Gracie-Girl Remembered

It was April 1999 when Jeff and I decided it was time that Abigail (3 years old) needed to have her first pet. Collectively, we decided on a Bassett Hound. I grew up with hounds as a child and loved their docile nature. (Plus, the sad eyes and droopy ears are not hard to take) We found a litter in Locust, NC and made plans to visit the kennel to see the pups. They were barely 8 weeks old at the time. I remember arriving at the home where the breeders brought us into the garage. There was the puppy pen. There had to be at least 8 puppies in the pen all looking up at us under their wrinkled brows, long ears and pathetically sad looking eyes. All three of us fell in love with this one pup that persistantly followed Abby around the pen. We really think she picked Abigail. That is how we were picked by our Bassett...little did we know, this dog would eventualy take the thrown at our house. Gracie was a very, very stubborn dog. Mouthy as all get-out!! She never really barked, only talked non-stop in the deep, gutteral tone to us any time she wanted to be feed, put out, or just plain paid attention to. She was known for her "three-legged stance" . Funny as heck! In order for her to make eye contact she found it more easily achieved by lifting one front leg barely off the ground and leaning ever so slightly to the opposite side and then she would begin her mouthy talk. Irritating...yes, but boy did we miss it when she was gone! I remember taking "low belly" out for a walk one warm summer day, when all of a sudden on the way back home, Gracie decided she had walked far enough. She was overweight and I probably should have turned back long before I did, but I didn't. She plopped herself on the ground and refused to get up. I tugged and tugged at her, even tried to bribe her with a snack...oh no, no way was she going to budge! In short, I carried her home...now that was a sight to see! Me, all of 5ft 1 in. tall carrying a furry sausage with 4 legs, at tail and long ears. Needless to say the lazy princess took a long leisurely nap that afternoon. Oh, well I learned my lesson and now it is a fond and humerours memory I will have for life! Gracie was a great pet, loyal to the end. She passed on January 9, 2007. It was a very bad day for Abigail, Cameron, Jeff and I , but our lives are that much better for having Gracie in them. We will always love and remember her for bringing humor to our family for the almost 8 years we had her.