[Dailydrool] The Perch Is Empty, Pw Elder Clara ATB

[basetsavr5 at aol.com]

That about says it all doesnt it. My DOg, my heart is ripped out, my girl is gone. Clara had a normal day today, eating. peeing watching over me in the kitchen as usual, all was fine. Tonight I went up, took a shower, came back down, looked at a e-mail, I heard a noise--in the time it took me to shower, she was in bloat. I called Doc, and he called the ER and I drove as fast as could, but even with my prayers and begging it was not to be. She was in full torsion twist and at 16 plus, the options were just none. They did not think she could withstand the surgery at her age with her heart issues and we had to make the gut ripping decision to let her go. So damn fast, and bloat was not one we figured would take her.

Elder Clara just happened in our life, but she taught me more than any dog we ever had. She owned me, and it took her a mere 8 months to convince me of that, we had staredowns, those sideway looks she would give me when she was pissed, but all that time she taught me the value of a senior.
When Clara came to be a Beach hound, she did not come willingly. She had made herself at home at her foster Momma--Leanne Potts of BellyRubs Basset Rescue--house. She hated change, but after what she had been thru being dumped in the woods of Tennesse in December, who could blame her. When I adopted her, she was just a dog that needed a home. Little did I know that she would lead us down a path of so much love, meeting so many friends, and all the while her goal was to help other hounds in need, just like she once was. 
Elder Clara wrote a column in in Senior HoundsAbound newsletter, a rescue near and dear to her heart. She hated the hats I stuck on her head for those pictures, and I always reminded her that maybe if she would cooperate with the hat a senior hound might get a home. I usually got a gas bomb on that one. Her Auntie Wen took the news very hard, Clara was a Bounder to the bone, just a different address.
She helped Bessie get the rescue out of Droopy Bassets, and her Auntie Barbara swears Bessie is a Clara clone. Clara met the RedBay Bassets, and Auntie Sandy would always shake her head and say she could not believe she was still motoring about--Auntie Pat always remarked on how Clara must of been a looker in her day. Clara gave her one of those special looks when she said that.
Auntie Dawn came to visit her too. Clara swung into high gear for that--Dawn came with a 5 pound box of cookies--and Clara was a true basset when it came to cookies. Auntie Pam was another of her favorites--Clara loved Pam dearly, and because of that senior love Thelma got the rescue and a forever home. Elder Clara was also chosen as part of artist Missy Johnnsons Paws Pack. The portrait she did of Clara was stunning. Clara took becoming a Pw in stride---but then that was Clara----perhaps she had more royal blood than we knew.
Clara hawked basset crap and sold anything she could to help other hounds in need---her latest was pin cushions to help Freddie that has cancer.  If you have not got yours yet, please--do it for Pw Elder Clara-- www.elderclarafabulousfreddie.com she would like that, and helping seniors is what she did in life, and now she would want that to continue. 
We are beside ourself tonight, no matter how many times I have told myself to prepare for this, she is waaaayyyy old, I am just beyond. The tears just come in waves, I cant believe she is gone, but the perch is empty, the look of loss is all over the rest of the hounds. 
She had quite a life, and I know the she will head for the buffett--

Know how much I love you Clara--and thank you for all you have given me.
You were one special lady--


Debbie Winchester 
Official Food Slave and Drool Mop Queen to 
PW, OEBE Elder Clara, 
OEBE Brudder Elwood, Instigator of Evil Deeds
Elder Sister Daisy, Brudder Jake
 
 
 
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