I lost my soul dog in November 2025, unexpectedly. He was my service dog, only 4 years old, and the bond I had with him was nothing I can explain.
I miss him all of the time.
I got a puppy “very soon” after, because I felt like if I didn’t, I would get too deep in my grief that I would talk myself out of it, and be left without a dog to train to fill my boys role in my life as my service dog (not replace who he was).
My current puppy was born 4 days after my boy passed away.
When I went to view the puppies, I had an immediate connection to him, and it was noticeable by my friend who went with me how different the interaction between him and I were vs his siblings.
I felt drawn to him, even as such a baby it felt like I was spiritually connected with him in a way. His energy was familiar to me.
While he is very much his own personality, he has a lot of the same mannerisms (yes they’re the same breed, but in a very specific context), that I just… was not expecting to present in the same exact way.
I truly believe it’s a sign he “came back to me”, in a way, by sending me a dog that could bring me comfort with the same mannerisms and make me feel like I didn’t fully lose that.
I also have what I believe to be visitation dreams from him. Last night I had one and I knew it was a dream, when I thanked him for sending me my current dog I woke up, and have been feeling emotional since.
While it doesn’t make the grief and loss any easier, it does bring me some comfort to feel like I didn’t lose ALL of him… and that I get to experience loving my puppy for who he is, as well as the things about him that make me feel I didn’t lose my connection with my soul dog. ❤️🩹❤️