is amazing. They don't suddenly make you get over your grief. I was quite depressed for about a year when I lost my heart dog, Lyric. But you know you have to give your love to the other dog (s) and you need them too. Everything justy sort of smoothens out better in a home with a dog in it.

Good luck with this cute pup. She really looks a lot like Toker, my son's dog. I don't know if you remember what she looks like.

I'm happy for you guys that you have this wonderful puppy to share your lives with. Ella would approve.

 

[elegy]

oh she's beautiful. ella sure can pick 'em, can't she?

you've got big pawprints to fill, little dog.

i'm glad you guys chose (were chosen?) to get another dog so soon. you have so much love to give.

 

[Renee750il]

I am so glad to see this thread I know Ella is, too.

 

[ACooper]

Ophelia is beautiful, just beautiful. And Ella absolutely did send her; even now, taking care of you both.

Excellent way to put it, I agree

 

[Jules]

I am getting teary eyed here. I am so glad that you have found each other. Sometimes, things are just meant to be.

 

[Paige]

I know how you feel Becca. When I lost my Shelby already having Bandit made the loss not easier, but more bearable.

 

[Chewbecca]

Thanks, guys.
As I type, little Ophie is passed out on our bed due to exhaustion of playing with my brother's boxer all afternoon.

When we take her to the vet on Monday (that is if our vet clinic is still standing since their town was just massively hit with a tornado), we're hoping he'll be able to tell us if her missing toe is indeed an injury or a congenital thing.
If it was an injury, I'll tell you right now, it was intentional by whoever did it.

She whines when she's tired. Reminds me of human baby when they get cranky and fussy when they're tired.:lol-sign:

She likes to dig in dirt, eat leaves, carry sticks, and we have an awful bad leash habit we need to work on breaking: She likes to "walk" herself. She grabs the leash with her mouth, and very confidently prances forward.
She doesn't continuously bite the leash, she just likes to hold it in her mouth.
But she WILL occasionally tug on the leash.

I am soooo new to puppies. Ohmygod. It's like chasing a toddler around.
Seriously.
We have to follow her EVERYWHERE she goes to make sure she is not eating or chewing something she shouldn't be.
I need to work on puppy proofing my house a little better.

We went and got her a few puppy specific toys because all of Ella's old toys are way tooooo big for her.
But even if they were the right size, I, uh, don't know. I'm just not ready to let another dog play with Ella's old toys yet. It's weird. I'm VERY protective over certain things of Ella's. Her old beds, her toys, and letting Ophie use her dishes really bothers me. Oh, and leashes. I had Ben make her a new leash because I don't like using Ella's old leashes on her. These things were Ella's. And I have a blanket that I had made for Ella a few years ago, that is very special, and I'm not ready to let Ophie use it yet.
Does that make sense? So, we'll just get Ophie new things.

I wasn't sure which food to feed her since I guess Core is not meant for puppies, so I went and got her some...er...I think it's called Arcana or Acana or something.
A couple sample bags of different formulas.

She eats whatever we're eating the best, though.


Oh, and is it common for puppies to get hiccups?
She's gotten them twice today.

 

[PlottMom]

But even if they were the right size, I, uh, don't know. I'm just not ready to let another dog play with Ella's old toys yet. It's weird. I'm VERY protective over certain things of Ella's. Her old beds, her toys, and letting Ophie use her dishes really bothers me. Oh, and leashes. I had Ben make her a new leash because I don't like using Ella's old leashes on her. These things were Ella's. And I have a blanket that I had made for Ella a few years ago, that is very special, and I'm not ready to let Ophie use it yet.
Does that make sense? So, we'll just get Ophie new things.

makes total sense to me. sometimes I think about it when I look at all the collars I have (Daisy has one for every holiday, plus different "going out" leather collars, and a TON of lupine stuff) - I know I could never let another dog wear them, or even the same lupine pattern Dais has. Thankfully our beds and bowls at least are interchangeable and always been tossed and replaced.

but no, you're not alone there

 

[Bailey08]

I'm so glad for you both, and for the very lovely Ophelia.

If nothing else, dealing with a puppy doesn't leave a lot of time for other stuff. I got my Bailey at what wasn't the best time in my life, and he really helped. I hope your new little girl does the same for you (and how could a pittie puppy not make things even just a little bit better?).

 

[darkchild16]

Congrats!!!! and SQUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUEEEEEE!!!! Shes ADORABLE!

Get ready for the ride that is refered to as APBT puppyhood. Good Luck!!! If you can get through this test you can get through ANYTHING!!! My dad has a 3 year old bitch that just two days ago my stepmom was fixing the vacuum so she could vacuum and she stole and chewed a peice of said vacuum :|

And no the not wanting to use Ellas stuff is normal (at least fr me and most people I know it is) JD still has a box with his name on it at my dads and the stuff in it no matter how useful will be on or touch another dog. She wont replace Ella and she wont make you forget Ella but she will make you appreciate Ella for who she was more (its a pitty puppy thing LOL)


Walker used to get the hiccups and outgrew them. Tytus outgrew them as well and now he just burps LOUD. lol.

 

[Renee750il]

Puppies get hiccups -- and isn't it the cutest thing ever?

Feeling the way you do about Ella's things, especially this soon, isn't crazy at all. And I'd keep that special blanket you made for her in a special place, always.

 

[Snark]

She's a gorgeous puppy! Ella did good!

Know what you mean about getting new things for your puppy and keeping Ella's safe. Have you seen those deep frames where you can place things in the mat around the picture? When a friend had to have her old horse pts, she kept some of his mane, braided it and had it inset in the mat around a nice head shot of him. Maybe you could mount one of Ella's leashes around a photo of her? Just a thought...

I tend to put together montages of my animals; for my first horse, I have his show halter hanging up next to a photo of him ghosted behind his pedigree, along with his horseshoe and a snaffle bit from his bridle. Patch has a pencil portrait, the first ribbons she ever won in obedience, a high-in-trial plaque and a couple of agility photos with her Q ribbons... I guess mostly I'm saying I don't just hang photos on the wall.

Oh and yeah, puppies hiccup - Riley seemed to get the hiccups everyday and still gets them occasionally.

 

[ihartgonzo]

Omg Becca!!!!! She is beyond GAWJUS! And I love her name... it totally fits her. Ophelia is one beautiful and lucky puppy to have found you.

I completely believe that Ella sent Ophelia to you. You can see it in her eyes! She has Ella's sweet, soulful eyes.

Acana is a really good food! It's one of my favorites. My dogs did suuuper well on it.

 

[Whisper]

Oh, MzElla did good.
What a wonderfully beautiful puppy. <3

It's not crazy at ALL to want to avoid letting any other dog use Ella's stuff. Mandy's been gone for about 8 years now and I still have her collar, leash, and a few of her toys. No other dog has ever or will ever use her stuff.