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<DIV>There are of course all kinds of kisses and it is fun to read these short
pieces about Kisses here on this DD about our Hounds. Here are a
couple of stories in one...of Jimmy and of Joe. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I learned a sweet thing to do for your dog when you go away and entrust
them to a friend for your time away. A sweet and loving thing a friend of ours
always did for their old but never ready to "go" rescued boy "Joe" because
life was just too sweet. Joe sure loved his family...his forever home.
And..something of hope and how we try so hard in Rescue and sometimes just give
them a for hope and love and for a goodbye.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I used to take care of my friend's Basset Hound "Joe" (Sweet Joe Brennan)
when they went away. Taking care of him was grreat...a loved dog..a once TRASH
dog that had come to know a loving home and living a good life. They even PAID
me well to watch him and his other dog and cat family...and I loved
buying anything I wanted with that money for the rescue dogs...it was a SAVE for
me as well you know? I could go into a regular pet store or
order (just for FUN!) from the pet catalog and buy dogs toys or
buying a nice dog bed or something fun or silly...for the dogs. It was a
respit for me and a blessing to get to have Joe for a week or so... When Joe
came to us Joe was way old and rickety ...uh and stinky too...lol..badd
teeth sorry old body and worn out when Annie and Pete rescued him. I remember
his smelling soooo bad that the person who was the first transport person on his
journey to us said she got sick ...had to stop and THROW UP! he smelled so bad!
she had to have ALL the car windows down..and was asking me HOW EVER to get
the stink out of the crate she used for him. (PS transport em to the
car wash and spray down with bleach solution & water and then
SCRUB!)lol</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Annie Brennan who worked tirelessly doing wildlife rescue and rehab adopted
this very lumpy sad and sweet very very old fellow named Joe from us. When she
and her husband Pete would leave him with us Annie would plant a big KISS
on his beautiful old domed head. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>She would say now that's gonna last ya....or with tears whelling up she
would give him ANOTHER big smooch. His beanie head was white and satiny on its
top...and a pink kiss mark looked so cute. We never talked about it but I know
that because he was so very old ...we just would not allow the thought of his
maybe passing away when they were gone to enter our thinking. You know how that
is. Well.. it was funny..sometimes if it was gonna be a LONG trip..Joe's head
would sometimes be smeared and all pink!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>So year after year every time they left and I would take care of him he
would have the HUGEST KISS and we all would try not to let my friends Annie and
Pete see ....because every time they left I would think...oh I hope he will be
alright...you know how you do when it is a realized possibility that they will
need to soon be gong to the bridge. Annie would usually hunt for a long
wearing sticking a long time lipstick (she usually never wears lipstick) to put
on..a LOT on just before she would give him his KISS. Kisses. Gee you know that
Sweet Joe Brennan he sure did LOVE being hugged and smooched on too as he
had a lot of time to be making up for! Smooshy lovey old Joe. He would wait for
them to return in amongst the rescue dogs...he knew he was a chosen one. He was
chosen and loved and he patiently waited. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> We would take care not to pet him on his big KISS mark so that
there might be remains of it for when they returned from the trips to visit
elderly parents or sick family members...(Annie is a nurse and is always right
there for you..be if family or a neighbor) and well Joe he lived with them
for many years and one Thanksgiving we knew Joe was very ill and still
Annie and Pete invited 4 of us over for Thanksgiving Dinner and we knew he
couldn't last much longer and his Vet was there and his time was soon and that
Thanksgiving Annie gave him kisses and let him go. He had failing
kidneys (among other things...Cancer) and had been getting fluids sub q and
Joe was up on the big couch in the living room looking out of his soft
brown eyes.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Oh I wish that I could WRITE it well for you all...but I am not so good at
writing Rainbow Bridge stuff like Melba Toast was...like many of you are. Its
just that well it was a most sad Thanksgiving Dinner with Friends gathered
together saying Goodbye..and not saying it. Pretending to eat and not eating and
crying. Just Annie giving him his last big smooch...good enough to last for that
trip to the RB and more. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>So last week when "Jimmy" went up to see our Vet again..and he was
failing...I knew that we would be needing to take him our 30#
now.. little rescue --a young dog that had Distemper who had endured being
neutered, given TWICE whipworm medication and traveled in a vehicle with many
other dogs (infecting them?) hundreds of miles to a Foster Home...and weeks
later WE got him and tried to save him. It was too late. We had a garage
sale to make money for him. We had such hope. We hoped it was just a bad
kennel cough.The other Rescue that had erred, but had good intentions of placing
him did not just pts...but risked reputation and entrusted him to us....(they
could do no more they had no more options) well its all a long and very
disheartening storey...except you know what? So many of you sent your good
wishes for "Jimmy" and I just want to tell you about Joe the old rescue
who only lived for love. He lived as long as he could and more just for love.
Jimmy tried his best too to stay.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I guess in memory for "Joe" that sweet old Rescue from long ago....I put on
some lip gloss and kissed Jimmy right on top of his round head...and took
him into our Vet hoping he could pull through and fearing that the convulsions
were NOT distemper...his weight loss's knowing in my heart that he needed to be
let go. Not to drag out his death. His leaving for the rainbow bridge was
actually good and he did not suffer anymore. He had no more convulsions and pain
to endure. The sweet grass and the two candles that had been lit also smelled so
good. Our good Vet let me talk on and on and Jimmy...Jimmy was in my
arms. He had his kiss maybe against all odds it could pull him through. I
had kissed his beany head with hair so soft as silk...just like Joe used
to always get for one of Annie and Pete's trips away I gave him a big
smooch. At the time I felt foolish to do that but now I am glad for it.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>He wasn't anybody's dog. He was all of our's dog. That's how it just IS
sometimes in Rescue... and kisses...kisses are pretty wonderful. Just a
kiss to keep him safe for his trip to the rainbow bridge.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Love and Woofin,</DIV>
<DIV>Lexa at Basset Rescue of Puget Sound</DIV>
<DIV>Thank You Joni for writing earlier about Jimmy. Thank You everybody for
your good wishes and sending healing drool.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">Psssst...Have you heard the news? <A title="http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014" href="http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014" target="_blank">There's a new fashion blog, plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com</A>.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>