Absolutely Distraught

[Anappa]

I have in my years searched and read hundreds if not thousands of posts to forums, but never once have I ever posted until tonight.  My beloved mini dachshund, Abby passed just two days ago and I’m struggling harder than I have ever with anything in my life.  For 11 years, she was my best friend, my companion and it was a privilege to have her in my life.  I couldn’t even walk past her no matter what the case without getting down on my knees to give her a kiss on her sweet little face, or pick her up to sing to her all the goofy little songs I created just for her.  She was my best friend and truly, I loved her like one of my children - and I have children, I know that love.  A few years back she had a couple of problems, bladder stones which resulted in a surgery and a special diet and a lump on her neck which formed suddenly which due to her response and sudden onset, we thought to be a spider bite (the vet as well).  Treated initially, this spider bite never went away, it got bigger, smaller and bigger again, we monitored it carefully, I became acutely aware if it and soon we realized it was the worst case, a tumor.  One ultrasound later, we were informed it was inoperable due to it being vascular in nature and attached to her corroded artery.  There was nothing I could do for my best friend, my sweet companion other than hope she could outlive the growth of the cancer and all seemed well until that morning two days ago.  I woke to my wife saying “there’s something going on with Abby”, absolutely soaked from her wetting the bed (she slept on my side for 11 years).  I picked her up, brought her downstairs, took her out to goto the bathroom just incase.. brought her in and she seemed like she was overheated, panting .. which wasn’t abnormal and happened frequently, in fact, I kept a small fan in the living room just for her over it.  When I realized an hour later that I couldn’t cool her down, I held her until our vet opened shortly after and they were able to get her in immediately.  I rushed her to them, they took her back, identified a breathing issue, put her on oxygen and suggested xrays to locate the source of the issue, of course I agreed and gave the green light.  Not 10 minutes from that conversation, a vet tech bursted into the room and said, “she’s crashing, can we perform cpr?”  Absolutely terrified and stunned I gave permission to absolutely everything they asked, if they said “we can”, I said “do it” - she passed approximately 20 minutes from that point and 4 waves of cpr later.  When they brought her lifeless body into the room, my best friend, always full of life and love and gave her to me, I cried harder than I ever have in my entire life and even now as I’m writing this, I can barely contain myself.  I’m so hurt, I’m just .. devastated - she was such a sweet soul and I feel so, so terrible about this.  I feel awful about not being right there, eye to eye when she passed, loving her at her last moments, I feel awful about the prospect that maybe I could have done something different, even though analytically, I realize it doesn’t matter at this point.  I miss my little girl .. my heart is broken.  Worst of all, my wife already wants another one and truly, I do not believe I have the capacity at this point.  She may have been a dog to her, but Abby was family, friend, kindred spirit to me.  
 

I don’t know how one moves on from such a terrible experience.  Remember the good I suppose, and I will, but my god, what a terrible, heart wrenching, soul ripping experience.  I’m not sure I can ever stop crying. 

[kayc]

Anappa,

I am so sorry...I recently lost my best friend and companion of 10 1/2 years, I know the immense pain of trying to adjust to living without them, my world went from living color to black and white (he had cancer).  I, too, used to sing to my dog.

15 hours ago, Anappa said:

I feel awful about the prospect that maybe I could have done something different, even though analytically, I realize it doesn’t matter at this point.

I think we all think about all the "what ifs" trying to make sense of this, trying to find a different possible outcome, anything other than the one we got.  But the only outcome is the one we got and some things are beyond our control.  We feel we should have been able to protect them from anything, we wanted them to live forever with us, but that's not within our power to grant.  I do, however, hope to be with my dog again and hope that thought brings you comfort with your little Abby as well
 

 

15 hours ago, Anappa said:

I don’t know how one moves on from such a terrible experience. 

