I recall making the same "no more dogs for me" pledge the day I had to put down both of our Poms on the same day. I made it to my car before having the obligatory melt down. Missed those dogs terribly. They were excellent family. The wife and daughter began pressuring me to get a dog about two years later. I was all, "screw that, you didn't have to put them down." About two years after that, I acquiesced and we adopted two mutts from the local rescue effort. There's something about a dog that completes my home. Plus, they love hanging with me when the wife and daughter arn't so inclined. Just took me awhile to be ready to commit.

P.S. - I hate squirrels. Long live those who fight in the war against those rats with good PR (i.e., fluffy tails).