Billy

Just four days before our beloved 16-year-old basset, Kirby, (“King Kirby”, to you) went to the bridge, I pulled Billy from the Stockton shelter. A “mystery man”, Billy’s microchip record, rabies shot record and shelter record all listed him as being different ages, anywhere from 4 years old to 10 years old. We intended to keep Billy only long enough to vet him and then hand him over to a foster home that was waiting for him. However, Billy melded seamlessly into our lives, and his happy disposition and abundant personality brought joy and humor to counteract our grief over losing our awesome Kirby. We quickly realized that Billy belonged with us. In fact, we like to think that he was pre-approved and sent to us by Kirby and Gus. Billy came along at exactly the right time to rescue Mark and me. Billy is clever, agile, playful, noisy, full of personality, and is definitely a handful. We think he was probably raised with cats, because he licks his paw and washes his face like a cat, and he loves to perch up high—on the kitchen or dining room table, if not prevented from doing so! Whatever Billy’s age, he is way younger and more active than we are accustomed to, and very full of mischief! There’s never a dull moment with Billy around! He’s happy all the time. He keeps us on our toes and makes us laugh. --Fran and Mark Madden, Jackie and Billy