Before you ask – no, I have not gone crazy and adopted another puppy.  Although I’ve warned Jim before that he may come home one day to 7 little Tootsie rolls – 7 doxies all lined up in a row. No, this cutest little puppy is my friend Heather’s.

You may remember Heather from Lokie’s story when I told you about her beloved dog Emmy passing away unexpectedly.  Emmy was a Cavalier King Charles (as is Aiden!) and was diagnosed with Syringomyelia (SM) at about 6 months.  Emmy’s case progressed so fast that she wasn’t expected to live, unless she had a really risky surgery.

 Heather fought for her and Emmy survived her surgery.  With lots of love and PT,  Emmy not only survived, but went on to live over 8 more years.  She was a little fighter, and such a happy dog who did not let her handicap get in her way.

Here is Emmy in Pinot and Lokie’s firehouse (when you live with a Fireman, of course your dogs needs a firehouse!).

All dog people know how hard it is when our beloved dogs pass away.  Some people vow to never get another dog.  Others miss the companionship so much they start thinking of getting another one, not to replace the one lost, but to become another part of our hearts.

One day, Heather texted to say she was THIS close to getting a puppy. She had been thinking of adopting an older Cavalier, but after Emmy passed, her heart told her she needed a puppy for now.  A few days later, Aiden was home with Heather.

It is a match made in heaven.  They even have the same color hair.

My friend Lisa and I were so excited to meet Aiden, whose name means “little fire.”  And boy is he a ball of fire.  He doesn’t stop moving.  This was the very first picture I took of him.

The blurriness is not from my hand shaking.

I brought him a toy duck which he immediately pounced on.

And brought back to me to play fetch.

Have you ever heard a 3.5 lbs puppy making growly noises?  If not, you must.  That sound will heal any heartbreak.

He loved getting his belly rubbed by Lisa.

And showing off his ferocious teeth.

He’s already claimed the couch cushions as his own.

Aiden is a clever puppy.  He figured out how to unroll all the toilet paper while Heather was in the shower.

Then sit there and act innocent.  “Don’t mind me, I’m just sitting quietly on the mat.  I have no idea how all the toilet paper just fell off the roll.”

After all that activity, he finally fell asleep on the cushion.

The cutest little puppy.  Emmy will live forever in Heather and our hearts but Aiden will build new memories in Heather’s life.

After spending an afternoon with this 3.5 lbs. dog, my 9.5 lbs. and 11 lbs. dogs seemed gigantic.  It took 2 days before I stopped thinking of Lokie as huge.  Hmmm…could there be a puppy in my future (just kidding, Jim!)?