I don't know that I ever will.  I'm doing my best to adjust, but I cried every day for about 2 1/2 months and many days since (August 16).  I ordered a memorial stone and placed it on his grave in the back yard. I've painted rocks in his memory (intended for the grave but the resin didn't hold up in the rain so I moved them to his doghouse).  His bed, toys, coat, everything is still in it's place and I can't move it.  I threw away his blankets because of the cancer smell and the toys that were chewed into rags, I've cleaned his recliner, but everything else is in it's place...and it's been 3 months, 8 days.  I know I'll never get over him, he was special, he was my soulmate in a dog, if I could special order a dog, it would be him, my Arlie.  I know there is no other wild-eyed boy that was so smart, goofy, fun, loving, quiet, yet possessed such complex language skills (Husky talk, I knew everything he said, what he meant, every tone, everything).  He was my protector, self-appointed guard dog since age two.  He was my physical trainer as no one else could get me out to walk on ice and snow like he could.  When I broke my right elbow, he was extra careful not to pull, same when we walked on ice.  He was amazing.

15 hours ago, Anappa said:

Remember the good I suppose

In time, I am told, when the grief has had more time to process, we can think of them with a smile, but right now it shoots pain right through my heart.  I look at the couch and see him laying there, smiling, and then he disappears.    I have a lifetime of memories and feel so fortunate to have had him in my life, but just wish it could have been longer.

I know your pain, my friend, and I'm sorry you too have to endure this.  I wish it wasn't so.  

My hope is that when the end of my life has come and I've made that final transition, that he will be there waiting for me to chase him...and for him to turn and chase me, like we always did, playing games with each other...that I will see his beautiful smile again.

I hope when you are up to it you can post a picture of your Abby.

 

 

[Anappa]

44 minutes ago, kayc said:

Anappa,

I am so sorry...I recently lost my best friend and companion of 10 1/2 years, I know the immense pain of trying to adjust to living without them, my world went from living color to black and white (he had cancer).  I, too, used to sing to my dog.

I think we all think about all the "what ifs" trying to make sense of this, trying to find a different possible outcome, anything other than the one we got.  But the only outcome is the one we got and some things are beyond our control.  We feel we should have been able to protect them from anything, we wanted them to live forever with us, but that's not within our power to grant.  I do, however, hope to be with my dog again and hope that thought brings you comfort with your little Abby as well
 

 

I don't know that I ever will.  I'm doing my best to adjust, but I cried every day for about 2 1/2 months and many days since (August 16).  I ordered a memorial stone and placed it on his grave in the back yard. I've painted rocks in his memory (intended for the grave but the resin didn't hold up in the rain so I moved them to his doghouse).  His bed, toys, coat, everything is still in it's place and I can't move it.  I threw away his blankets because of the cancer smell and the toys that were chewed into rags, I've cleaned his recliner, but everything else is in it's place...and it's been 3 months, 8 days.  I know I'll never get over him, he was special, he was my soulmate in a dog, if I could special order a dog, it would be him, my Arlie.  I know there is no other wild-eyed boy that was so smart, goofy, fun, loving, quiet, yet possessed such complex language skills (Husky talk, I knew everything he said, what he meant, every tone, everything).  He was my protector, self-appointed guard dog since age two.  He was my physical trainer as no one else could get me out to walk on ice and snow like he could.  When I broke my right elbow, he was extra careful not to pull, same when we walked on ice.  He was amazing.

In time, I am told, when the grief has had more time to process, we can think of them with a smile, but right now it shoots pain right through my heart.  I look at the couch and see him laying there, smiling, and then he disappears.    I have a lifetime of memories and feel so fortunate to have had him in my life, but just wish it could have been longer.

I know your pain, my friend, and I'm sorry you too have to endure this.  I wish it wasn't so.  

My hope is that when the end of my life has come and I've made that final transition, that he will be there waiting for me to chase him...and for him to turn and chase me, like we always did, playing games with each other...that I will see his beautiful smile again.

I hope when you are up to it you can post a picture of your Abby.

