Pray That I Die Soon

The Final Post - A Lifetime of Angst

2008-09-17T20:30:00.000-05:00

You look MARVELOUS

2008-07-28T18:27:00.002-05:00

I bring you Babushka Rufus

It's the Russian heritage, it wore off on Rufus.
He wore it so well

The Rufus Council on Physical Fitness

2008-07-02T19:12:00.003-05:00

His whole life, Rufus was a swelt dog

Uh, no not really. Until his body caught up with him, he looked anorexic

Then he filled out like he should have

Then he started getting chunky in the winter

I won't tolerate fat bassets in my house

Just one fat person

Rufus and Angel went on diet doggie food

But since a wee thing, Rufus was taught to use the treadmill

He loved walking on the treadmill

He would try to get on it before I could

When I shut it off, he would diligently sit and make eye contact for his treat (which he got on a sometimes, always, never basis).

Angel can't figure out the attraction

She tries to get on the wrong end

But Rufus figured it out

See?

An Obituary - Rufus 2000 - 2008

2008-06-28T10:10:00.004-05:00

8 years ago, I bought a house

So, of course I wanted a dog

the two go hand in hand

There were just two rules:

the dog had to be a Basset Hound (we grew up with them)

and NO puppies!

who in their right mind brings home puppies?

They don't know the rules on pooping and peeing

They put anything in their mouths

NO puppies!

There was a problem with that

I volunteered at the local humane society

in the cat room

definitely no puppies there

but

one Sunday, when I was bringing a load of cat room trash to the back

someone did a nefarious thing

they put a puppy in the back room while they cleaned its pen

a Basset puppy

the worlds cutest breed of puppy

Squirmy, big feet, big ears

This is Boris, chilies dog via Flickr

Boris
Originally uploaded by chilie

who can resist that?

not me!

He was two months old

with an awful name of Max

His original owners bought him at a pet store

Likely he was a mill dog

After three weeks, they realized they couldn't handle a puppy

Well he became mine, and got a real Basset name, Rufus

He was happy to be in my home
For a day or two

thus began his burden of perpetual Basset Angst
An angst that continued throughout his life
relentless
angst

The future of this blog

2008-06-28T08:45:00.004-05:00

Over time, this blog will be winding down

There will be some more Rufus posts before I close shop here

but Angel does not have the same Eeyore personality that Rufus had

so the continued adventures of Angel and the furry freeloaders will be continued at Angel's new blog Disenchanted Diva

I appreciate anyone who enjoyed reading Rufus' musings on life and hotdogs

and I appreciated your thoughts and prayers given during the times of Rufus' illness

Some final news

2008-06-26T18:09:00.007-05:00

The vet's bag of tricks ran out today

There was a brief moment of hope yesterday that things might turn around

but Rufus' health declined today

the vet didn't have any more hope that things would improve

it wasn't worth letting Rufus continue on in his condition

so Rufus was put to sleep

Rufus was survived by:

My Person

The Squishy Cat who has missed his presence for naps
Angel, who won't have a partner for Doggy Porn anymore
The Little Cat who is now licking and eating Angel's head (something he liked to do with great regularity on Rufus)
The weird cat, who's probably hiding under the bed at this moment
The Funny Walking Cat, who thought I was not in my right mind when bringing home a "gasp" dog 8 years ago
The New Cat, who's probably more concerned about waiting for her close up, from Mr. DeMille
Angel will get to eat all of the droppings from the Treat Dispensers
and the Food who has not one idea

A Rufus Update

2008-06-24T19:26:00.005-05:00

My Person blogging again.

Things with Rufus have been up and down

He continues to stay at the place with all the animals and people

His eyes are completely blind at this point

And he is losing some weight

and frankly, he looks and probably feels like shit

I got to spend about an hour with him today

He was mostly very tired

But the big problem is his liver

It keeps behaving badly
the guy in the crinkly suit is trying to manage and support the liver

But if it doesn't get it's act together, it gonna be in for a whoopin

The liver keeps causing Rufus to throw up whatever is in his stomach

including the medicine that is trying to get the fungus out of his system

Rufus needs a happy liver to let the medicine stick around and do it's work

At this point, things can go either way

His spleen has become affected by the problems

but who needs a spleen anyway?

Pray That he doesn't Die Soon

Previous - Well, there's good news and bad news
Previous - I'm Going Back
Previous - I'm Still Sick
Previous - I'm Sick

And on another note

2008-06-18T21:04:00.002-05:00

the dandly-lion has behaved during his time at the vet clinic

and the rest of the pets continue to take over the beds

Pray That he doesn't Die Soon

Previous - I'm Going Back

Well, there's good news and bad news

2008-06-18T20:36:00.009-05:00

My Person blogging here

OK, not really. It's pretty much all bad news.

