When our dog died my partner was mourning and I said that we need to get another dog immediately. "No, no, we couldn't possibly replace her" was the answer, and I replied that it was better to save another pup as soon as possible, and that the new one would have just as much love for us. We got a new one.

Of course we still remember the dogs we had before, and the cats. But trust me, the place they took up in your heart does not close up, it needs another animal to fill it. So, I am typing this with a cat on my shoulder, purring, and a dog sleeping on my feet. I am blessed.