I am so sorry for your loss of Victor. And furious at the vet tech.
I have no advice on the rest, except do what you feel is best.
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That’s what I did when I was looking for a new dog. I knew my old boy didn’t have much more than a year left, and I wanted him to show a new dog the lay of the land. I just casually started looking just to get the energy out there. It doesn’t commit you, just gets the process started.
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Hoping for the best for your beautiful boy. Ours did very well with three legs-animals adapt better than humans.
Oh I am so sorry for your loss. How absolutely heartbreaking and devastating at the same time.
A few jumbled thoughts (as I get my own emotions in check):
- Dogs do grieve, and process grief, but in a different way from humans. I learned this again when we put our senior girl down this past February and our slightly younger male had to learn to cope without his lifelong companion.
- no one will ever think you are replacing Victor, don’t let that even become a consideration in your decision criteria… and if they do, eff them, that’s their own problem.
- It sounds trite, but your heart will know when the next right dog comes along for you. We go Scout at the end of June this year. I saw her photo and my heart said yes. We met her and did an introduction with Rowdy and it was uneventful in a good way. At that point I was 50/50… we did another meet and greet. And another. Then decided to bring her home. It wasn’t until she was home that I KNEW 100% it was the right decision, but there was a glimmer of recognition for me the moment I first saw her photo and I used that to guide me.
- IF you do want another dog before the baby comes (CONGRATS!!!) I would recommend connecting with the rescue you mentioned right away. Explain the situation, and be prepared to either have something immediate, but also be prepared to wait.
- The longer you wait, the “riskier” it might become with the new baby on the way, so if it were me I’d probably put an “end” date to my search so that you don’t feel pressured to make a decision as your due date comes closer.
- Keep in mind the 3/3/3 rule with bringing in a new dog… 3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months. You’ll be just on the cusp of the 3 month mark if you brought home a new dog right away by the time the baby comes in February.
3 days to not be scared, 3 weeks to feel safe, 3 months to be relaxed and themselves. - We hit the “relaxed and themselves” mark with Scout at about 2.5 months. That also was the same time that Rowdy, our older boy, finally truly settled in and accepted his new companion.
OK that was a lot… Most of all… sending healing thoughts to you and your family. That kind of loss will be painful for a long time. I’m so very very sorry.
Run free, Victor 
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I am so sorry. What a tough ending. Try to remember the good times.
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This is all very helpful, thank you. I did see a dog that “spoke to me” on their site, but I will trust the rescue as to whether or not he would be a good candidate to meet. When I’m horse shopping, I also pick the ones that just seem right (after passing other rigorous tests). Bringing the dog home for a weekend is a great idea too, and I will mention it to the rescue to see if that’s an option. We did get both boys from there as well as fostered for them once, so I think they would be open to that.
I definitely agree with not waiting too long. I don’t want to bring a dog home 2 weeks before I’m due. 
Victor was my first rescue, and while I knew about the 3/3/3 rule, I was really surprised to see how depressed he was (we were his third home). I owned labs and goldens as a kid, and between him being a GSD (rather aloof) and settling in, I genuinely thought he didn’t like us for a solid 3-4 months. He was polite and obedient, but just kind of loafed around. Of course once he was settled in and realized we were his people, that all went away. For some reason, Zeus didn’t have the same extended time to settle in. He was at a rescue living in a pack for over 2 years so maybe he was just happy to have a quiet home and his own people for once. 
Thank you, this brings a tear to my eye (ok, more than one) and is so true. He taught us a lot, and I think we taught him a lot, and I want to help another dog to be happy go lucky and well socialized like he was. 
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I’m so sorry about Victor.
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Oh I’m so sorry to hear this. Hugs to you. I’m glad he was able to get home with you afterwards, even if it was a short time.
I lost a dog suddengly and did not want to get antoher for a little bit. I didn’t want to compare them or feel like he was being replaced. My in laws went out and purchased a puppy and told us to go and look at him. If we didn’t want him, no worries, they would rip up the cheque. But who could say no to a lab puppy?! And to be honest, even though I didn’t want another dog so soon after the loss of our other boy, it was the best thing for me. It was so hard for me to change my routine not having a dog. I would cry every morning as there was no dog to feed, no dog to let out and walk…We looked at and picked up the puppy 2 days after the passing of our dog and it was the best thing for me. I never compared the 2 as I knew this was a different dog (of course!) and I kept my routine which kept me busy and looking forward to each day.
So I don’t think you are crazy at all for considering another dog. I think its the perfect idea
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I’m so sorry about Victor. You are so right - what a presence he had.
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I am so sorry to hear about Victor. I don’t think there is a wrong time for a new dog if you feel ready. You’re not replacing Victor, you’re opening your heart to a new friend who will need you as much as you need them.
A house feels empty without a dog. I know how you feel
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