 

 

I’d like to thank you for your sensitive, insightful and helpful response and for sharing your story about Arlie with me.  Please know that it was really very helpful and I truly appreciate the time you took to write it.  I am so very sorry for your loss - I too am struggling with many of the same things you mentioned, a glance over to her favorite spot on the couch and she isn’t there or just this evening when one of my children dropped a plate of food on the floor - my response being to jump up to beat Abby to it so she couldn’t eat it all (she had a mild weight issue that we managed carefully as extra weight for her breed is detrimental to their backs and hips).  I have an 11 year routine to break and the force to retrain me is nothing short of sorrow, it’s so difficult.  I don’t know how much time is enough, I think that must vary from person to person and must be dependent on situation.  My two boys have been a light for me these past days, fortunately being 1 and coming up on 3 years old, they do not have to suffer through this and I am so very grateful for that. 
 

I truly hope you are able to (that we both are able to) find peace with the fact our wonderful companions are no longer with us.  My wife told me something a few times that has been helping me that I’d like to mention to you as well, perhaps it will be helpful.  She said, “Abby wouldn’t want this, she wouldn’t want you feeling this way, what was the first thing she did whenever you were upset about anything?”  “Lick my face and make me smile with her silly antics” I had to reply.  I know Arlie would feel just the same by the little bit you’ve told me about him.  It doesn’t prevent the onset of those feelings (I’ve probably choked up 40 times today throughout the day) but it’s helping me to control it a little better than I was because my wife is right, Abby wouldn’t want that, she was a joyful, happy little girl and she knew if I was upset and really did have a way to communicate to me that she didn’t want that (just as Arlie could communicate with you).  I do look forward to the day it’s not painful to think of her, but happy, as you noted - time they say heals all things, I hope they are right. 
 

The video you attached is beautiful and a wonderful concept, I would love for her to be waiting for me, happy, warm and in company and I truly pray that it is so.  One of my largest problems presently (along side of the rest of course), is that I don’t know where she is or if she’s happy, I don’t know anything and there’s no way for me to know until my final day comes.  The intellectual direction on that path ultimately leads to faith and when in so much pain and duress, faith just comes up so .. lacking, which circles right back around to the fact it is called faith.  Such a bewildering conundrum, particularly while emotionally distraught. 
 

I do know one thing for certain though.  Abby and Arlie aren’t in pain or discomfort any longer regardless of where they went and for that, I am grateful.  I love Abby far too much to have even considered letting her suffer a mere moment.  Every decision with every vet throughout the myriad of health issues she had started with “This is about what is best for her, not what is best for me.”, because in reality, if you truly love your companion in my opinion, what’s best for them is actually what’s best for you.  Wherever she is, I just hope she knows how loved and cherished she was and that I know in my heart that she is a part of me and that I’ll have and treasure that until my final breath.

[Anappa]

Here is my sweet little girl. 

[kayc]

Oh, she's beautiful!  Her eyes...

(((hugs)))

[Anappa]

11 years.  It feels like just a minute and that minute wasn’t even close to long enough.  I visit her 2, 3, 4, 5 times a day and just talk, even though I know she can’t hear me.  Even if she could, 4 feet of dirt would be quite the pair of earplugs - my logical mind is just whittling down my heart at this point.  I miss her, so, so much.  I cannot stop reliving the moment they brought her to me, lifeless and as long as I live, I can never “unfeel” that moment and it is truly one of my worst.  All positive hopes forward and truly, I mean them all (she’s not in pain, she’s happy, not thirsty every 10 minutes or tired all the time, etc), I miss my best friend and what’s worse, I have to keep it together for the people around me because I’m a “man” and we aren’t allowed to feel how I feel and we certainly aren’t allowed to show it if we do - I cry at midnight and focus on holding it back throughout the day and even typing that out makes me feel guilty.  How could I focus on myself when she is the one who endured the cancer and died?  Life is a cruelty and for all the beauty it gives us, I would be dishonest to say I don’t resent it for the horrors it provides in tandem.  It’s been over two weeks, I feel no better, I see no light in this tunnel and again, I miss my friend.  ☹️

[kayc]

8 hours ago, Anappa said:

How could I focus on myself when she is the one who endured the cancer and died?

