[SydneyK]

It's always so hard to lose a pet. I'm so very sorry for your loss.

I echo the advice that many have already given: your mom really should be involved in determining whether or not to get another dog.

Some friends of my parents went through a similar situation several years ago. When they lost their dog of 16 years, they both agreed that although they wanted another pet, they didn't want to feel like they were betraying Moses by getting another one so soon. They called their local service dog organization to see if they had any dogs that needed temporary homes. They discovered that that organization looks to citizens to help with service-dog-to-be puppy raising! So, they have been raising service puppies for the past several years, and couldn't be happier. The point of all that rambling: there are definitely ways to fill the void caused by a lost pet. Maybe your mom could look into some other possibilities before committing to the responsibilities (and emotional investment) of getting another dog.