[Dailydrool] 14 year old basset

[Marilyn Bickell]

Well, as all of you know by now, I've been seriously looking into adopting a
B&T Coonhound. And give me the seniors any time! I don't know if I ever
really appreciated them as much as I do now, since Bess is above and beyond
her senior years, and becoming more and more special in her grumpy,
delusional senior ways. Or maybe I just like the seniors because I can
relate to the grumpies and delusional state.

A friend and I went out to lunch the other day, and she said I should get a
Coonhound puppy so it could grow with the family ~~ stop laughing, Cathy ~~
but I'm 62 years old and for me, I'm just about as grown as I'm going to
get. So I figure we need an older rescue to settle in with us, and we can
enjoy each other's seniorness together, watching marathon Monk and Psych,
walking on the beach, exploring sights, smells, and sounds at the ranch, and
taking road trips to wherever we feel like going.

My friend also gave me the "check into genetic diseases" lecture. Already
Did that. But my choice wouldn't stem from possible health issues. Although
it is good to know what the dog's future *might* bring to him/her simply to
be prepared and not shocked when something might come along. 
If I love a certain breed I would want it for itself. Heck, look at Miko:
Rottie/B&T Coonhound ~~ lots of possible issues, possibly happening with
both those breeds: dysplasia, heart problems, cancer, bloat. I don't know if
Miko's Osteosarcoma happened because of the Rott, which they're very prone
to getting, or if she just got the short end of the straw. I loved her no
matter what health issues might arise. If I didn't adopt a dog because of
possible health issues, I would be dogless. 

Ok, so then my friend said to check the other Coonhounds. Did that, too. You
can't imagine how many hours I've burned on this computer, looking at all
the coonhounds. Didn't really take too long, though, to realize I do want a
B&T Coonhound, but I wanted to check out all of them, just in case.

Then my friend said to make sure to be completely honest with the Rescue
when I contact them, because adopting out of State can be a problem. That
never entered my mind NOT to be honest with them. I'm willing to tell them
everything, and even tell them stuff they don't need to know or haven't any
interest in hearing ~~ you know how I can ramble on, LOL!

But for now, adoption depends on Bess's health, because I won't bring
another dog in that could possibly upset her stability. I know it's
difficult for her living with Rosey, so another possible stressor is not
worth it at this time.

So here I am, retired for 7 years, and it's wonderful; I do what I want. Go
where I want. And I can't think of a better way to spend that time than with
a senior hound.

(No, Sara, I don't want GrannyMa. Talk about tilting the stability scale
*snork!*)

Marilyn, Miko (Chasing lizards in Heaven), El Queeno BessWHSE,
RoseyMaeNAFASSDDBBSSSBSAT, & (FC)Theodore CleavEar Beaver Bickell, 
Fort Bragg, CA., "You have gone ahead and nothing is the same, leaving paw
prints on my heart that will always remain."- Tibetan Proverb from Prayers
on the Wind.