They are free from their pain now and pain is ours to endure now.  

8 hours ago, Anappa said:

 It’s been over two weeks, I feel no better, I see no light in this tunnel and again, I miss my friend.  ☹️

It'll be four months in a week since I've lost my Arlie (dog/cancer) and no, there's no "light at the end of the tunnel."  How can there be?  He's still gone and my heart is still broken.  I don't cry visibly as much now so I guess I'm adjusting, but it doesn't feel like it, I'm still crying on the inside.  I, too, talk to him, all the time, tell him how much I love him, how much I miss him, that this is still his home, his fence, his yard, his doghouse, his front porch, his recliner, his toys, his coat, his food, his dishes...no I haven't gotten rid of anything.  Am I hoping for him to come back?  I can't explain what I don't understand, this grief is overwhelming and all-consuming, it is what it is and it takes what it takes.

It's okay to cry, even if you are a man.  I was talking with my ex Saturday and he was telling me about his and his wife's loss of their cat...they are hit hard like I was with Arlie.  It's been a few months yet it still brought tears to his eyes.  I was married to him for 23 years,. I could count the times he cried on my left hand.

[MartyT]

8 hours ago, kayc said:

It's okay to cry, even if you are a man.

Amen to that, Kay. Of course you miss your friend, Anappa. We do not grieve for those we do not love. Your pain is a measure of how very much you loved your sweet girl who has died. I hope you will give yourself permission to cry ~ to acknowledge ALL the pain and heartache of grief, and to give in to all the feelings that are demanding your attention. It's like a pressure cooker. Once we open the valve a bit, the steam has a chance to escape ~ and if it weren't for the valve, eventually the pot would explode. I hope these articles will help a bit:

Pet Loss: Why Does It Hurt So Much?

Finding Crying Time in Grief
 

Pet Loss: When Nothing Eases The Pain

[Anappa]

On 12/9/2019 at 9:00 AM, kayc said:

They are free from their pain now and pain is ours to endure now.  

So very true and pain it is indeed unfortunately. 

 

 

On 12/9/2019 at 9:00 AM, kayc said:

It'll be four months in a week since I've lost my Arlie (dog/cancer) and no, there's no "light at the end of the tunnel."  How can there be?  He's still gone and my heart is still broken. 

I honestly cannot imagine how I won’t feel the same in 4 months either, 4 years, it won’t matter, I’m beginning to consider the likelihood that a piece of our hearts will remain broken.  Perhaps there is some beauty to be found in that, I hope to find it one day.  I truly hope you are able to find peace and happiness with Arlie’s passing.
 

On 12/9/2019 at 9:00 AM, kayc said:

It's okay to cry, even if you are a man.  I was talking with my ex Saturday and he was telling me about his and his wife's loss of their cat...they are hit hard like I was with Arlie.  It's been a few months yet it still brought tears to his eyes.  I was married to him for 23 years,. I could count the times he cried on my left hand.

It is okay to cry, I fully and entirely agree and believe me, I have, quite a bit actually. It’s a rather difficult and ridiculous situation if you think about it (expectations of a man from others and of himself).  We’re supposed to be these tough, rugged creatures (traditionally), which simply means we feel as everyone else does but have to cope with everything and present ourselves differently.  That part I’m not terribly concerned with I suppose.. being a husband and a father however, my outward emotions can compromise my wife and children very quickly and that is the larger motivation for me as it applies internally.  My wife in particular on this one, we’ve been together 14 years and this is the first time she saw tears on my face, if it helps her cope with this better, the least I can do is to stay strong. 
 

Thank you again for your responses Kay, I want you to know that I really do appreciate them and the time you’ve taken to write them.  Wish I could give you a hug 🙂

[Anappa]

21 hours ago, MartyT said:

We do not grieve for those we do not love. Your pain is a measure of how very much you loved your sweet girl who has died.

