Basset Hound Rescue of Southern California
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Basset Hound Rescue of Southern California
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In Memory Of Millie
Dear God, how we miss Millie.
Millie came into our lives over 5 years ago. Karyn picked her up from the Antelope Valley Animal Shelter and she told me later, “Man, did she smell bad.” It was another two weeks before I met her because that day Karyn took her straight to meet Maxine at our usual handoff place at Tommie’s on Roscoe off of the 405, who then took her to the Long Beach vet for a checkup and a bath. The picture posted on the website listing her for adoption was taken on that day on the only patch of grass in the Tommie’s parking lot. It didn’t show her best side but it got her up on the site for the world to see. I didn’t much care for it at the time but looking at it now for the first time in years, I love it because I can see the happiness and relief in her face that we saved her from that awful shelter.
She smelled much better when Karyn brought her home after those two weeks. Introductions to our two guys (Dogbert and Dharma) went well but we quickly learned Millie didn’t like being approached by them while she was sleeping, making us edgy and having to keep watch over everyone at night, but everyone learned to cope with this.
She was estimated to be about 12 years old when she came to us but I think perhaps she looked older than she really was. The vet suspected she had been abused and had litters of puppies until she couldn’t have them anymore. She was not a fast mover but she did trudge along at her own pace. We loved to watch her dance and bark when it was dinner time. She had the thickest fur I had ever seen on a Basset and it made her a star attraction at the Spring Games when we attended later that spring.
It was at this time I discovered I could apply for a donation to the BHRSC from my employer’s charitable funds organization, The Boeing Company Employee Community Fund of Long Beach. It became easier when I learned one of the BHRSC founders, the late Bill James, was also associated with this same branch of the Boeing Co. ECF. We enlarged an image of the check and took a picture of it with Millie in the foreground, making her our Foster Poster Dog.
There was no interest from anyone to adopt her for almost a year, perhaps due to her estimated age, perhaps due to the first picture. Karyn and I finally decided to take another picture for the website. Finally, after 51 weeks, a local couple adopted Millie to be a companion for their other Basset who had lost his companion recently. We warned them how Millie could be edgy if approached unawares, but the introduction seemed to go well and off everyone went. However, 5 months later, the couple called us begging us to take her back as she and their first Basset could not get along and it was negatively affecting his behavior. We agreed and Millie came back to us. I was glad to see her again but it broke my heart and I will never forget how she whimpered when she watched their truck drive away without her.
Millie readjusted to her old home and our pet door without any problems, but I could not help noticing she was no longer aggressive if awakened by Dogbert or Dharma. In fact, Dogbert, and especially Dharma, became the aggressors if Millie wandered too close to them.
Millie’s picture went back up onto the website for adoption. Somehow her original owner heard that she was listed there and called the hotline to inquire about her. Karyn happened to be managing the calls at that time and called her back. The woman said she had to move out of her house and gave Millie to a friend for safekeeping but the friend turned her into the A.V. Animal Shelter shortly thereafter. And this is where we came in.
The representatives of the BHRSC asked us if we would become a permanent foster family for Millie after there was no further adoption interest in her, again perhaps because of her age. We were only too happy to do this.
Millie continued to be a star attraction at the few Spring Games we were able to attend after this, but the last one we attended in 2005 seemed to be difficult for her. She didn’t have the energy to walk for more than very short distances so I put her in our little red wagon and escorted her around the area for all to see and admire. Many came to see her and say hello and take pictures. (Sadly, Karyn and I never took any pictures of her riding in the wagon and we would love to have a copy. Please send a copy to Stigsrig@hotmail.com if you have a picture of Millie you are willing to share). The heat and round trip travel from the Antelope Valley took its toll on her that day. She slept the rest of that day and into the morning. She moved a little slower and for shorter distances the last couple of years but I marveled at her determination.
Knowing that she had such a hard life, rejected by three different families and blind in both eyes by age, I wondered if she was ever really happy anymore and felt that I couldn’t give her the home she deserved, but her tail wagged and she came to me and rested her head on my feet when I would get home from work. She needed a lot of special care and I never got a good night’s sleep but Karyn and I still did our best to make Millie comfortable.
Her health finally failed Saturday night, 13 October, when she grew very restless. The next morning she was in obvious pain and we took her to the emergency vet clinic where she was diagnosed with bloat. I had heard of bloat before but had never had to deal with it. I deeply hated to have to learn about it with Millie.
I will never forget how she used to dance for her dinner, how soft her head and fur was and how cuddly she was.
Go Millie, go in peace to the Rainbow Bridge and wait for us there.
We said goodbye to Millie on a beautiful, bright, sunshiny day. Now…I just wish it would rain.
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