Spanky's Story: My New Home

Hi to all the wonderful folks at ABC Basset Hound Rescue of NY!

My name is Spanky. I wanted to send you all a very special THANK YOU for saving my life, as well as all the lives of my brother and sister Bassets. I don’t like to think about where we would be without you. I think I have a pretty amazing tale, and just thought you all should hear it - because without you, I wouldn’t be enjoying my walks or sunshine or DINNER or anything at all anymore. I probably would have missed my 10th birthday party, which was a blast (especially the steak dinner!) - I really wouldn’t have wanted to miss that!

To begin with, I had a nice family and home from when I was just an 8 week old pup and a little boy to play with. I had health issues also which weren’t getting any better. They also thought I had mental problems and gave me some drug called Prozac, which I didn’t like very much. Just about when I turned 9 years old, my family decided they had to give me away. Thankfully, ABC was there to help me. They found me a nice foster home, where I could live in a house instead of a cage at the pound. But in the beginning I was depressed for months, missing my family and my little baby boy. I did like my foster Daddy a lot and little by little I was happier and started wagging my tail, especially when Dad was around. There were 2 other Bassets in my new household, a nice older gentleman named Apollo (he’s really old and also paralyzed, so he can’t play very much) and a very bossy older lady named BellaRoo. I was kind of afraid of her and tried to keep lots of space between us most of the time (even though she was not even half my size). I got along with them ok but it wasn’t as much fun as playing with little dogs and kids.

Since my foster folks really loved me bunches, they decided to adopt me, so my moving days were finally over. Just about when I thought everything would be ok I got really sick. I was in the hospital for 2 entire weeks and couldn’t eat a thing, although my new parents brought me everything from steak to lobster. I couldn’t even look at the food. The doctors diagnosed me with a bunch of illnesses, diabetes, hypothyroidism, pancreatitis and I don‘t know what else. I just laid around the hospital, very miserable, and towards the end of the 2 weeks I couldn’t even get up to walk. The doctors couldn’t tell my new parents if I were dying or not and they didn’t know what to do. They were very upset, not knowing if it would be kinder to send me to the bridge place. So, they turned to you all for advice. And again you all came through with prayers, support and - best of all - advice. The best advice in the world! You all advised my parents to take me home. The doctors wouldn’t let me go home without a stupid feeding tube in my nose, which was awfully annoying. But they said I had to eat to be able to take the insulin injections I needed, so my Mom and Dad took me home with a feeding tube and some crummy liquid food. I gave that up pretty quick, let me tell you, and figured out how to pull that stupid tube out all on my own! Little by little I got better. I had a bad setback when I went blind suddenly due to the diabetes and had a few very bad days bumping into things, but I’ve adjusted very well to that. My Dad tests my blood sugar, feeds me this special diet food and gives me insulin injections and meds twice a day. I don’t mind so much because he sings special Spanky songs to me while he does it and I really LOVE the Spanky songs. I’ve taught my Mom how to be a seeing-eye person and she’s doing very well. We can now walk down the street safely which I’m glad about because I love my walks!

So, that’s my story. I celebrated my 10th birthday on May 23 and attended my first Halloween costume party. I didn’t like wearing a devil costume very much, but I put up with it because I do love my new Mom and Dad, and the treat bag I got was awesome! My Mom was afraid I’d be scared of all the other dogs because I can’t see, but I was fine and even played with them a little bit. I don’t really know how to thank you all for my life. I know my Mom and Dad love me very much and I don’t know what they would do without me. And thank you for getting me to them too, because I love them as well as you all too! I’m really looking forward to meeting you all soon at the next ABC event!