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<TITLE>The Duch has left the building</TITLE>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">I have always given nick names to my bassets and to many people I meet. Duchess was never the prissy royal type and I really felt she was miss named and eventually I stated calling her "The Duch" it sounded better much better than Duch- Ass and The Duch really fit her personality better. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">She has had pneumonia on and off since her tie back surgery years ago. This time the pneumonia flared worse than ever before, but we really were not expecting this. I just purchased another 100 pills of her antibiotics yesterday.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Duch didn't make it though last night. It was surprising, shocking and suffocating. In less then 24 hours she went from normal to gone. How unexpected. But that is was "The Duch" - unexpected form the beginning.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">I started stalking Duch when I first saw her picture on the BBR website over 7 years ago. Back then we only had Mable ( I know only one dog?). </FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">I went to Bassetfest back in August of 2002 and the first time I saw Duch she walked right by us and never looked back. Phoebe and I laughed so hard, we chased her and she just ignored us. I was hooked. I chased down her foster parents, the BBR board and adopted Duchess. It was like she was always My basset. Mable shot me dirty looks all the way home and Duch looked like she had always been there. When we got home she never left my side unless it was to chase after rabbits or to nap. Yes 9 1/2 and giving chase, not necessarily good chase but the fun is in the chase itself. Then she'd get distracted by her nose and I'd find her just standing and sniffing totally forgetting the rabbit.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">She was a no nonsense basset, and the matriarch of the MN Basset Brigade who really loved to have her armpit rubbed, weird. She never begged for attention, she silently expected it. She came with manners and would for the most part listened to me, she was a wonderful example for Mable. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">She loved to run, I think she liked the breeze on her ears.</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">She tolerated the other bassets, but loved it best when we took her places by herself. </FONT>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The MN Basset Brigade has retired yet another member. </FONT>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">"The Duch" has left the building, but never my heart. </FONT>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Thanks for letting me share.</FONT>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Jody and the MN Basset Brigade.</FONT>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Current Members - Maddie, Reo, Lexi, Foster Delta, Foster Ethel. </FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Retired Members of the Brigade - Mable - "Mable-pie" (ATB 7/05), Hannah - "Hannah- Boe -Nana" (ATB 11/06 - BBR Alum), and the newest retiree Duchess - "The Duch" (12/08 - BBR Alum)</FONT></P>
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