It's March 2010, And There's a New Member of Our Family

Dapple

It was a set up. A divine set up. I didn't need another dog. I didn't even want another dog. But the universe always knows better than I do.

The pieces aligned themselves just right … and on January 1, I had a new puppy. She wasn't just any puppy. Oh no. It would take just one kind of puppy or dog to get me to bring home "just one more."

To understand why, we must back up a bit in the story. Last April, at nine years old, Greta went to Rainbow Bridge completely unexpectedly. Greta underwent surgery for a ruptured disc in her back. After a successful operation and a couple days in recovery, she was sent home with optimism. Three days later, she was showing improvement in spirit and body. But on that third day, something terrible went wrong. In a matter of minutes, Greta went from napping peacefully to awaking with heavy panting. Less than 10 minutes later, she was gone. Her chest and lungs filled with fluid and blood – and there was no saving her.

The grief over her loss was immense. I've had many dogs over my lifetime and each has his and her own place in my heart and memories, but Greta was truly special. She and her sister Garbo came into my world to help ease the pain and grief of the tragic loss of another very special dog … another divine set up.

Eight months after Greta was gone, I agreed to help with the transport of six dogs for Dachshund Rescue of North America. Winter weather had canceled plans for the first attempt at transporting the dogs from Tennessee to SW Pennsylvania. I had not been a part of the original transport plans. I learned of difficulties in rescheduling the transport, so I offered to help.

I met the DRNA rep from Tennessee in West Virginia. When she opened the crates and took out two of the pups, I couldn't believe it. I was taken back nearly nine years to the days when Greta and Garbo were puppies. Silver dappled, long, shaggy coats – almost like mops with little legs. One pup more silver than the other. One pup with a split-colored face. Greta and Garbo got their unique coats from the union of their longhaired, black & tan dappled dachshund mother to their rapscallion father, a red miniature poodle. Hence, producing "Doodles."

These pups were dumped in a shelter and were reportedly wirehaired dachshunds. They looked like they could be wires – albeit soft-coated wires. But to me, they looked like baby Doodles.

I kept telling myself on the trip to the DRNA rep's house in SW Pennsylvania, "I don't need another dog … I don't need another dog … I don't … "

I was defiant up until the moment of departure to head back home. I said goodbye to all the dogs and wished them happy lives in their adoptive homes. I saved her for last. And the tears came. And I couldn't put her down. I said to the foster mom, "I'm taking her."

I know that "Dapple" (named for Greta's nickname as a newborn) isn't Greta. I don't expect her to replace Greta. Anyone who ever knew Greta knows that she was a character all of her own making. But there is enough of Greta in Dapple – in her looks and her personality and her quirky mannerisms – to remind me that Greta is only gone in body.

I guess I did need a dog after all. I needed this dog.

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