That’s really quite an elegant way of looking at it.  A simple notion but profound to me nonetheless.  I have to say, there was even premature stress on my end while she was alive and healthy - considering your point, I think that rolls right into the equation.  I knew the day would come and that her day would be before mine and I worried about it, for years.  This little girl was special.  I’d had cats and dogs before as a child and adult, I was always fond of them all and loved them, but this one ... it’s so much different.  There was such a rare, special type of bond/love between us, dare I say even spiritual but I knew it and so did she - it all gets philosophical from here, but immeasurable love in life equates to immeasurable pain in grief.  

[MartyT]

Exactly. Clearly your Abby was special. She was what is known as your "heart dog." Many of the people you'll find here in this forum understand what that means, as many of us have loved and lost our own heart dogs too . . .

[kayc]

I always called Arlie my "Soulmate in a dog."  Heart dog seems to depict the same thing, that one that meshes with our soul, THE ONE.

[Anappa]

On 12/10/2019 at 4:33 PM, MartyT said:

Exactly. Clearly your Abby was special. She was what is known as your "heart dog." Many of the people you'll find here in this forum understand what that means, as many of us have loved and lost our own heart dogs too . . .

Canine soulmate.  That sums it up nearly perfectly.  I used to ask her regularly, particularly when I knew she was starting to decline to make sure whatever it is that makes a life personal, in my case I called it “our energy” (some would call it a soul, etc) to make sure that her energy finds mine when I leave this place, that I think explains my hope and I think my greatest ability to cope with her loss.  That said, even though I am hopeful beyond expression, I don’t know it for sure, so round and round I go on the yin and yang train of grief and hope.  There is truly nothing worse than a logical person overwhelmed by emotion, it really doesn’t work well. 
 

At any rate, thank you for pointing out the article on what a heart dog is.  She truly was mine.  🙂

[Anappa]

3 weeks today. That’s a week longer than I ever had to be away from her and my goodness do I miss her. 
 

I made exactly one decision throughout this nightmare with absolutely no regard to any opinion other than my own - my wife and her entire family wanted and pushed for cremation and I just couldn’t have it..  I brought her home and in a race against time and with the last warmth leaving her body(a big problem for me for some reason), I found the most beautiful place on my property and dug a hole I could barely climb out of (for fear of foxes mostly) and kissed her sweet face for the last time (her eyes were open, which was so hard for both my wife and I).  I was so conflicted as I covered her one shovel full at a time, but covered her gently, my sweet friend, crying the entire time.  It is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, but I had to do it, I just couldn’t accept the word of someone else that shoveled out some .. ashes from a furnace ...  “this is her”.. not the one I loved so dearly, no.  Anyway, loosely compact soil is fluffy and takes more space than compact soil, so naturally, there was a mound, a rather large one (a couple of feet high or better) and I was/am completely incapable of compacting it due to my thoughts on what happens to her below (those thoughts are graphic and bother me greatly), so I’ve done nothing and as a result, somehow I’ve connected my loss to the settling of the dirt on top of her.  In 3 weeks, the mound has gone from two feet high to a foot at most and begs the question, how can one love anything so much that the height of dirt and the simple effect of gravity can be directly related to my emotions?  
 

As it turns out, my wife has come to appreciate my decision on this one.  The ability to go out to her grave and talk to her is so helpful.  I have been there 2-3 times per day since she passed, I realized today how much I’m there because of the rather large pile of small stones that sit on top of the mound.  As I talk to her, I pick small stones from the dirt, clean them and stack them, I’m not even sure why. 
 

Gosh this is hard.  No days are good, but some days are this.  

