Got word last night that our little four legged friend, Ruby is gone. She was a Basset Hound my wife started taking care of when she was a pup of 9 months old. Wife would get her and take her down to the yard of another Basset puppy and they'd play, poop and pee. After a few months wife learned of the dog park and her car became and still is "The Basset Limo" The Bassets were taken to and from the park, Mon - Fri.
After several years, wife broke both ankles one winter and the Basset duties were taken over by me. Also, each month she'd dress 'em up for whatever holiday it was that month and I'd take pictures. At the end of the year I'd make a calendar with the pictures and we'd give it to the owners.
She got diabetes a couple years ago and we'd give her the shots when owners were gone. When on vacation, wife moved into their house to take care of Ruby.
Last summer they sold their house. They wanted to build a new home and ended up in a long stay hotel from Mid July to just last Thursday. Took Ruby to the dog park along with the other Basset that day and after she went to the other Bassets house for the day. We took her to the new home that night. She seemed just fine.
Sunday she got real sick and "Dad" took her to emergency vet clinic. After six hours of tests, he called the wife and they agreed her "time" had come. It was just last night she was able to call and tell me about it. No kids, so she was their child. With our close association for nearly 11 years, we thought of her as part of our family
Rest in peace Ruby.