Friday, April 10, 2009

Oh Martha? Where are you? (for everyone, but especially Bassets)

I might have mentioned before how we used to have Basset Hounds when I was younger. We had two of them. Lucy and Buster. They mostly stayed on the back porch. Lucy was older and didn't like me very much because I was an active, playful puppy and she was an old dog who didn't appreciate my puppy antics. Here's Lucy in her younger days...long before my mom and dad got me.


Buster liked me, but couldn't keep up with me. He had a crippled leg and just couldn't maneuver very well. Here's Buster in his younger days.


Well, the other day when my mom was taking a break from her video editing, I grabbed the computer and started looking around. And look what I found! A really cool video of me when I was a puppy....and it's got Lucy and Buster in it.



We don't have Lucy or Buster any longer. One day about a year ago, I heard my mom and dad talking about Lucy, and they kept mentioning the words "bone cancer" a lot. That evening, my mom spent a lot of time with Lucy...giving her all kinds of treats and food that she never got before. I wondered what was going on.

Then the next day, my dad took Lucy for a ride in his truck, but when he came home, Lucy wasn't with him. And I never saw her again. I know she didn't like me, but I still miss her.

My mom and dad (especially my mom) were very sad for a long time. I even saw her crying sometimes. But it was poor Buster that was upset the most. For days and days, he kept howling out on the back deck. He would go lie down under the deck where Lucy liked to sleep and just stay there.

They even started taking him over to our day care. And soon, Buster started being happy again. He was his usual playful, happy self. I even started playing outside with him more.

But misfortune was about to come to us again. One morning, my dad went out to feed Buster, but couldn't find him. He called and called for Buster to come to the back deck to eat. When he found poor Buster, he (Buster) couldn't walk. Something had happened to his back.

My mom rushed him over to the vet, but there wasn't anything they could do. He was paralyzed from the waist down and was also very sick. I don't remember what my mom said was actually wrong.

Buster never came home again either.

I think about Buster and Lucy every time I go out on the back deck. I can even still smell their scents occasionally. I wish I could run around with Buster and jump all over him again. I even wish I could hear Lucy snap at me again!

But now you know why my mom and dad love Basset Hounds so much. I love Basset Hounds, too.


See you on the dock,
Sally, the Captain of Team 3 Dawg Flite
Proud member of Dixie Dock Dogs

8 comments:

Mason Dixie said...

so sorry for the loss of your beloved basset hounds, they are so funny looking that you have to love the breed. =)

Dughallmor Beagles said...

Oh, what a sweet but sad story :o( We love Bassets too, especially our dear Aunties Bailey and Martha (your title attracted us from Sammie's place!)
We also enjoy following dear Chester's dock diving!
Nice to meet you :D
Slobbers xx

PTdogger said...

hey, sally, too bad about your basset hound buddies. Its a really neat video, very funny. Lucy and buster were good looking dogs.

Life With Dogs said...

We had a Basset Hound when I was very young, and he was great. Sorry to hear that you are missing them, I would as well.

Martha said...

Hi Sally
Thanks for sharing the pictures of Lucy and Buster and their story. We have been keen to see your bassets as you know.
You will not be surprised to know that our mum is now crying!
For Lucy and Buster, and also her dear Harry.
Both Lucy and Buster, being tricoloured bassets, reminded mum of Harry. You may have seen the picture of Harry in our side bar - see what your mom thinks.
We are so glad to have finally got to know your bassets and glad they were part of your lives.
We can imagine both Lucy and Buster wondered what was going on when bouncy puppy Sally arrived with all her antics!
They would have loved you even though you would have got on their nerves some of the time.
Hugs to your mom, we bet she didnt do that post without shedding a tear!
Basset kisses and cuddles
love
Martha & Bailey xxx

Chester said...

Hard to type while wiping tears from my eyes with my paw. Sniff, sniff. Your Bassett siblings were lovely indeed and you just gotta love those flappy ears!!! I'm glad you got to know them. My older brother went away before I was born so I never knew him but Mom says she still misses him too. But in his memory I took over his groundhog duty and I think I would make him proud.

Woofs and dutiful slobbers,
Chester

Pee. Ess. Happy Easter to you and your pack. And remember, no chocolate for any of you, but it's still OK to visit me!

Tee said...

*sniff* So sad ... Lucy and Buster were handsome looking basset hounds.

Licks and Wags

Tuffy & the Dog WOods Pack

Martha said...

Happy Easter Sally to you and your family - sorry we forgot yesterday as your post was so sad......
love
Martha & Bailey xxx