[Dailydrool] One less AK Hound-sorry, sort of long

[Steven Phipps]

Please understand that I am trying very hard not to be a jerk and I am asking nothing for myself. I lost my job about 3 weeks ago and have been away from the Drool so please except my condolences for all who have faced illness and loss during this time. I grieve for  every loss that I learn of but I feel so lacking in words that I don't respond very often.
The day after job loss I had to take our Harley in for some oral surgery. His recovery was slower than we expected but he did come around. And then. I was paged at Walmart on Wednesday because my wife couldn't call through to my cell phone. I returned her call and learned that Titus had went down in the back. Dropped everything and then home to take him in to the Vet. It was a disc ruptured and the Vet gave some hope of recovery. Home with rimadyl and a muscle relaxer.  I called the hospital Friday am because he could not rest and I wanted to get a strong sedative for him. The doctor would only increase the muscle relaxer an extra half tab per dose. Horrible weekend, he would only respond to being held and stroked. I don't think I have ever felt so inadequate and helpless in my life. I called the office Monday to tell them I wanted to bring him in  to end his suffering. The doctor wanted to hold off a while longer so she prescribed tramadol, a
 narcotic for severe pain. It did not help at all, he refused to lie down despite all the meds in him. I had maybe 15 hours of sleep in 6 days because you don't sleep when this is in a 1 room cabin, carried him in and out, holding him in my arms as he went potty. I owed him that much and more for the love he gave us for so many years. Today I said, Enough, this has to end for him. I felt I had let him down by not acting sooner. At 3pm I held him as the doctor gave a sedative. It took several minutes before he calmed down and relaxed. At the same time it rips your heart, you are so happy to see the pain ebb and the much deserved calm descend. A few minutes later and the doc returned to give the second and final shot to start the journey to the bridge. We now await the cremains to be returned so he will be with us till we go. We have a memorial stone that I gave my wife when she lost Ivan, her heart dog. Titus' dinner bowl will be joining it on the path
 we take up to the road and mailbox everyday.
We originally adopted Hooper(renamed from Christie's Cuddly Cooper) from Rocky Mountain Basset Rescue. Carl Martini was the coordinator for the Pueblo area and he asked if we might do some short term fosters. We said we would like to help and specifically if they had one that was difficult to place otherwise. Not long after they called and asked if we could foster 2 brothers given up by a backyard breeder. Both had been hit by cars and suffered a lot of damage because their breeder did not like to confine his hounds. This is when John Henry and Titus(originally Little John and Otis) entered our lives.
In about 5 days we called Carl and told him nobody in their right minds would ever adopt these two hillbillies so we wanted to keep them and make it official. Carl knew they would have been very hard to place so he said the rescue would waive all adoption fees. We said that didn't feel right so we settled on paying one fee for both.
The brothers(from different litters) were like so many siblings, a love/hate relationship. When walking they wanted to have shoulder to shoulder contact. Other times war, they shredded each others ears. Titus actually had a kink in his tail from his brother biting and not letting go. I got my real introduction to Alaskan winters when my wife woke me to break up a fight between them. -20, snow on the ground and I am outside wearing only underpants trying to separate them.
Titus had no social graces, he never came across something that he didn't feel the need to pee on. But he was our love-bug. The three other Bassets would mug you if they thought a treat was to be had. Titus would turn his nose up to a treat in a minute for a hug, pet or belly rub. Gawd he will be missed.
I ask for no condolences because I am not good about offering them to others but I would be very pleased if you could think a thought for Titus. He deserves it in my mind, even if I do not. Run free little one, the tears will pass but our love for you is forever.
If you have made it this far, thank you very much.


      
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