Rufus does not have hepatitis

he has been diagnosed with Blastomycosis

I don't know how he got it, but the mulch theory could be in play because I did a bunch of mulching in the yard in the weeks before he showed symptoms of illness

his right eye is looking better, the left eye worse

but the eyes are showing signs of glaucoma

his serum was very yellow

he has a lot of yeast in his system

my vet is waiting for some more test results to come back

he said this used to be more rare, he used to only see 2 or 3 cases a year

now he sees 2 or 3 a month

not every dog survives

and since his liver is already compromised, who knows how this will go

from reading on this, the treatment is very expensive

and some people have their dogs' eyes removed

but first things first

right now, the gameplan is to see what comes back tomorrow

and if Rufus' system can handle the treatment

then it will be a matter of figuring out if I can afford the treatment and work with my vet to see what supportive care will work for him

Resources -

BLASTOMYCOSIS IN THE DOG
Blastomycosis
Blastomycosis--Fungal Disease Common in Outdoor Dogs
Canine Blastomycosis Awareness
From Merck - Blastomycosis
Blastomycosis forum
Facebook group
Blastomycosis case database
The Blastomycosis website

Pray That he doesn't Die Soon

Previous - I'm Going Back
Previous - I'm Still Sick
Previous - I'm Sick

I'm going back

2008-06-17T20:02:00.004-05:00

to the place with all the animals and people

based on My Person's questions, I'm more sick than they thought

they want to check me and bleed me

one of the things My Person had asked was if it was ok to give me dandy-lion

they said yes that it was ok

unless the dandy-lion ate me first

they told My Person not to bring the dandy-lion

they didn't have room for such a large creature

My Person packed it anyway
Pray That I don't Die Soon

Previous - I'm Still Sick
Previous - I'm Sick

I'm still sick

2008-06-15T18:19:00.004-05:00

and now I can see less and less

I've started bumping into things

I got a little panicky going out to potty this afternoon

so My Person has been working with me

She's been telling me Forward, Turn Around, Turn Left, Turn Right, To the Left, To the Right, Up, Drop, and Stop

I get Stop, Drop, and Up

the rest I'm still fuzzy on

My Person is impressed how fast I've picked up some things

she says it's impressive how quick I learn when I have to

I don't know if I should feel complimented or insulted

tomorrow, she's going to talk to the place with all the animals and people

she wants to know if I can be switched to a different food

she thinks my body may not be processing things properly right now and I'm losing weight

she's also going to ask them to put me on Denosyl and Marin

I hope they do that

then I would get even more hotdogs

Pray That I don't Die Soon

Previous - I'm Sick

I'm Sick

2008-06-12T15:12:00.002-05:00

I have a virus

and a blue eye

and I'm tired a lot

but now I get hotdogs!

twice a day

with a pill in them

but I don't chew my food anyway

so I don't notice the pill so much

I also get some stuff out of a tube

I wouldn't eat it

not even with hotdogs

so now I get hotdogs and canned dog food

We're back

2008-06-07T14:31:00.003-05:00

from the place with all the animals and people

where we went while someone searched for fish in My Person's wrist

we got drugged this morning before we left for home

it stormed

everyone gets worked up when it storms

we've mostly just snored since we got home

Pray That I Die Soon

Previous - Fish
Previous - We're Going Away

Walk Score

2008-05-26T08:00:00.000-05:00

My Person says we got a low Walk Score.

9 out of 100

I think this is an appropriate score

we hardly ever get walked

we used to get walked twice a day

now sometimes we get a walk once a day

if we're lucky

sometimes we don't get any walks

and when we do, we have to walk in the road

and we never get to say hello to all the other people

or the other animals

we like people and other animals

but we don't get to say hi

yes, I think a low walk score is quite appropriate

I'd give My Person a negative score if I could

oh

wait

My Person says a walk score has nothing to do with me and Angel

It's for rating real estate

oh

I really don't care about that

and what's the difference between real estate and a fake estate?

I'm just going to go back to my greenie now

Pray That I Die Soon

I'm worried for My Person

2008-05-25T22:08:00.005-05:00

She's lost in thought and just keeps muttering to herself

it all started this afternoon

we were outside

My Person was disturbing the weeds

Suddently, My Person periscopes up

listening

then getting up and going inside

then coming out again

only to listen

listen

and wait

we didn't know what she was waiting for

then we heard it

a song

repeating

endlessly

the same song

over, and over

My Person was very interested in this

then she saw something

it was a vehicle

with pictures of ice cream on the side

it was the Ice Cream Man

My Person watched her prey

the Ice Cream Man went behind us

then to the next road

then he should have come down our road

but he didn't

his music got softer and softer

My Person saw him amongst the other houses

then we didn't hear his music anymore

then we did

it got louder

it was coming closer

closer

than it went away

My Person tells us the Ice Cream Man does this every week

he taunts My Person

now she just mutters

"he tasks me! he tasks me! And I shall have him. I'll chase him round Golden Eagle and round Falcon Ridge and round perdition's flames before I give him up!"

Pray That I Die Soon

What was she thinking?

2008-05-22T05:30:00.000-05:00

My Person has allowed a rabid in the houseI don't know why she would do this

a rabid dog is scary

it might make me rabid

or Angel

or the treat dispensers

or the cats

maybe even the food

I can't believe she did this

oh

what was that?

this is the rabbid?

