Bereaved owner opens her heart to new pup

To our readers: On Feb. 21, we shared a letter from Valarie Thompson of Summerville about Babycakes, an 8-year-old mini-dachshund who died in January, leaving a void in Thompson's life. Several readers responded via telephone and e-mail with advice and words of support for Thompson, and at least three people called to offer dogs. A week after her letter ran, Thompson sent this follow-up:

I wanted to thank you so much for publishing my story about my beloved Babycakes. She really did rock my world and meant more to me than words can express.

I have received several calls offering me another dachshund to fill the huge void in my life and I hope you'll be happy to hear that for the past two weeks, I have been caring for a friend's dachshund named Zoe until they get their yard completely fenced in.

Zoe has been a sweet distraction, which my friends were hoping she would be until I found another.

The good news is all my family and friends found a mini dachshund breeder and bought me a puppy that looks like Babycakes with the same markings, black and tan. So I will have a new addition to my life coming home with me on March 5. She will be 6 weeks and 3 days old. Her name will be Zella Bella.

I especially want to say thank you to everyone for the love and compassion they have shown me. It meant the world to me to know during these hard times people still do care for one another. It's hard for me because I miss my Babycakes so much, but I will heal in time, and I know this new little puppy will bless my heart.

Valarie Thompson

Summerville

Compiled by Brenda Rindge. Got a pet? Tell us about it. We want to tell your stories and run your pictures of Rover, Boots and even Ziggy on our Pet Plus page. If it's furry, feathered or slithery and you love it, tell us why. If it's a hero, tell us. If it's a "character," share the antics. Send pictures (in .jpg format via e-mail) or a hard copy by snail mail that you don't need returned). We'll publish the most interesting, the cutest and the weirdest, but no poetry and no letters from your dog or cat! Submit by e-mail to pets@postandcourier.com or mail to Pets, The Post and Courier, 134 Columbus St., Charleston, SC 29403-4800. Always include your name, address and a daytime phone number.

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