A Dog in a Dog World

A Dog-Eat-Dog World

I always wanted a Bassett Hound and finally got one...a purebred AKC rated puppy with a family tree and everything. I should have gotten warning signs from the fact he had the same grandfather on both sides of his family... It was a West Virginia Bassett Hound, I guess. Having him was a curse and a joy...mostly a curse. We had him paper trained in a week...sort of...when his front feet hit the news paper, he peed, but he was so damn long, like a stretch limo, that he still missed the paper. Then he found his voice...dear God, that dog could bark...I guess I never caught on to the "hound" part of Bassett Hound until he started keeping the whole neighborhood up nights.

Because of the inbreeding thing, he started going blind, so I was told to take him to an animal hospital to get examined...(it was Friday night).

The vet checked him over, then said..."yep...he's blind" I must have looked like I was brain-dead.

The poor dog was walking into all the exam room furniture and I said "Oh, really? What was your first clue?” My dog walked into door again.

"Sir, you really should have him seen by a dog ophthalmologist though."

"Really? They have those for dogs?"

"Sure...we can make an appointment for Monday."

"But, this is Friday!"

Yes, sir, I know, but you can leave the dog here and we'll look after him for you until Monday so you don't have to drive back and forth."

"Really? You do that for dogs?"

"Yes, Sir...We do it all the time. It’s what we do."

"Really?"

"Oh, Yes, Sir!"

"What all will this cost?" I'm always being so friggin’ practical...

"Let me work up an estimate for you, sir."

He was gone for twenty minutes or so, giving us time to talk with the single parent of an ailing cat. What a sad case. His cat was even a sadder one! This cat was on an express train to kitty heaven and overhearing my conversation with the doggie doc, commiserated, "My cat's been here all week. She's not long for this world."

What do you think the estimate for my dog will be?"

"Don't know. My kitty has been her all week."

"What did that cost you, if you don’t mind my asking?

"$2800."

"DOLLARS?" The cost of this dream was sinking in for the first time. You know, you can get a hammer for $15 and put her out of her misery? There’s nothing like an abrupt end to a enthralling conversation. The look I got was withering...it put my mom's to shame. I was starting to realize I was different than these people.

The vet came back..."Sir, the exam, and the consult with the specialist, and three nights of deluxe accommodation and all the dining and drugs your dog will require will cost $1800."

"DOLLARS?"

"Uh...yes, sir!"

You do realize that I can go and buy a brand new Bassett Hound for $600 bucks, don't you?

Another withering look. That's when, I made some remark about my kid’s college tuition, made my goodbyes I shut up and took my dog home, realizing these people were different kinds of cats (no pun intended).

Driving home, my dog sat on the passenger seat, with the seat belt on.

"Do you believe that?, directing my comments anyone who listened as I drove through dark en-route to home. "I don't see how these people can justify spending money on a pet like that?

"I can't see it either", my dog answered...but then, I can't see anything."