Sundancer - I love your story!
I have a similar story - so your's really touched home.
We had a Weimeraner - The Gray Ghost - they look a little lika a Lab but Gray/tan in color with amber or blue eyes.
Ruger was a Royal Pain but we loved him to death! He would climb onto kitchen counters and the dining table. He would open doors. He had Terrible
Separation Anxioty (oops sp?).
He developed seizures from a brain tumor and we had to put him 'to sleep' for his own safty.
I Swore I would Never have another Weimeraner again!
I Swore it would be ages before I would have another dog again!
(We have had dogs most of our 43 years of marriage) and it is just SO heartbreaking when we loose them!
Not quite a year after Ruger (our Weimeraner) was gone we got a call from a "doggy day care" owner that wanted us to "just take a look at"
a
female one year old Weimeraner.
She had been left at the day care center and was nothing but bones. Starved almost to death. She had been beaten so she would cower if you got close
to her with a broom or mop or if you raised your hand quickly.
Yeah - it was the "just take her home for the week-end" ploy
I told my hubby - no - I just don't want another Weimeraner! I just Can't go through this all over again......yeah he brought her home.
Of course she is Still here! Of Course we love her beyond measure!
We have fattened her up. She is one of the Most Loving dogs we have ever had - gentle and sweet, calm and loving.
And she has become 'my' dog. She likes to be where I am (we think some of that is that I am female and she was probably beaten by a male). But we
have Bonded more than I wanted - And I wouldn't give her up for all the tea in China!
Yes I DO believe it is FATE that brings people and animals into our lives. And remember - Never Say Never!
Side note - Sundancer - we also lost a child to a car accident. Our youngest son - so I understand your pain and feel your heartbreak.