[kayc]

Anappa,

I agree with your decision.  I was going to opt for cremation because Arlie was so big and I knew I could never dig a hole big enough, our soil is clay and hard.  My son offered to come  help me and said sometimes they say they're giving you their ashes but it could be anyone's, so we buried him in the yard next to my granddoggy, Skye.  I''m glad we did.  I, too, find solace in visiting the spot and talk to him a lot.  I ordered a memorial stone, which you might want to consider, it brings me comfort to honor my little boy, I had him 10 1/2 years, got him when he was just shy of a year, and I wish I could have had him many more.  It's been the most painful thing I've gone through since losing my husband 14 1/2 years ago.  It feels like that all over again, Arlie and I were so close.

I painted rocks for his grave, but the sealer isn't withstanding the rain so I brought them into his doghouse instead.  

My heart goes out to you, I know the pain.  I'm finally crying less but crying on the inside now.  My son brought me a puppy this week, he's not Arlie, no one ever will be...he'll create his own spot in my heart, but it won't be Arlie's spot, no one will ever have that place in my heart.  

This is where I got the memorial stone, I've gotten some before, when Skye died over six years ago and they're holding up well.  You can google promo codes and usually find one that will offset the shipping. https://www.personalcreations.com/product/pawprints-in-heaven-memorial-marker-30192930?q=30192930&start=&spell=&srchSuggestion=y&trackingpgroup=pid

[Anappa]

My wife actually just ordered something similar to that, great suggestion.  Until that arrives, I have a marble slate with one of my favorite pictures I rendered and engraved with a laser engraving machine in my shop on the tree directly in front of her.  Her nickname on the bottom came from a little joke revolving around some name play on her and my cats name.  Since she was always the dominant one of the two and his name is Pickle, I called her “the Brain” (Pickle and the Brain playing on Pinky and the Brain) and it stuck, perfect for her personality.  She was a little nugget. 

[kayc]

That is great!  You have a great talent to be able to do something like that!

[Anappa]

 

Today marks one month.  What a terrible period of time - I think the worst part for me is that I spent 11 years protecting her from everything I could and that I truly believe she still exists (spiritually, maybe even physically in another form) and I can’t be there to continue doing so.  Perhaps I’m simply consumed with my responsibility to care for her, but is that not truly what love is at its most basic fundamentals?

Anyway, I came across this song recently and it really hits home so I thought I’d share it - I think when I can play it start to finish without holding back the tears, I’ll know things are okay again. 
 

sigh. 🙁

[Anappa]

A friend asked me for a picture I took 5 or 6 years ago tonight and I couldn’t find it.. not because I don’t have it - I do.. but because seeing these images just crushed me all over again.  All I can think is how long it’s been since Arlie passed, Kay, and I have to tell you, it’s not any better for me either.  I don’t think I’ll ever move on from this.  Being upset and grieving in general is becoming the norm and I suppose that’s just life balancing itself out.  (Happy for 10 minutes?  Sad for 10 minutes as well.) and boy was I HAPPY when she was here. 

It was all I could do to wear a happy face for the family on Christmas.  This little girl ran around in her little jingle bell sweater during the holidays for nearly my entire adult life and now there are no bells, no jingles... just a hung stocking with her old sweater in it.   I even had a Christmas song for her that i sang to her every year, it was tradition, literally part of my holiday spirit.  
 

I’m SO sad.  I miss her more than mere letters can depict.  

[Lisa95]

I am so sorry for the loss of your sweet angel. Animals are so beyond special, they become a part of us and our lives. I am 24 and have not suffered the loss of one of my pets yet, but I can not imagine. I love them so much, and when they feel pain, i feel like we feel that pain but multiplied by 10 lol. 

 

I am so sorry again that you are going through this. That lil girl was so lucky to have such an amazing, loving mom/owner as you in her life. 

[Anappa]

1 minute ago, Lisa95 said:

I am so sorry for the loss of your sweet angel. Animals are so beyond special, they become a part of us and our lives. I am 24 and have not suffered the loss of one of my pets yet, but I can not imagine. I love them so much, and when they feel pain, i feel like we feel that pain but multiplied by 10 lol. 

