Dreams of Future Past

Tomorrow marks two months since Cleo had her surgery and I got the dreadful news that the operation didn’t go well at all. I had hoped for another lucky winning hand like we were dealt in Abbie’s case. Were despite the odds my girl that I loved so dearly would pull through. Only this time the cards were stacked against us.

Cleo, Maggie & Zoe Monster

I have to be honest Dr Wise hinted it would be best to put Cleo to sleep. She said that her care would be intensive and that Cleo was not going to get any better. In hindsight I am glad I got these two months to spend with Cleo and to say our good-byes.

Cleo did require almost constant care. I’ve done hospice type care on several fosters before so it wasn’t like this would be new. Besides Cleo was not a foster dog – she was my best long time friend. Over the last few months our bond grew even closer. That’s why I mentioned I thought I had come to terms with losing her. In the end each case of watching something dear to you slip away is unique – Cleo being no different.

Toby, Sydney & Scarlett from 2007 

Sadly over the past three years we have lost fifteen of our senior hounds. Eight have been from my original crew I put together over a decade ago – my bassets Maggie, Zoe, now Cleo, Toby, Sydney, and Samantha, and Beagle and Ban Bam. Each of those losses tore huge holes in my heart. Sometimes I sit at night and wonder how I can continue to suffer such tremendous feeling of loss with each passing. The answer is really simple – life grants you great memories that come with great burdens. I would never trade the memories simply to escape the pain that comes with not being able to build more memories.

Not much changes through the years - - from 2002

I share many of those private moments the hounds and I have had through the years with our friends. I also remind people that despite the hardships I still consider myself very blessed to be able to share my life with the hounds I so deeply love. 

For people who have no clue who I am or how we live to suggest my life is unhappy or I have any bottled up anger in my life they simply are ignorant and clueless. The last thing I do every night is say good night to my beloved hounds.

I don’t do that as a unit – or pack but individually. In most cases the hounds have their own bedtime routine whether it’s crawling up for a quick scratch on the chest before scurrying off to her bed like Abigail or wandering over to my bed for a pat on the head like Dano. Several of the hounds claim their spot in bed – whether its Agnes stealing my pillow or Poe stretched out by my feet.

Rise and shine its a new morning

In the morning I’m the first one up. Our routine then turned into waking each of the hounds and escorting them out for their morning walk. That is pretty much how the whole day goes – whether its our meal time routine, watching the morning news or the two hours I spend in the evening watching TV – the days are focused around those routines.

Its not to say I don’t squeeze in things that need done in between including some me time on the computer or many of my other pastimes I enjoy doing. But we are a large family unit. When one passes, like Cleo and beagle – they are most missed during those daily routines. I find myself remembering how Beagle liked her dish or how I would prepare our queen something special because she was our queen.

Life goes on around here because it is a routine. I may just plow through the paces still thinking about my loss but I do so with a spirit that keeps the other hounds high-spirited. As I think about our losses I am realistic in understanding there will be more. Of the twenty hounds still part of our extended pack only six are under four years old. Only eight are under six years old. Nineteen are between the ages of ten to eighteen years of age.



Our sweet dream Agnes

Dreams are a strange concept. Philosophers talk about reaching for your dreams to find true happiness. I dream of days gone past. Those are the dreams that bring solace to my soul. One thing I’ve come to understand about life is you can’t turn back the page – you can’t stop the clock and all you can do is try and build dreams that give your soul the same comfort as days gone past.

Since we can’t turn back the page to yesterday and we surely can’t bet on tomorrow the only thing that works is too live each day to its fullest with the cards you have to play. Fortunately, I am still surrounded by a pack of happy, loving hounds that manage to keep me more than busy every day. We push through our daily routine looking to build more cherished memories for days to come.       These moments in time are the dreams of future past.

Life Trailed by 20 Hounds

There are plenty of people who are more than willing to lovingly look after your dogs if you should be sentenced to any amount of incarceration. 

No Kill Nation spokesperson Teri Dyer   

The arrogance that a spokesperson could even make such a statement astounds me.  Obviously No Kill Nation hasn't considered how this would effect the hounds she is suggesting are in need of a "loving home".

Many of you reading this many not know exactly WHO the hounds are that have become an iconic treasure in our community.

Over the years I have shared the antics and stories of my beloved hounds for the world to see.  I have also shared the heartbreak as many have peacefully left this world.  I can say without a doubt losing my hounds would be life altering.

