On December 6 2001 I received a letter from my dear friends
Norman and Frances Goldman telling me that their dear REGGIE
a basset hound passed away this past September just 2 months shy of
his 13th birthday. His passing bought pain to my heart.
Reggie was a special dog.
I used to foster Basset Hounds for Basset Hound Rescue
in Southern California some years back. I fostered Reggie when
he was just 1 year old. He was rescued from an abusive home.
Reggie was young then and so full of life.
He was quickly adopted by an older gentleman who kept him
for 2 years. As fate would have it he was returned to me because
the man developed Parkinson’s disease and could
no longer keep him.
I thought about adopting Reggie for myself but with two
other basset hounds I could not keep a third.
He was finally adopted by this loving couple Norman and Frances
and was their faithful companion for 9 1/2 years.
I know that Reggie was happy with them.
They loved him very much and treated him like he was their child.
He could not have hoped for a better home.
Each Christmas they would send me a card and new
photo of Reggie.
I kept each of those cards and photos.
However this Christmas will be the last photo of Reggie
I will receive. He died in September 2001 of cancer despite their
best efforts to save him. They were with him to the very end
and their pain in great.
I felt compelled to write this tribute for Reggie.
Although I was only his “foster mother”,
I loved REGGIE and thought about him often.
They have since adopted another basset named ELVIS.
This holds true to the saying
ONCE YOU HAVE BEEN OWNED BY A BASSET
YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A BASSET IN YOUR HOME.
Good-bye REGGIE.
I know you went to “Dog Heaven” and are now with my
Daisy Bernard and Bumper.
You were lucky to have such wonderful and
caring owners.
Until we all meet again in the Lord’s Kingdom
I will remember you with love.
Your foster mother and father,
Barbara & Robert Heimanson
Eureka California
| Barbara and Robert |