Columbo
Columbo unfortunately passed away on December 7, 2009 after a rapid deterioration in his symptoms. An inoperable brain tumor is suspected to be the cause. RIP Columbo (and many thanks to the Bart-Johnsons who gave him such loving care in his last months). Columbo was an owner-surrender who we took on knowing that he had something neurological going on. Sandi Bart-Johnson and her family stepped up to be his foster home, and it soon became obvious that he was going to stay a forever foster as his seizures had never been treated medically before. Columbo was loved with all their heart, and came to the Novato Waddle in July, where he was much admired by all. He seemed very happy that day, and we are so glad that he got to share a waddle with us. We know that Columbo had the best of care over the last year and knew soft, warm beds and good food, and a family who cared for him through all the trauma of seizures that were getting worse and worse. He had recently lost the use of his legs and it was obvious that he was not going to get better. Even then, it was a very hard decision to have to let him journey on to the Rainbow Bridge, where I am sure he is now leading the pack in a joyous romp to the buffet! RIP sweet Columbo.

Otis
It is with much sadness that we report today, December 7, 2009, the loss of Otis. Only out of the shelter for just over a week, Otis had been surrendered with his best friend, Beatrice the rough collie. A wonderful organization called Muttville, who specialize in seniors of all breeds, took them as a pair as we didn't want to split them up. The shelter reported that they stressed if they were separated. We and Norcal Collie Rescue crosslisted the dogs for Muttville. After a few days with Sherri at Muttville, she reported that they really had settled well and didn't appear to be all that bonded after all. Otis went off to his very own foster home in the loving care of Kate. After a couple of days, she let us know just how wonderful Otis was. This is what she wrote at 9pm last night (December 6): Hi, I am Otis's foster mom for Muttville. Update is that Otis is a charmer! and VERY active...he will EASILY calm down and hang out but he is a mover and a shaker on walks and ate up the city life (even revolving doors) in downtown SF. He is a special dog and I hope you will update his activity level. He outwalks me and I'm a 6 foot runner. He is curious and connected as well. Kate Otis was fine last night. Enjoyed a very energetic and tail-wagging walk (I can just picture him, enjoying the good life!). He went to bed and was fine overnight. He ate this morning, just enough not to sound any alarms, and definitely not too much. His foster mom said goodbye and went off to work. An hour later her room mate reported that Otis was out on the deck, very still and apparently he had passed away. We suspect bloat, but Muttville will have a necropsy performed to see if we can find out what on earth happened. What we do know is that Otis died in a loving environment and had soft, warm blankets, and good food in his belly. We may not have ever met him, but Otis will hold a very dear place in the GGBR heart.

Ralph
I saw Ralph listed on Petfinder in May, 2007. He was in the Susanville shelter and his ad described him as a senior basset with tumors and open sores. How could I resist? Who else was going to adopt such a dog? Someone had found Ralph on a local hiking trail where his previous owner had probably abandoned him. His sores were infested with maggots. A wonderful volunteer from the Susanville shelter drove Ralph down to Stockton in the cab of her pickup truck. We picked Ralph up in Stockton and drove him home with all the windows rolled down and the air conditioning on, so we could endure the odor. Ralph had two baseball-sized, black, ulcerated tumors on his shoulder and one large tumor on his belly. In addition to the tumors, Ralph also tested high positive for heartworm. Ralph had surgery to neuter him and remove his tumors. When he had recovered from the surgery, he underwent treatment for heartworm. Ralph was a quiet guy. All he wanted was a comfortable place to sleep, so restricting his activity during his heartworm treatment was no problem at all. He was very low energy and he rarely showed emotion or any kind—no expressions of joy and no expressions of displeasure. We thought that restoring Ralph’s health would bring out his personality, but even after two years, Ralph remained devoid of personality and emotion. Only once did we ever see emotion from Ralph. We had been away for a week and had left the dogs in the care of a house sitter. When Ralph saw that we were home, he raced around and around the deck at least 20 times in excitement! We were astonished, (and worried that he was going to give himself a heart attack)! We never before or since saw such an expression of emotion from him. Ralph hated going for walks and got sick on car trips. Sometimes, it would take days for him to recover from the trip between Redwood City and Mt Aukum. He was clueless about housebreaking and dribbled urine, so he wore a belly band in the house to keep his bed from smelling like urine. He was a picky eater and could not be tempted by anything unfamiliar, regardless of how delicious--no cat food, cheese, home cooked meat or gourmet delights for him. If he was going to eat, it was going to be his usual kibble and/or canned food (beef only—he didn’t care for chicken or turkey). It was that, or nothing, as far as he was concerned. Sometimes he would eat the kibble and ignore the canned food. Sometimes he would eat the canned food and ignore the kibble. He was like a little kid who wanted nothing but peanut butter and jelly—only we never knew if he was going to eat just the “peanut butter”, or just the “jelly”. He could detect a pill hidden in any food, and would refuse any morsel if there was a pill in it, no matter how well it was disguised. If a pill was hidden in his food dish, he would reject his entire dinner. He wouldn’t touch the chewable Heartgard, regardless of how it was presented or how small the pieces it was broken into. In Ralph’s last year, he suffered recurring bouts of pneumonia during which he would stop eating. Blood test results were normal. We suspect that perhaps the previous longstanding heartworm infection had done irreparable damage to his heart and lungs. For a while, courses of antibiotics would restore him to eating again, but the improvement was only temporary. He became very thin and after months of watching him get progressively weaker, we finally set the poor fellow free on September 8, 2009. Ralph, the dog with no emotion and no joy: we hope he is finally happy. Fran and Mark Madden Kirby and Gus September 9, 2009

