by Kasey Endsley

Created on: November 29, 2008   Last Updated: December 03, 2008

During one of the most crucial parts of my life, I was given a gift from the gods: A puppy Bassett Hound.

I was young, or at least, what I consider young. I was maybe nine years old. My mother had recently broken up with her girlfriend to be with another girl twenty years younger than her, only ten years older than me. I felt just as betrayed as her girlfriend. We moved to as new county in our state, and I most certainly refused to be separated from my other mother. The other mother, Karen, got me every Sunday, just like the situation between divorcee's. I was scared and confused. I didn't know what direction my life would take, and I hated my mother's new girlfriend for it.

Then, I learned I wouldn't be able to bring my golden Cocker Spaniel, Sandy, with me. I had to leave her with Karen. Karen, who was so disdrought she could barely take care of herself. As the months slowly passed, I noticed Sandy was sick. Her hair grew out so long and matted, and she looked pathetic. I was young, so I begged Karen to cut her hair and take her to the vet. I couldn't do it myself. I didn't know how. Finally, Sandy's fur was cut, and we found out why she was so sick; there were literally hundreds of ticks covering every inch of her body. Karen tried to help, but she was too pathetic at the time, still too sick in her own way. I begged my mom to help and she bought treatments and medicine for Sandy, and when Karen was at work, she would come in the house she had never wanted to step foot in again and try and help Sandy. I tried so hard myself, but there was nothing I could do. Whether she lost too much blood or got a disease, we never knew. She was gone withen the week.

I know it's harsh, but I never forgave Karen. However, I suppose, in a way, Sandy helped complete the lesson I was learning then: How to cope with loss.

It was a year later in July, right after going to Michigan to visit my mom's girlfriend's family, that she gave into my want for a new dog. As soon as we got home I got onto the computer to search for what kind I would like. I wanted a Cavaliar King Charles Spaniel. They were too expensive, though, so I settled on a cute long eared Bassett Hound. The next day, we drove for an hour out to a breeder's kennel. We arrived before the owner got off of work, so we looked into the small enclosure that held the dogs. Six or seven lemon puppy hounds and one tri-colored one rolled and played together, but stopped and came to the fence when we arrived. Then the tri-colored

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