<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Rescue is a never ending whirlwind. One day may just be loving on our 66 hounds, and the next day could be a series of crisis that makes you wonder how the day possible did not stop the earth on it's axis. Each day fits into it a million items - all hound related, all important.</font>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today was no exception.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stormy and gloomy it was a day with difficulties, volunteers not showing, weather delays, a hound in crisis at the shelter, calls about bassets with various issues, throughout it all loving on the hounds and overseeing that all at Daphneyland runs smoothly and well, with the many many helping hands that make this all possible.</div>
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<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little did I know the day began much brighter than it would end.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Darby. Little Darby.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 years ago Thanksgiving Darby was turned in by her owners to a shelter saying she was aggressive.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shelters here in California do not evaluate well at all, and they just pass that information on. In this case a 12 year old aggressive basset did not have a hope in h*ll of being adopted, and we swooped in to give her a chance. We were told she seemed nice enough and had a "lump"</div>
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<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The lump turned out to be a subcutaneous mass in her abdominal wall that looked like a third lung.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was benign but due to the size and her age it was inoperable. Vets and humans alike gazed in shock at this mass.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've spent the last 3 years fighting to avoid the requirement to euthanize her. Those who spent more than a few hours with Darby got to know the vivacious and amazing girl she truly was.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was indeed fortunate that Darby LOVED me. She would mope if I was called away and unable to see her. We had one volunteer who wanted to have her put down 2 years ago.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yet Darby danced. Her dance was so amazing. Intricate paw work and a purr in her throat that Tiare latter labeled "Do the motorboat Darby" to get her to Brrrr-Brrrr for treats.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Her appearance due to the large mass was upsetting to those not familiar with rescue's neglect cases, This was not the type of thing you see walking at the dog park or in your vets office.</div>
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<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Darby was last at the vet in November for a check up, and she walked into the middle of the room with the vet's both looking at her - jaws open - and she blasted an Ahrooo unlike any you are likely to hear. She rattled the rafters. Dr. Layton just started giggling and couldn't stop - Darby was not ready to go anywhere anytime soon.</div>
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<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I once made a promise to Darby - that before her time she would have a house and a family of her own. Yet none came.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About a month ago we noticed she was beginning the downward slide, nothing serious, just less of a twinkle in her eye, less of a bounce in her step. Picking at foods more and more. It was on the horizon. Despite all the emergencies of the last month, I brought Darby down to live at the Residence. WE are her family. Darby has spent the last month stealing my pillows at night, sleeping on my feet at computer time, and whining when I left for vet runs and shelter pick ups, kennel duty and the various issues that arise with the daily responsibilities of Daphneyland. Darby is in a home.</div>
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<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tonight, amidst the typical drama of a day - calls and emails, food run, bank deposit, sling walking Heaven and loving on Willy, catering to Cristal and arranging med pick up from the vet. A new shelter hound had to be picked up - and getting a late volunteer there to pick her up. At the end of the day a loud crash occurred and I raced to the back of the house to find Darby, unable to get up had knocked over a floor heater. Her abdomen swollen and gasping for breath. Bloat? Probable - no time to spare. Quick call to the wonderful Aunts who came on a run and assisted with ranch duties so I could take our Darby to the emergency vet man. Darby is now 15.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loving on her, keeping her calm and driving like a madwoman in pea soup fog we arrived at the emergency hospital.</div>
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<div><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I held her keeping her calm, she was ready. I sang and kissed her</font></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">We sent her to the bridge.</span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She had a home. The promise was kept.</span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Forgive me if I cannot post on the internet for a few days. The tears are many. She had 3 wonderful years. Her last Holidays spent in a home of her own.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Darby of Daphneyland - the newest Angel at the Rainbow Bridge. 1/25/13</span></div>
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<div>Dawn of the West</div>
<div>Basset Rescue Network at Daphneyland</div>
<div>www.daphneyland.com</div>
<div>www.facebook.com/daphneyland</div>
661 269-2682</div>
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