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<DIV>We had to send our wonderful Rocky to the Bridge yesterday
morning. It was time. We knew it and I believe that he
did too. He has had so many problems over the years - he had surgery
on both front legs as soon as we got him at six months, then shortly thereafter
the eyelash surgery on both eyes and then a heart murmur, pancreatitis, liver
& kidney problems, Cushing's Disease, digestive problems including
bloody diarrhea, arthritis and the worst degeneration of bone in his hind
end. He was losing weight and having trouble getting
around. Then he mostly lost control of his peeing and pooping which
would have humiliated him if he'd know which we don't believe he
did. He was starting to wander around not knowing where he was at
times and it was so sad. We had wanted him to stay with us until his
13th birthday on New Year's Eve but couldn't make him stay for this.
He had been deteriorating rapidly for the past couple of weeks but the last
couple of days were really bad. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>When he went to the ER the first time for the bloody diarrhea, Maddie who
is 8 was very mad at me after I took him away and didn't bring him
home. She basically ignored me for several days until I was able to
get him home. I think on some level she knew he wasn't doing well
now though because she had been especially nice to him the last couple of
days. Yesterday afternoon my husband and I had to leave the house
for a couple of hours and when we came back she wasn't glad to see us as usual
but was sniffing around us looking for Rocky. Today she is
alternating between being mad at me and being very needy. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>He was the sweetest boy ever. He embodied all the great
qualities of bassets - a sweet, loving, happy boy. He was so good with
kids who visited us. His daddy and I miss him a lot.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Carol</DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>