I can't believe she did this

it's bad enough we have treat dispensers that have bitten me

treat dispensers that steal my bed
and she brings these nasty things in the house

She tells me there is a 1 and a 2

someday, there will even be a 3

I hope they don't escape the tv

that would be terrible

Pray That I Die Soon

Yeah, what she said

2008-05-21T05:30:00.000-05:00

My Person's acquaintance thinks that My Person should inspect the boarding facilities at the place with all the animals and people

I think that is a great idea

My Person makes us go there

without any toys

without our beds

I got an ouchy there once

the floor is cold and hard

better yet, we should get to go to places like this

Bull terrier
Originally uploaded by Just chaos

The place with all the animals and people doesn't have a slide

we might like that

this place has a giant water dish

Water dog
Originally uploaded by rehak1

it's so big this dog could lay in the whole thing

but no, we get nothing

and she's going to make us go back there soon

Pray That I Die Soon

Pray for us

2008-05-20T05:30:00.000-05:00

My Person tells me that our neighbor girl prays for us

By us I mean Angel and me

not My Person

just us

and that's how it should be

we need lots of prayers

it's hard being a basset

especially in this house

so we decided to make our own prayer

that way others can pray for us as well

That we should never be in prison again
pray for us

No matter if we've been "bad"

pray for us

that treat dispensers don't bite us

pray for us

that we get treats all the time

pray for us

that the nasty box stays away

pray for us

that we always have our beds, no matter how dirty they are

pray for us

that everyday is sunny and full of ice cream and hotdogs

pray for us

that we never have to share our beds again
pray for us

that we get access to the whole house, especially the couch and the bed

pray for us

that people stop thinking I'm a girl

pray for us

Pray That I Die Soon

If you're happy and you know it

2008-05-19T05:30:00.000-05:00

If you're happy and you know it, clap your handsIf you're happy and you know it, clap your hands
If you're happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands

Pray That I Die Soon

A nice day

2008-05-18T12:06:00.005-05:00

We finally had a nice day

Not too windy

Not too cold

Not too wet

It was just right

Pray That I Die Soon

When the Dogs are away, everyone will play

2008-04-18T21:05:00.003-05:00

We were gone two weeks

in cold, hard kennels

without our beds

we suffered so

but not everyone at home

oh no

they had a good time

on our beds

Pray That I Die Soon

Previous - I have a new bed
Previous - I have a bed
Previous - I Love my bed
Previous - the floor is hard
Previous - I have a bed

All shook up

2008-04-18T20:52:00.003-05:00

This morning the house shook

It woke everybody up

My Person wants to know why we didn't sense it coming

that there are 13 animals in the house

and someone should have known what was going to happen

well, we knew

we just didn't think it was important enough

we were busy

most of us were sleeping and wanted to go back to bed

we need our beauty sleep

if My Person wants an early warning system

she should invest in a crystal ball

Pray That I Die Soon

Fish

2008-04-18T19:40:00.006-05:00

One fish

two fish

Red fish

no fish

My Person swears that there were no fish in her carpal tunnel

I'm still not sure I believe My Person

why would it be called a Carpal tunnel if there wasn't any carp in it?
see, there could be some fish hiding under that stuff

why would the forks be there if there wasn't something to eat there?

and if there wasn't any fish in it, how come we had to go away?

We were put in kennels

and they poked us for our heartworm tests

and poked us again for our shots

and gave our ears medicine

and cleaned them

we didn't care for any of this

I think we could've stayed home

but now My Person says we will have to go away again at the end of May

because she is having her other carpal tunnel taken care of

I don't like this bit of news

now we're told we have to go back

I don't even know when May is

what if it is tomorrow?

Pray That I Die Soon

Previous - We're Going Away

I was happy

2008-04-18T19:25:00.002-05:00

for 30 whole seconds
Angel was really, really happy to be back home after our looooong stay at the place with all the animals and people

I'm just not that happy about it

oh sure, we're not in kennels anymore

and we're with My Person again

but My Person only had ONE bed ready for us

just one

we were gone two whole weeks and she didn't have both beds ready for us?!

now we have to share

with everybody

Exactly just what was she doing while we were away?

Pray That I Die Soon

Previous - I have a new bed
Previous - I have a bed
Previous - I Love my bed
Previous - the floor is hard
Previous - I have a bed

It's a long way to tipperary

2008-03-31T20:21:00.004-05:00

Or to the floor

This is the Angel barrier to the basement

So named because Angel doesn't like to listen

She wants to eat tootsie rolls out of the litter box

Sleep on people furniture

Poop in the house

Do whatever she wants

So there are lots of Angel barriers in the house

Angel has figured out how to get over this one

I don't know how she doesn't hurt herself

It's straight down
I would think going over the barrier would be scary

But Angel doesn't think so

She goes over the barrier

then she gets to do what she wants

until today

My Person finally figured this out

I was good

I didn't rat Angel out

even though she didn't let me down with her

but My Person figured it out

now Angel is in prison

lots and lots of the time

but I'm not

Pray That I Die Soon