Meet the hounds known as "Trailed by 20 Hounds"

I found Cleo chained in a backyard in south Florida on December 28th 2000.  She was being used to tease a pit bull who's chain reached close enough to touch nose to nose.  I advised the Spanish speaking owner I wasn't leaving without her even if I had to call INS.  He "sold" her to me for $60.  Cleo recently was diagnosed with a huge tumor on her hind leg.  Surgery was not successful in saving her life - she is now in hospice care while I treasure each day we have left.

Abbie was surrendered with a euthanasia order for being aggressive after taking a bite out of a two years olds ice cream cone.  She got all cone - what one year old puppy doesn't like ice cream?  She's been here since August 2001.  For the last three years she has struggled with an open wound tumor on her front leg that would not heal.  A year ago her leg was removed and she has had a full recovery.  She still enjoys an occasional cone.

Beagle Annie found herself at the Spalding gassing shelter in November 2001 with only hours to live.  I "rescued" her with the idea of finding her a home.  Not wanting to get attached I started calling her beagle - she's been here ever since.

Agnes was rescued from Miami Dade Animal Services on January 16th 2002.  She was picked up as a stray with a huge gash on her forehead New Years Eve.  Agnes was near death from all the disease in the shelter with whip worms, an infected head would and general poor health.  Probably the sweetest of hounds we call her the "Mad Kisser" around here.  Who wouldn't love that face?

I found Casey Jones at the Spalding Shelter waiting to be gassed on May 9th 2002.  He was not available for adoption since he had a crushed left eye.  The shelter manager told me you don't want a "one eyed" beagle we have another.  I looked at him and said "how do you know what I want?" and grabbed a leashed walking him out.  The eye was removed the next morning.  Casey's been a wonderful friend ever since.  

I found Marley after answering a "free to a good home ad on crackliest on August 5th  2002.  He was located in Hernando County Fl.  We drove 450 miles to snatch this handsome boy up.  A gorgeous hound with super long ears.  His owner claimed he couldn't house train him so he was living in their backyard.  I'm not sure what he was talking about as we didn't have any issues.  Maybe Marley couldn't figure out how to open the door?

Poe Poe's owner dropped him off at a local vets office in May of 2003 and never came back. He was two years old.  Not wanting to take him to the local high kill shelter a receptionist had him neutered, paid his bill and called me.  A sweeter hound does not exist.  Poe Poe and Bam Bam (RIP) were best friends.  Like Bam Bam, Poe has been my 24/7 companion ever since.

What were you thinking?

Beep Beep was a foster failure.  She's been with us since October 2003 - still waiting for one of those 23,000,000 people looking for a great house trained beagle.  Adopted out twice Beep Beep came back twice for acting up.  One adoptee was a personal friend who adopted another beagle named Einstein in 2006.  I've always thought Beep Beep acted out so she could come back and join all her houndie friends.  I officially adopted Beep Beep upon retiring from rescue in the summer of 2010.

Belle Belle was dumped at the Gwinnett Animal Shelter in November 2005.  She was eight years old.  Her owner had her since she was a puppy and dumped her when she started peeing on the floor. A VERY KIND animal control Officer Sandy Towler hid Belle in the back to avoid following up on the order.  She begged me to come rescue Belle before someone found her in a back part of the shelter.  Belle had bladder stones which were removed and I put her up for adoption.  She's still waiting.  I adopted Belle in the summer of 2010 as well.

Meet Sherlock. I bought Sherlock in a "batch" of basset and beagles that were being auctioned at a puppy mills breeders auction for $25 in May of 2007.  He was just a puppy. A truly handsome boy I selfishly decided to just keep him.  Everyone who meets Sherlock just melts at his sweetness.  The only issue I have with him is he definitely CANTHUNT.

Abigail was part of a second shipment of puppy mill breeder rejects in August 2007 just months before the infamous dog barking case in Gwinnett..  She was terrified with people including me.  I held on to her to try and work with her only to decide like Sherlock she would just stay.   While it's been a slow process initially Abigail has blossomed into a truly wonderful hound.  Sherlock still thinks of Abigail represent a next wave of hounds for after many of the older hounds have passed on to the bridge 

Many of the other "original" by20hounds Maggie Dawg, Zoe Monster, Toby, Sydney Barret, Scarlett, Mulligan, Flash, Samantha and my dear sweet Bam Bam have passed on taking with them huge chunks of my heart but leaving behind memories I will cherish till we meet again.

I am blessed to have been given the gift of their loyal friendship and the priceless memories that remain close to my heart. 

This blog is dedicated to the stories and memorials of the iconic hounds known as Trailed by 20 Hounds.

