[Dailydrool] Dreamer

[Tim Mayer]

When I posted that Dreamer has passed unexpectedly, I was in no condition to
really tell anyone who he was. I know this will be longer than normal -
please bear with me while I share my friend with you.

Even though Dreamer wasn't a hound, he was obviously special to anyone who
knew him. We all know people who get blessed with a "perfect" child. No
tantrums. Hard working. Obedient. Never any trouble in school. That so does
NOT describe any basset I've ever known. But Dreamer was an angel. I can't
say "perfect", because he did like to bark at everything that moved,
sometimes even just the wind. But that's just the breed. I've had more
shelties than hounds over the last 3 decades, so I was fully aware of the
barking issue, unlike the totally overwhelming mis-behavior of the hounds.
But because of his constant being "on guard" and barking at everything, his
nickname was "Spook". Everything seemed to spook him. He even slept with his
eyes open most of the time.

AKC registered, sired by Destiny in the Wind, the dam was Destiny's
Dreamwind. I chose the name Dreamer of Destiny. He came to me in June 1999,
since my boy Beethoven was terribly lonely. It was the height of the Y2K
computer scare, and I was working 60 to 70 hours a week. I thought a little
buddy would be perfect for him. It worked out wonderfully. Beethoven was
only 5 or 6 years old, lots of energy, and they played together for hours.

As for me, I'm fairly unknown on the drool now. I was much more active at
the "turn of the century" when Maggie came to me from someone at work who
was moving to Alaska and didn't want to take her there. Maggie was my
problem child. BIG time problem child. I learned so much from the Daily
Drool. Had it not been for the crate tips, feeding tips, the training tips,
and other information gleaned from all our friends who post here, especially
regarding bloat (she's done that nearly a dozen times), she never would have
survived. And I'm not saying that lightly. The first couple of years I
nearly surrendered her to rescue. Thankfully she's mellowed a lot. She's
still food obsessive, and has a little bit of anxiety issues, but nothing
that I am bothered by, nothing that keeping her on a strict daily schedule
isn't handling.

Just 5 days ago Dreamer and Maggie, 11 years old and 13 years old
respectively, were tussling, rolling around, chasing each other, and having
a ton of fun in the living room. There was no indication that there was
anything wrong. Lena, the precious lady who was coming over on Christmas to
feed the two dogs that didn't go to Portland with me for the holiday, says
he ate a little slower than normal, and didn't finish everything. It was
such a small change, and with me away from home, it really didn't seem out
of the ordinary. No one could have ever anticipated any of this, nor could
anyone place the slightest blame anywhere. I spent a lot of time with Jeff
and Lena yesterday, then with Lena on the phone again today to let them know
just how much I appreciate all their "doG-parenting" over the years.

Today, I'm still in so much shock that I'm literally sick and unable to eat.
I know that will pass. And, having tragically lost even much younger dogs in
the past, I know it will take months.

While I'd like to reply to each and every person who responded with
comforting words, I'm sure everyone will understand that I can't. I just
don't have the fortitude. But rest assured: I read and saved every word. It
means the world to me to have such considerate friends, even though we've
never met.