[Dailydrool] aging - a bit long, sorry

[jacquelynn chazey]

My guys range in age from 11 to 2.  Pumpkin is the eldest (August on the 2011 Senior Hounds Abound Calendar), and votes are still open for 2012.  My Jean Paul is a contender, but just vote, pick your favorite and do a good thing for a wonderful rescue organization.  
Pumpkin is a very spry elder gal.  She has a lot of energy, a lot of minx, a tiny bit of devil gleam in her eye, and she is a joy.  I don't want to jinx myself about her, thou, as she has a stable heart murmur, and several years ago, she had a stage 2 mast cell tumor removed.  Nevertheless, she has her 9 pm playtime where she runs and barks all about the living room tossing toys.  She does the nasty on her giant stuffed bear, and she has been doing that since she was a pup.  We wash it for her all the time.  Pumpkin is the only hound that was with us for Dad's last year alive (and the only dog that does nasty on a toy).  He always called her disgusting when she did that, but I don't have the heart to take it away from her.  She often needs a boost on the way up to the couch or into the car.  When she was a pup, we taught her "two paws" which meant she was to put her front paws up so we could boost her.  If no one is around, she gets up on her own, but if we are in sight, she expects her "two paws".  She is drug free. (rescue hound)
Jean Paul is 10, always had a lot of health issues, but likes a medium walk on a crisp day.  I don't push him on walking.  He has issues with bicycles, and too many times we have crossed paths with one or more on a walk, and he freaks.  A stupid kid ran into him when he was a pup, and they terrify him to the extent that he almost gallops home if he sees one.  Big stress moment, not good for his heart and soul.  He takes cosequin DS and Sod Boswieillia. (Pet store hound - Mom is insane, didn't really realize it at the time, we were all grieving for Dad)
My three 8 year olds are Jelly, Nigel and Colette.  Jellybean is insane, and will randomly rant in a bed, just scream her head off for no apparent reason.  She is VERY high energy, and the noisiest in the house.  I highly suspect she has beagle in her blood lines.  She is also very frail in terms of reactions to medicines.  She takes 4 pills daily as preventatives for her frequent bouts with UTI, but  she tolerates these meds.  Nothing she hates more than going to the Vet. (Pet store hound - Mom's dementia is advancing, still didn't recognize the signs)
The twins, Nigel and Colette are demur.  They feel special because they were not Mill puppies, but they were BYB.  Because they have each other gives them a different kind of energy.  Nigel tries to be a bully, and he was probably the alpha of the litter.  Colette is coming around, coming out of her shell.  She is the "Jan Brady" of the family.  We make a huge effort to try to make her integrate.  I have never been able to get a picture of her not looking sad.  Sometimes, when she plays, she almost looks happy, but she is a sad soul for some reason.   Still, very good energy and spirit.  Nigel takes cosequin ds, Colette is drug free.  (BYB hounds, and Mom says, I am not leaving without a girl, and they would not sell the girl if Mom wouldn't take a boy, ergo the twins, and Colette, then known as Chocolate Chip loved Patches, and  I often wonder if this is some of the cause of her forever sadness, and who am I to judge Mom, as I was clueless and dementia is a progression)
Max, Mr. Dickens is a punk, and he is 6, not a sr. Drug free (rescue hound), he is my sister's heart, and I am so glad she saved him.
Nikki is almost 5 (Nov.), not a sr. but a screamer.  We think she barks in Spanish because no one seems to understand her.  I am planning on relearning the language myself.   She gets cosequin ds and Sod Bosweillia.  One of her front legs is turned out a bit.  Just doing it as a precaution. (rescue hound)  Such a cute dog, all the way from Alabama, and because of she, a friend rescued from Alabama as well, and she is just pleased as punch with her basset (this gal used to get pet store dogs, and now supports rescue).
Mr. Jr., the BABY, at 2.  Nuf said. Drug free.  (He rescued ME)
Just like with people, age is just a number, and some young ones act old, some old ones act young. Despite the reasons we have all these hounds is moot to me.  I believe they were meant to be, and I cherish them all as a blessing.  I didn't even know about the daily drool until one day I was on the lawn with Pumpkin and Jean Paul and a driver stopped and chatted basset with me.  
The daily drool has been a wonderful sound board for me, learning and sharing experiences.  The grief support I got when Sr. passed was so healing, and I don't want to get to soppy, just want to send my appreciation to everyone, lurkers and posters alike, and please, please, please vote for our contender this month.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_thankyou 

Healing drool to all in need.
Jackie and the herd 		 	   		  
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