thanks so much guys. it's been pretty hard, especially when we come home from somewhere because he would always run to the door to greet us, but we'll be okay.
we have our two cats that have just been going bizerk because they have free reign of the house. it's kind of funny because they would never be able to play "freely". Atlas would always jump at them or something, haha.
but we'll get another puppy in a few months or so, but we will not name him Atlas the II because he can never be replaced. :)