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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Reading the DD everyday, I realize how much you
guys in the USA do for neglected dogs. I am amazed at the effort you put in for
basset shelters and protection of animals. You should really be congratulated,
and so too the organizers of the DD. Out here in the small town closest to where
I live (Clanwilliam South Africa), there is a voluntary organization (Claws)
caring for stray or neglected animals. A retired vet from a nearby bigger
town visit us once a week to do necessary operations and dish out medicines. The
fundraising barely covers it all. This is the situation in so many small towns
in the country, but in the cities it is much better. I do not think we have
enough bassets out here to organize a board waddle or similar. Would love to
partake in one.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>In any case, while you guys are feeling the cold
with snow etc, it is mid summer here. The temperature easily reaches over 90
Farenheit and we've had one day of 110 degrees already. Taking the bassets for
their daily walk is postponed until close to sunset. Sally has taken a great
liking in swimming and is a sure contender for the 5 meters breast stroke during
the next basset Olympics.Clara remains her diginfied self and will go into the
water only SO deep. A lot of the small bass fish in the dam die due to the heat
and the bassets enjoy their daily intake of fresh protein, although at times it
is not so fresh !</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Our annual orders of basset calenders from the USA
has arrived. I made a big mistake by ordering one table calender with a tear-off
page for each day. Only when I opened it, I realized that I can't throw a
picture of a basset away on a daily basis. Aren't we all fools ? In the end the
calender ended up with a vet-pathologist friend. My wife, Mariette, had a
brilliant idea of what to do with the old calenders (we can't throw them away
either). She took the separate pages to the local stationary and had them
laminated. They now serve as place mats underneath the bassets food and water
bowls to keep the floor clean. They also make nice christmas presents for the
bloodhound cousins up-country !</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Any way, keep well, all you basset slaves
everywhere in the world.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Frans, Mariette, Clara &
Sally.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>