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What do you say about your "heart" dog. That was what Tommy was. He was returned to us twice. The first time because his adopter got tired of having a dog. We learned Tommy had been in a crate most of the time with him. His second adopters split up, and neither one of them was willing to make arrangements to keep him. He came back to foster at my house. He was so upset when his human left, he cried and howled and threw himself at the door. I made him a promise that minute that he would never, ever lose his home again.
I didn't quite realize at that time that he would never
again lose his home because he was going to be my "kid," but
that was how it turned out. I quickly saw he was not the
same happy-go-lucky dog we had adopted out a few weeks
before his last return. He was insecure and afraid of his
own shadow. He fit in my "pack" just fine. Shy would clean
his ears and Razor would hang out with him and play big
brother. I'm still not sure who was comforting who. While I
thought I was giving him time for his heart to heal, and get
ready for his new home, he was very cleverly burrowing
straight into my heart. Tommy was very much my baby. He liked
getting attention from new people, but he was always afraid
I was going to leave him. He loved to visit Cloverleaf
Kennel Club and watch the other Greyhounds race, but I was
never allowed out of his sight. That's lots of fun when you
visit the restroom, believe me. My very big baby! This silly
goof who was too interested in playing to be serious about
training to race also went nuts while watching the races.
You would have thought this training drop-out had been a AA
racer! He was my snuggle buddy. He always slept with me, preferably with both feet firmly planted in my back. That position was best for big stretches, and trying to push me out of bed! I eventually got the message, and bought a queen-size bed. Don't know why I bothered, he was a master at taking up the entire bed, no matter the size! Tommy was with me until October 2003. I went back to Illinois to visit my family, and my dogsitter called to tell me he was not feeling well. I had hoped he would hang on until I got home, but Judith, one of my best "dog friends," took him to the vet and we found out he had a huge mass involving his liver. She stayed with him while he crossed the Bridge. I still think he knew that sending him to the Bridge would have been very difficult for me, so he arranged to make the trip when I wouldn't be able to be there.
Tommy Austin, race name Roamin' Tom. My Little Toenail Boy!
I'll be very happy to see him again some day.
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