Gus
We adopted Gus from GGBR on Feb 14th, 2006. He was believed to be about 6 years old. His owner was unable to keep him because not everyone in the house approved. Before that he lived with a homeless man. I used to joke with Gus that now he has his very own girl since both of his previous people were male. For three years, I was honored to call him my shadow. He always wanted to be with me. We attended GGBR's 4th of July picnic, in Novato, the same year we got Gus. Gus was normally sort of timid around other dogs. But as soon as he saw all those Bassets, he was howling and going up trying to meet as many as he could get near. There was one woman, another Basset owner, who sat on the floor with Gus, giving him love. Gus would let her love him, then he'd turn around and come up to me and look up. I'd bend down and he'd give me kisses and then go back to her. He did this a few times. I guess he thought I'd be jealous and wanted me to know he was still my boy. One thing that Gus really loved was my laugh. He'd do silly things to get me to laugh and as soon as I would start laughing, his tail would be going. Sometimes I would wake up to his face on top of mine. He slept with me everynight. In the mornings, before I even opened my eyes, he'd somehow know I was awake and would come up to get his morning love. He always wanted to start the day with kisses and hugs. He was also one of the most intelligent dogs, I've ever met. When he would see my Dad get out the ear cleaner, he would run over to his bed and flip on his side, so that my Dad could clean his ears. He was always so polite, such good manners. When my Dad would do work in the front yard, Gus would go out and lay in the grass and just watch. Our neighbors, Tom and his little girl Katie, would come lay in the grass and give him love. Gus is loved by so many people. The day that he passed away, left a huge hole in my heart and in the hearts of so many. Even our Veterinarian could not stop crying. When I got the news that Gus had passed, I could not stop shaking. After our Veterinarian took me to go see him, a calmness came over me and the shaking stopped. That was Gus for you. He was determined to bring me comfort and happiness from the day he entered my life. I can not say that the pain of losing him was easy. But having him for 3 years, made it all worth it. Whether the Basset is 15 days old or 15 years old, the love they bring is amazing. My boy waiting for me in Heaven, I love you and I'm sure you're bringing God, love. See you in Heaven - Love, Ali and Dennis Blanchette

Cassidy Plunkett Esq
It has taken me nearly four weeks to compose my thoughts to words, in telling all that our beloved Cassidy Plunkett, Esq. has passed away. He went out to the yard while we at work, lied down in the lawn and fell asleep for the last time. Many of you have known Cassidy for years, when he first came into our lives as a rambunctious pup he ate pricey Italian shoes that I never got a chance to wear. He brought joy where ever he went, and friends were cultivated by those big feet, dignified gaze and those sad eyes that had a sparkle of mischief. When he first came into my life, the first thing he did was to choose my mate (Clyde). On his first encounter with Clyde, he quickly jumped into his truck and they were buds for life. From that day forward Clyde called more often, visited more often and Cassidy would whine for 2 solid days after Clyde left. Others will remember Cassidy as he got older. He had gone through some pretty serious health issues, but came through them with pride and dignity. For the last couple of years it was harder for him to get around on only 3 legs, but he still never complained and gave it his all. One week before he died he had a great time at the Basset Waddle in Novato, getting to know all the girls and the boys. He was a happy tired pup that night. I know that he is at the Rainbow bridge running on all four legs and giving all his buddies before him a run for their money. Fondly, Ann & Clyde Galantine