Saying Goodbye

A few months ago, Bunny put me in the car and we drove for a long time. When we finally stopped, Bunny took me inside a house and informed me that this was our new home. I've been meaning to put a post up about that, and I still plan to, but this post is about something else.

Dachshunds are addictive. If you spend a week with one of us, you'll come to the realization that we're the best breed in the world: beautiful, loving, protective, and smart. When Bunny was growing up, her family had three dachshunds in succession, spanning most of her life. After that much exposure, Bunny naturally wanted a dachshund when it finally became possible for her to get a dog of her own. It never crossed her mind to get any other kind of dog.

Part of the reason for this loyalty was Gretel, who owned Bunny's parents starting in 1989. I got to know Gretel because Bunny frequently takes me with her when she visits her mom. Gretel and I got along great. We used to play-fight all over the living room, but after a few years Gretel got too old to be interested in that. We still liked to share binkies, though, and give each other the occasional lick.

Gretel passed away about 10 days ago. She was 17 1/2 and enjoyed life to the end. She died doing something dachshunds like most, which is lying in the sun. We will miss her.