Amos
The hounds and I have an agreement - I promise to keep routines as normal as possible, to love and cherish the babies, and they promise to not leave me at the Holidays - a very difficult time for me for many reasons. Bodie tried to leave just before the Holidays - we were faster. Bodie is doing great. And I thought we would actually make it thru the Holiday - and be on the other side. Not to be. Amos. Well I remember the night he arrived from Golden Gate - a warm breeze blowing, late at night when Kevin & Danielle pulled up with the cantakerous Amos and his cookies and food. Amos told everyone off, and then he let me pick him up. He let me pet him, and he walked onto the ranch and started humping every young male dog he could find. Amos. Stealer of Pizza and surveyor of Hamburgers. Originally he chose the bathroom, however after some time he decided the bathroom was not as much fun as a crate and he and Morey grumbled at each ot her - two old guys arguing about crate space. Both would grumble until one fell over and rested and thus the winner would claim the preferred crate. Morey went to the bridge earlier this year - and Amos remained. No longer enjoying a crate without argument - typical Amos. And so he chose the runs. A different run every day, a different bed mate every evening. Today - although a bit chilly with wind, we had blue skies and the hounds enjoyed Christmas - last night Jim & Sherrie and Denise all participated in the annual toy giving - and special cookies baked by Bob Hohman (Delivered by Dodson along with the incredible volunteer spread) and Sherrie Strachan. Amos had more than his share of yummy home baked cookies and snuggled up with a stuffed monkey. Today - he enjoyed the ranch. Throughout the day he was in various sun bathing spots and grumbled at me if I made an attempt to pet him during bleach down. He chose his run tonight - and ate his dinner. Just as it was close down, he left to give the rainbow bridge a try out. I suppose there may be grumbling tonight as Amos finds his old buddy Morey and they once again grumble for bed space. So typical of Amos to choose Christmas Night for his passing. I cried and cuddled his earthly remains - the only time outside of bath day that he allowed a cuddle. Bath Days he tolerated it but you always knew if given a choice he'd rather tell me off. I guess he had the ultimate tell off. He left us on Christmas. I am breaking tradition with Amos. I shall bury him forever to live at Daphneyland - at the tree line, where his gaze never faltered. We shall miss you Chunky Monkey. Many tears Dawn of the West Basset Rescue Network (Barni) at Daphneyland