Cleo

Cleo December 11, 1984 - June 29, 1998

Oh my baby girl, it has been eight weeks and I still grieve. When you left, it left a huge hole in my heart that no other Basset can fill. Cleo was my first dog, a Valentine's Day package - I got her on February 13, 1985 - just eight weeks old. I was so alone then, and craved the unconditional love she provided. She was hell on wheels the first year, but calmed down when we rescued her Basset Husband Bruce. The two of them moved across country with me twice, during the time I was trying to find my way in the world. She gave birth to 16 puppies in two litters, and I only managed to keep her daughter, Madeline with us. Madeline left us first, then a year later Bruce, and now Cleo. I always knew the day would come eventually, but it was so hard to let her go. I held her in my arms as they gave the injection, and wept as she drew her last breath.

Sadly missed by her Daddy, Stuart

Bruce

August 26, 1983 - August 20, 1997

Bruce came to our house as a rescue at Christmas 1985. He had ended up in a shelter, abandoned by his previous owner. He was way underweight, and frightened of everything. I found out through some of my employees who knew the previous owner that they would lock Bruce in their apartment and leave for days at a time, leaving him little or nothing to eat, and got great joy out of throwing firecrackers at him and hitting him whenever he barked. Needless to say, he never barked and was so starved for food and human compassion.

Bruce fit in nicely in the home - he was a great companion for Cleo, a warm companion to me and eventually a great Dad to Madeline. Bruce loved cheese and had a little "cheese dance" he did whenever it was taken out of the fridge. I got Bruce to finally bark after trying for seven years!! Bruce was always kind and loved to go on walks and rides in the car. He moved across country with me twice, not minding the cold and snow of Wisconsin. Bruce loved to sleep with me, and would stay lying right beside me until I woke up - right up until the day he died.

Bruce's life ended tragically after he fell into the swimming pool in the new house and didn't know how to get out. When I woke up that morning, I knew something was wrong and looked outside to see him floating - I still feel the anguish and dread as I pulled out his lifeless body and will regret forever that I couldn't be with him as he left this life. Bruce, you are greatly missed by your Daddy Stuart and I hope that you got to meet Cleo up there.

Madeline

July 23, 1987 - July 15, 1996

Madeline was a puppy I kept from Cleo and Bruce's litter. She was the runt, which made her even more special to me. Maddy loved to have her belly patted and her ears rubbed constantly. She didn't really like the cold and would burrow under the covers of the heated waterbed in the winter. Maddy was a true Basset whiner, and slept almost everynight of her life on my bed, lying on my legs and feet. In her final two years Madeline had epilepsy. Although the seizures only happened about once a month, they always scared the life out of me and made her even more precious. On her final day she started having a seizure that wouldn't stop. Frantic, I took her into the vet where they tried other medications to stop them. Nothing worked, and they determined that she was suffering from a large brain tumor. I held her and cried as they put her to sleep. I miss you Maddy, and our house was never the same after you left.
Love, Daddy