Welcome Lyla !

Our dog, Huey, had a run-in with a truck back in september, and he lost. We were all very upset by the loss of him.
My daughter primarily, she loved that dog to no end. he was her "baby", and in turn he adored her as well.
There's a huge diffence between loosing a dog to age, and loosing a dog suddenly, by accident.
With age, you somewhat know the end is coming, and prepare yourself emotionally for the loss.
With an accident, there's no warning, no signs, no goodbyes, no preparing . its a nasty shock.

The kids took it really hard, but tried so hard to be "big" about it. They helped to bury him, ( we had wrapped him, as we didn't think the kids should have seen him post-truck) they pitched in to buy the chain for his site...

Daughter would talk to me eevry night about it. She misses him. she would get herself to tears every time.
wednesday night, when I tucked her in, she asked if she could talk to me about something, "pretty serious".
of course !

" I don't think I'm going to make a wish list this Christmas, Mom. Just tell Santa that I don't care about all the toys n other stuff. All I want him to bring me is a dog."

Oh people. If i could find one word to explain how this tore at my heart....

We talked about it, and she explained " I don't need the toys because I could play with the dog, and it would mean so much more because it is playing with love, not just a plastic toy. toys don't comfort you or cuddle, and they don't lick your face when you're sad. A dog does all that, and I'd feel alot better because it would be a friend."

I told my husband about this talk, and he just nodded a little. I thought that odd, I was sure he'd have something to say. We agreed we would wait to get another dog though, probably until spring. ( we both knew we'd cave by christmas, especially now!)

Friday, I go out to run my errands in town. I live outside of town ,and drive a very thirsty SUV. So to avoid gas issues, I only go once or twice a week, and make multiple stops. This is a peeve of husbands, on the few occasions i do go for just one stop.

I make my first stop, at the library to make returns. As I get back into the truck my phone rings.

"where are you?" husband asks.
I'm at the library, just running errands. whats up?

"ooooh no.really? you're all the way out there?
um, ok... well, um how long will you be?"

I have to do the post office and the store... what do you need hon?

"oooh. . . uh... well i guess i could.... ugh, man.... um... Well i can't leave... um...can you come back? I have to meet with a customer."

what ???
where are you, and why can't you leave?

"I'm at home. hell, sorry , you're gonna have to come back so I can go."
WHY?

"well uuuh I got you something, and um... you need to just come home. "

oh God. is it alive?
"I uh, ..." click.

uh oh. this can't be an appliance he's fund, because he wouldn't have a problem leaving a sink ,or a dishwasher.

When I get home, there is a very pretty girl in the doorway.
a tall, lean, brown eyed , cutie.
Lyla is a 7 month old shepard mix.
She was rescued by one of husband's customers.

Husband , aka dr.dolittle, worked at her home on a leak under the house. Lyla had welcomed him, and stayed with him, even under the house.
the customer asked if he wanted her, and well.... he got soft. brought her home, "to show the wife"

yeah right. she had him wrapped around her big ol paw before he had finished fixing the leak.

He only got lucky in the fact that Lyla is a beautiful pup, and so well behaved ..
She is a very BIG pup, but amazingly seems to know her size and yes, weight. she's very agile.

Of course, the kids were tickled silly with her, and she loved playing with them... which sealed the deal.

The Nuthouse feels 'full' again, my Daughter has gotten much happier, and can discuss Huey without so much hurt.. . she seems whole again.

to me thats priceless in itself.

We have alot of training work to do with Lyla, ( she is trained, but will have to adjust to US giving the commands) but we all agree that she seems to belong here.

Welcome to the Nuthouse Lyla...

Huey, we miss you bub.