Friend of the Devil

I lit out from Reno, I was trailed by twenty hounds
Didn't get to sleep last night 'till the morning came around.

Set out runnin' but I take my time
A friend of the devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight, I just might get some sleep tonight.

Ran into the devil, babe, he loaned me twenty bills
I spent the night in Utah in a cave up in the hills.

Set out runnin' but I take my time, a friend of the devil is a friend of mine,
If I get home before daylight, I just might get some sleep tonight.

I ran down to the levee but the devil caught me there
He took my twenty dollar bill and vanished in the air.

Set out runnin' but I take my time
A friend of the devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight, I just might get some sleep tonight.

Got two reasons why I cry away each lonely night,
The first one's named Sweet Anne Marie, and she's my hearts delight.
The second one is prison, babe, the sheriff's on my trail,
And if he catches up with me, I'll spend my life in jail.

Got a wife in Chino, babe, and one in Cherokee
The first one says she's got my child, but it don't look like me.

Set out runnin' but I take my time,
A friend of the devil is a friend of mine,
If I get home before daylight, I just might get some sleep tonight.

-RIP Jerry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYo3rPgAvM4

Peace and Love

Drats

Poe Poe, a dream within a dream

Today we celebrate our sweet beagle dream. A dream known as Poe Poe to honor his dream. Poe's dream has been a beacon of light shining through darkness of night. This dreamer renamed this sweet boy Poe-Poe to honor the icon who's namesake he represents. It was nine years ago today that Poe entered my life, a dream within a dream that came through the darkness of night.

Today we celebrate that dream. Poe's dream was to simply love and be loved; that's the dream Poe now lives.


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Poe Poe and Bam Bam

Born in the spring of 2001, could it be destiny or fate that our lives would soon cross or just a night's dream running late? In a dream Poe must have been a sweet little beagle boy - all innocent and sweet like all puppies are.

Somewhere before he was two that dream got lost. He found himself lost in a nightmare of doubt abandoned by those he loved and left to fend for himself.

Poe was found wandering along the side of the road. His savior was a local vet tech who spotted Poe; opened the door and Poe jumped in. This forgotten mangy looking soul was now in the arms of his savior.

Was it fate or a dream that answered I answered a call from Poe's now desperate savior needing a place for Poe to go before animal control was called. Poor Poe was lost in a maze of unwanted fog unable to see any beacon of light. One look at Poe's sweet but pathetic face was all that fate would need. Poe found his dream and fate would reward us with our dream as well.

When I first met Poe he had been left behind at a local vet's. Poe's savior brought Poe to work and took great care to help stop the suffering this poor boy had been left to endure.

For dreamers the life we see during the darkness of night are our life's dream.

It's our dreams just before the dawn ekes out the darkness of the night and our prayers of faith in the light that reward us by honoring our dreams.

It was then that this kind woman gave Poe his greatest gift, she sought out a dreamer who would help Poe rekindle his dream.

In the nine wonderful years living Poe's dream he has been a beacon of light whom I am quite proud.   A beacon of hope of dreams that come true down through the clouds.

My sweet little Poe is no longer young yet with his touch of grey he is now my forever friend.   As we stumble through life's valley's and peak's, one thing is certain our dreams do come true.  It is our dreams that will make our lives complete - not the promises of riches we can not spend.  Life promises us nothing but the riches of finding our dreams.

There are those throughout the history of time who tell you - to find your dreams you must be a dreamer yourself.

We might all be different and lost in life's fog, but in the end aren't we all just living Poe's dream within a dream?

"A Dream within a Dream"

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow-
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

Edgar Allen "Poe"

Once there was a time

When your down and feeling blue there's no better medicine than a smile.  That's why I love the hounds - you can't be feeling sorry when their whimsical ways makes you laugh. 

Keep looking forward, forget the past, it's up to me to make me laugh.

Once there was a time when things weren't quite so blue, we'll just keep looking forward to days anew.

An adaptation of Alvin Lee's song

"Once there was a time".

Once there was a time I'd rob my mama
For a good meal and a smoke
Once there was a time I'd sell my brother
For a dollar when I was broke

But I'd never sell my hound dogs
And things were always great
'Cause if I don't have a hound dog
I'll be strumming on some angels harp

And if I don't get to heaven
And I go down there below
Better be a hound dog when I get there
Or, I will refuse to go

Once there was a time I was hungry
And I'd find my food in some bin
But I'd never, never sell my hound dogs
'Cause that would, darling, be my sin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmlnx2KmjFE