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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Aroooooooooooooooo I would like to introduce myself to the
drool family. My name is Alejandro, but you can call me Al, or Big Al or mama
calls me her Ally. I am the newest family member at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Camp</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Toast</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>.
All I can woof is that Melba Toast houndy sure trained this family well before
she went to the bridge. Remember the fire in May at Pudget Sound Basset Rescue
( <a href="http://www.adoptabasset.net/">www.adoptabasset.net</a> ) well that
was my home as I was a forever foster cause I have the bone cancer. When the
fire happened I had to go to a special home that had no steps and <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Camp</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Toast</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>
was it. I went there that very night. All the hounds like me and I liked them
but I didn’t know what was going to happen next. I was a little scared
and stayed in the dinning room the first night. The mama of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Camp</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Toast</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>
rubbed me and talked soft and sweet to me. I didn’t use my front leg much
because that was the cancer leg, so I did lots of hoppin and used it just a
little. Well after a very short time the very good slaves asked Alexa if I
could be up for adoption and her and my Auntie Joni said well if it was going
to be at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Camp</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Toast</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> then YES but they would have to
have visitin rights cause they love me big. Bam, I gots myself a family just
like that. Well after a few weeks the slaves noticed I wasn’t using my
leg much and seemed to be having more pain. She took me to a nice vet and also
asked folks on this list if any one ever had a three legged basset, remember?
Well after lots of talking and reading and thinking and of course asking me the
choice was take the front cancer broken leg off or the pain would get so bad
that I would have to go meet this Melba Toast hound, well I wasn’t ready
to give up the good life so fast. So on June 11<sup>th</sup> I went to that
very nice clinic and a nice doctor who also was a cancer survivor himself did a
two hour surgery on me and I woke up with three legs 1 front and two back. Now
just to let you all know I was diagnosed last November with this cancer and
they didn’t give me much time to be here but with the good care of Auntie
Alexa and Auntie Joni I showed them oh and I am <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>not a youngster I am 12 and very handsome, so Chip the
surgeon guy he’s my mama’s good friend said I could be around for some
time because the cancer is really slow and for what ever time I have I will be
strong and in no pain. My aunties came over to Camp Toast that night to watch
over me and were surprised how well I looked but here is the big surprised for
every one the next day I was up hoppin around all by myself, yep I was and ate
my bowl and woofed for more. Now I run and I woof but really I run it makes
every one laugh because my big ears flap up and down looking like I am going to
fly. I even got up on the couch by my self one day. I have only did that once
but hey there are things in life this guy has to try and I wanted to look out
the front window. Now Yola Bean woofs at me that I had to tell you all about
myself because I and going to try to be one of those calendar playboyhounds for
the Senior Houndsabound calendar. I am a senior and I bound and I want to be
the center fold. Al STOP THAT any month will do it is not that kind of
calendar! This raises mooola Yola Bean woofed for poor homeless hounds like I
used to be. It takes lots of mooola to take care of senior hounds. I know I
will be only one of a nickzillion (see I know drool talk) hounds vi-ing for a
page so I wanted you all to know who I was before the contest started. Just in
case you would want to vote for a hound with three legs. Votes are only a buck
yep one buck for one vote and all the mooola goes to help the hounds at Senior
Hounds Abound. So Miss Wendy and I bet Miss Elder Clara will be telling you
senior hounds out there howl to get your pictures into the contest but know
right now I am going to work it to get folks to vote for me Big Al what a nice
centerfold I will make. Nuff Said<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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