Our New Family Member "LOTTA"

May I introduce our new family member LOTTA.

After our beloved lady-dog Nica passed away this year in may we had a pretty hard time and sometimes the loss of her still trouble us.

But it's the sweetest thing to hear again a joyful barking and squeaking when we get home, roaming around our legs with the tail wagging and the wet doggy snout resting on our knees.

Of course, we asked ourselves if now is the right time? But for me personally, asking for a new dog is never wrong or improper.

The desire to fill the time that has become unintentionally free again in a meaningful way. To enrich our lives again with activities like walks and playing around in the garden and to be able to take care of a buddy again is not to blame. Just as we couldn’t imagine how much our old dog would enrich us, Lotta will certainly touch and delight us in her own way, what she already does.

Of course, I also can understand why some people don't want a new dog. They wondering, is it like a betrayal of the old friend to "fill up" his place? Or does the new dog perhaps bring back memories that would have been better repressed? Or even will you ever again find a dog with whom you can experience such carefree moments as with the old one?

But these were no questions for us. Because we never want to replace our old lady, she will always have a special place in our hearts, therefore Lotta is a completely new, independent and different individual in our home, which we already love as much as Nica. So let me tell you how we got Lotta.

Even before Nica died, we have actually been playing with the idea of getting a puppy. Maybe it would be a good thing for Nica as it would help her to animate and to liven up. That’s why we asked a guy, who had a pregnant beautiful pit-bull lady, we have met these year in April during a film production. He said to us when the puppies are born, we can get one. However, we had never shared our contacts and when Nica died we didn't even think about it. We were completely occupied with our grief.

But after some time a colleague contacted us and asked if we still remember the guy with the pregnant Pittbull. The puppies were now born and if we were still interested.

Since we were about to start our 2 month road trip, it wasn't really an option for us yet. Actually, we had planned to look after the trip, whether we are ready. But somehow I was torn and wanted to talk to him at least. That's why I called him and he told me that he had to get rid of the puppies as soon as possible, because he can't keep them in his small apartment much longer. Besides, he has to travel to another island soon. Of course, all trigger points on me were pressed, because I was afraid that he would somehow abandon the puppies. Nica was also a puppy that was abandoned in a cardboard box on the street. It would tear my heart if I knew that these puppies would meet the same fate. That’s why I first tried to find somebody who might be interested in a puppy. Unfortunately I didn’t find anyone. Since I seemed to be very concerned about the puppies, a friend of mine suggested that he and his family would take care of a puppy for the time we were traveling and when we returned, he would give us the puppy. So we had no excuses anymore, the deal was done.

Before we left we wanted to see the puppies in real life, because until then we had only seen them on photos. So we drove to the owner of the puppies to have a look. Since we wanted to have a female dog again, there was only one option for us. There were only 4 puppies 2 males and 2 females. At that time there were only 1 male and 1 female available. The others were already reserved. So we saw Lotta for the first time. It was a striped furry little one and she had just opened her eyes.

She was really cute but actually we were not able to build a bond during to the short visit, but I think that is quite normal. First, they are still too small and secondly, the visit was much too short. Nevertheless, I started to organize everything so that our family friends can take little Lotta.

So we started our journey with the anticipation that maybe a little puppy would be waiting for us when we returned. I say "maybe", because I wanted to leave everything open until we are back, because it could be that the family have become so fond of her that they no longer want to give her away. We have always left this possibility open for the family and for us. If they have taken Lotta so much to their hearts, it should be that way and we would be the last ones to insist on it. But it seems that Nica has sent us little Lotta from heaven, because the same evening when we came back home, Flora and the kids brought Lotta to our home and since then she has taken our hearts by storm. I am firmly convinced that Nica has chosen and sent us this little happy one.

We really would like to thank Yeray, Flora, Hugo and Yeray Jr. for taking such great care of Lotta. Without these great friends, it would not have been possible that Lotta is with us today.

And in loving memory of our dog Nica, we also want to thank her, for all the beautiful memories we were allowed to have with her, which from time to time come back due to the experiences with Lotta.

Do you think it’s ok to get a new dog after the old dog has passed away or do you think once a dog and never again?

I hope you will always keep the possibility open, because this joy that a dog is given to you is simply irreplaceable. Just believe me.

Love,

Katy!

PS: These pics were taken at Nica's Memorial stone. For some reason, Daniell was only able to take some good pictures of her at Nica's place.

Pics by Daniell Bohnhof

Text by Look2 Ocean