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<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>It is with a very sad and sorrowful heart that I must
report that Queen Poppy went to the Rainbow Bridge at 15.00 (GMT) today. She had
spent the last two days almost completely immobile in her bed, not eating hardly
drinking and obviously coming to her end.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>Our Vet came out to the house and confirmed my worst
fears and we gently led her on her journey with me holding and talking to her to
the end.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>Poppy had an eventful life: she lived as a brood bitch
in a puppy farm in West Wales until she was five and by that time had had<U>
eight </U>litters of puppies. fortunately she was rescued from there and came to
live with us in 2002.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>From the start she exerted her authority over Dylan
and gently wound her way into our hearts. She was always a gentle soul but to
outsiders she could and did present a most fearful bark and growl. She took
great delight in teasing Dylan on their walks by nipping at his heels to make
him go at her pace.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>She earned her title of Queen Poppy in 2004 at the
50th Anniversary of the reformed UK Basset Hound Club where she won the
award</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3> as the Best Basset Rescue from a field of over
100 hounds. She repeated this triumph on two further occasions, in 2007 and
again this year in 2009.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>In all the years this event has been held no other
hound has ever won it twice let alone three times.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>In March 2006 after an exploratory operation we were
told to take her home and give her lots of TLC since she had multiple ulcerated
tumours and would probably not last more than a week. They clearly didn't know
Poppy, she never gave up and fought back to have another three and a half years
of good life.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>Coming so soon after the death of my dear wife Dilys
in September this latest blow is almost too much to bear but I have the
consolation of knowing that they are now reunited at the
Bridge.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>Good Night</FONT></STRONG> <STRONG><FONT size=3>
and God bless both of you, you will always be near to my heart and
thoughts.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>Terry & Dylan</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>Wilbarston,
England</FONT></STRONG></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>