 

I am so sorry again that you are going through this. That lil girl was so lucky to have such an amazing, loving mom/owner as you in her life. 

Thank you, I truly appreciate that.  It has been helpful for me to share this experience, this pain, loss and grief - I’m 35 and I had Abby from your age.. such .. turbulent and delicate years and she was there, always with love for me as I had for her.  Love your pets every second you can because I regret to inform you that the clock is very much ticking.  There is truly not enough time. 
 

Also, very much a pet dad here - lol, blame the emotional surges on my Italian heritage.  When we love, we really love and my god does it hurt. 

[kayc]

Your dog is beautiful.  I have a song I made up for my Arlie, used to sing it to him all the time, he knew I was singing love to him.

I will miss Arlie until the day I die.  He will always hold that special place in my heart.  My son brought me a puppy to love, I love him already, he's not Arlie and can never take his place but he is making his own unique place in my heart.  Even so I grieve Arlie.  I spent time at his grave on Christmas.  I think about him all the time.  I still wish I could have him here laying on the couch, smiling, I miss him so much.  No amount of time will erase that.  I just want so much for him to know how much I love and appreciate him.  He did the best job one can possibly do at being my companion, my sweet, sweet dog.  The pain is acute.

[Anappa]

2 hours ago, kayc said:

Your dog is beautiful.  I have a song I made up for my Arlie, used to sing it to him all the time, he knew I was singing love to him.

I will miss Arlie until the day I die.  He will always hold that special place in my heart.  My son brought me a puppy to love, I love him already, he's not Arlie and can never take his place but he is making his own unique place in my heart.  Even so I grieve Arlie.  I spent time at his grave on Christmas.  I think about him all the time.  I still wish I could have him here laying on the couch, smiling, I miss him so much.  No amount of time will erase that.  I just want so much for him to know how much I love and appreciate him.  He did the best job one can possibly do at being my companion, my sweet, sweet dog.  The pain is acute.

I worry that we will defensively prohibit ourselves from becoming this attached again because we know “that day” is coming even if subconsciously.  I have adamantly said “no” to another dog and my wife has talked about it a number of times - I just ... can’t and I don’t even think it would be fair to the dog given my current state.  

I know you and I share extremely similar pain on this so it is encouraging to me to hear that you’ve found love for another puppy and believe me, I understand so very well when you say that this one can not replace Arlie.  I hope to get there one day, but right now the mere concept of another feels like in a word .. betrayal. 
 

What breed is your puppy?  I think if the day ever came, it would have to be another mini dachshund for me.  They have delightful personalities. 

[MartyT]

My friend, I assure you that the most effective way to protect yourself from the pain of losing your beloved Abby is never to bring another dog into your life, precisely because a dog's life span is so much shorter than our own ~ but the price you will pay is to deprive yourself of all the love and loyalty that another dog can offer. Of course you must be ready to adopt another, and you are wise to take whatever time you need to mourn the loss of Abby. But I encourage you to remain open to the possibility.

I invite you to read these two articles, in hopes that they will speak to you in a helpful way:

How Long Before Adopting Another?

Replacing a Pet Who Has Died: When Is It Time?

[kayc]

My dog, Arlie, was Husky/Golden Retriever.  I knew I couldn't handle a Husky as I age, they're very strong and the next dog could potentially take me to age 83.  I had about decided not to get another dog after some failed attempts with rescues.  (I got bit several times and another rescue was less than helpful).  I made three tries and had about given up...then my son brought me a Klee Kai (miniature Husky) for  an early Christmas present.  It in no way alleviates my pain over losing Arlie, but I am enjoying the puppy.  Give yourself time...I lost Arlie 8/16.  This puppy shares my birthday even!  He isn't Arlie, never will be, God broke the mold after him, I know that, but I can enjoy this little guy for who he is.  Just don't say "never."  We can't know what the future holds.  You're deep in the throes of grief, not the time to make an absolute decision one way or another.