That's so cute.
I had to put my husky and cocker spaniel down late last winter. So it's been a rough year for me too.
Then when I was buying the schnauzer I took a flying leap down their cement stairs and was laid up for several months and spent many days in ER on IV anti biotics.
And my pc and car died, had to replace both. Plus 3 friends and my uncle died. It's been a year I would like to forget that's for sure.