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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Just a note to announce the arrival of Sampson
to our pack. He was surrendered to Tri-State Basset Hound Rescue
along with two girls last March/April by a backyard breeder, and this little guy
was somehow overlooked by other adopters in search of the pawfect
hound.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We really weren't intending to adopt a fourth
hound. Hugh went to the bridge in December, not long after I got the news
of the recurrence of my cancer. We were still working with Bailey at the
time, the transport failure who was so thin and sick when we picked him up that
we just had to nurse him back to health (and eventually, of course, adopt him
permanently). Turns out Bailey had not only a steamer trunk and full
matching Samsonite set of suitcases, but he had rented a You-store-it as well to
keep all his baggage!! Finally he has unloaded enough of it, and I am
feeling well enough, that it occurred to us that he might benefit from a new
friend.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Off to Bob & Sandy we wrote, each of whom
independently came up with Sampson as the pawfect addition to our
household. We said, "When do we get him?" and picked him up near
Harrisburg last weekend. (Now I know there are those who would wonder at
the wisdom of allowing someone else to choose a hound for them, but
Bob & Sandy have a pretty good track record with
us: </FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sadie, Kelly, Misha and Taffy all
joined our family, sight-unseen, at their recommendation, and each has added
their own special mark to our lives.)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Here is a link to some photos of this handsome
boy:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><A
href="mhtml:{0DB888BB-D685-4578-A798-7C05AF66C5FF}mid://00001012/!x-usc:http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=15bcj5w8.5c903yu0&x=0&y=-11z0l6&localeid=en_US"><FONT
face=Arial
size=2>http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=15bcj5w8.5c903yu0&x=0&y=-11z0l6&localeid=en_US</FONT></A><FONT
face=Verdana size=1> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sampson has been in a kennel since April, and
presumably was kept outside previously, but he acts as though he has been living
in a house all his life. He makes himself comfy on the sofa (but readily
goes into a crate at night), eats nicely and without possessiveness from his
bowl, has had only one small accident in the house in a week, and (except for
bouncing a bit off the walls) in general has made himself right at home.
He is very friendly with the other dogs but is smart enough to act submissively
when they growl or bark at his rambunctious behavior. My brother walked
into the house for the first time since we got Sampson at a time when Carol and
I were outside in the pool. Sampson's reaction to a stranger walking into
the house (and a guy, at that)? Furiously wagging tail and a request for
petting! So much for being a watch dog (unless you count "watching" which
I guess he could handle).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sampson is nine, which some potential adopters
think is too old but which for our household is just a pup. Except for a
very bad infection of his right ear, our vet pronounced him healthy. The
exciting news is that we were prepared to have him undergo a total ear canal
ablation which had been recommended by the vet at the kennel where Sampson was
housed. But our vet is reasonably confident that with careful attention by
us and some patience that we can avoid surgery.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Now Sampson came to us on a fostering basis
only until we had a chance to get to know him, but for any of you who know us
his adoption is pretty much a <EM>fait accompli.</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><EM><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So please join us in welcoming Sampson, and
remember that </FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>there is a homeless senior
hound out there who needs you!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Pat & Carol</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Rosie, Sadie, Bailey Finallynotafoster and Sampson
Technicallynotyetakeeper</FONT></DIV>
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