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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times","serif"'>Hi Terry,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times","serif"'>We’re having a various of that discussion at our house (I’m 63, hubby is 71) but I continue to think that the presence of dogs helps to keep us young (ish!). We have two old hounds at the moment – Twink, the basset is 13 and Hooter the harrier is 15. While I’m not sure we’re up for a puppy when these two make their trip to the bridge, I don’t see a reason not to have an older hound join us as we all gracefully age together. As to the tying down, we have that discussion too, and have agreed that the next dog will learn about doggie day care and boarding from the outset – something none of our many dogs have done to date, as we’ve always had family around or had very good luck with dogsitters. Here’s hoping your wife will see the benefits of life with bassets and not make Edgar the last of the line!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times","serif"'>Kathy Wilson, Twinkletoes, Hooter the harrier, and Moose (ATB)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times","serif"'><a href="mailto:kmwlaw@cox.net">kmwlaw@cox.net</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>