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<DIV>I don't know what to do about my Marcie, and it would mean so much if
anyone had any thoughts or advice.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I have had bassets almost all my life, one at a time, and Marcie is my
fifth. My other girls were all so similar. They were sweet, snuggly,
and, above all, lazy. Even as puppies, they never wanted to run or play
with other dogs. They were always content just to be with me, sleeping at
my feet while I was on the computer, cuddling up on the sofa with me for naps or
to watch t.v. They were my soulmates and constant companions. I miss
every one every day.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Now comes Marcie. I got her at four months, and have had her a
little over a year. I adore her. But she could not be more
different than the others, and I am anxious and at my wits' end trying to figure
out how to make her happy.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Marcie wants to run and play all the time. All the time. She
never sleeps during the day. She tries really hard to be a good girl, and
that breaks my heart. She obviously wants to get up early to start on her
day, but she lies in bed just watching me until I open my eyes, then
she dances and talks and races to the door. And she doesn't stop until
bedtime.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>I have never, ever seen the kind of joy that she radiates when she is
running at top speed, or wrestling with other dogs. It is the most supreme
happiness, and that's what I want her to be experiencing all day long.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>I take her for two walks a day, one off leash in a field, one on leash
around the neighborhood, for a total of about an hour to an hour and a
half. I keep hoping these will tire her out, but she only comes back more
full of energy and oomph.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I am 58 and have some health problems, so I can't walk as far or as fast as
she would want. I get so exhausted from the walks that I have to sleep
when I get home, while she tries to play. She wants to play all the
time. When I'm working on my computer, she hopefully brings me a ball and
carefully rests it on my lap. So I then throw the ball to her the length
of the hallway, over and over and over. It seems I spend nearly as much
time trying to keep her occupied as I do working.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I work at home, and I take her with me almost everywhere (all errands,
all visits to friends, and she's invited to dinners and parties at friends'
and family's homes), so she always has company. I fenced in my back
yard and put in a dog door so she can go out whenever she wants, but it's a
small yard, and she's bored. I put in a new top-to-bottom all glass storm
front door (and leave the inside door open) so she can lie there and watch the
neighborhood, but it makes me sad, because she cries softly to go out and
play with the children and squirrels she sees run by.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>She doesn't demand, she doesn't get into trouble, she doesn't pester.
She breaks my heart because she is such a good dog, such an unusual and special
dog, and she should be able to be running long distances chasing squirrels, and
playing with other dogs and children, all day long.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I have tried everything I can think of. I've tried to find other dogs
to invite over for playdates, and sometimes they'll come, but it's hard to get
their owners pinned down on times, and it's hard to find dogs at all around
here, let alone those who really want to play. I've invited children to
come and play with her, but they can't be pinned down on times either, and while
they're great for a few minutes, then their interests take them elsewhere.
I would get her another dog for company, but we're only allowed to own one dog
where I live. I buy her every kind of toy, and she loves them all, but the
stuffies last maybe 10 minutes, and most of the others aren't tough enough to
stand up to her constant, constant chewing. (I have to keep an eye on her
always, she doesn't try to do damage, but she chews almost compulsively, not
destroying things like shoes, but finding things like cords and pens she can
chew with her very back teeth.)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>I cry almost every day because I can't offer her what she needs. I
have now started to dread getting up in the mornings because I know I
will let her down yet another day.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV>My sweet Marcie deserves the very best life she can have. I cry to
think that I'm depriving her of that. She deserves long, long runs, and a
family with other dogs and children. I don't think anyone could ever
love her more, but love isn't as important to her as stimulation and play.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Do you think it would be kinder to her to find her a home where she could
play all day? I can't believe I'm even writing those words, she is my love
and my heart and my life, but because I love her so much I just want her to
be happy.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Sorry this is so long. I never want to part with her for even one
minute, right now I'm even taking her to my daily radiation treatments so
we're together the 45-minute drive each way, and the techs let her stay in a
safe little room during my treatments. But even when I find joy and
comfort with my sweet baby girl, it's always mixed with sadness that I'm
depriving her of what she really needs.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Thank you for any thoughts you have. I just don't feel worthy of
her.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Sadly,</DIV>
<DIV>Debra</DIV></FONT></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>