All Gus, All the TimeOctober 16, 2006 By way of introduction... I'm going to take some time to feature one of my boys every now and then. Today we'll start with Gus. Gus AKA: Gustopher Wayne Allard, Baby G, Gussy Wayne DOB: December 26, 1995 |
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Gus is currently ten years old (not elderly or anything for a Basenji), and reigns as Supreme Alpha Dog in this house. Here's a little of his story... This photo was taken before his surgery. |
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Ten years ago, about three years before Chris and I met, Chris lived in Houston. He decided to get a dog so that he would have an excuse to cut his work hours from 16-hour days, to something more reasonable, like 10-hour days. For some magical reason, he decided to get a Basenji. Here are Chris and Gus, both looking like skinny babies. |
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It was just a man and his dog, and they were best friends. Best friends, yes...but there were challenges because Chris and Gus have identical, headstrong personalities. (Except when it comes to me. They're both pushovers for the blonde lady that feeds them.) |
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Chris then got an assignment in Detroit, and they moved from Houston. Still just one man and one dog. |
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Chris and Gus were their own little family, of sorts. Chris took Gus with him everywhere he could. OMG - they are both so young! |
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Two years later, Chris got an assignment in Seattle, where I was living with Ike. We met while I was out walking Ike and he was walking Gus. It's not every day that you see another Basenji, so we naturally stopped to talk. Here is Gus on one of our first dates...a roadtrip to Deception Pass in Washington. |
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Here's a photo I took of Chris, taking the above photo! Gus had never seen the ocean before this day, and he was fascinated with the moving water. |
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Gus and Ike were best friends from the minute they met. Gus was the boss, of course. |
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While Chris and I were still dating (and maintaining separate households) Chris decided to adopt a second Basenji, named Hank. Here is The Barkless Three. A few years later, we sadly lost Hank to brain cancer. |
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In Seattle, we enjoyed mild temperatures and a big back yard. But things were going to change again... |
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...because we were off to spend two years in Holland for Chris' work. Holland was tough on Gus, because he (and Ike) got beat up several times by off-leash, out-of-control dogs. American standards for leashes and poop bags are NOT international. |
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After the long flight back to the US, we're in Houston now. And more recently, Gus reigns once again over two Basenjis, with the addition of Lou. Gus, who has seen more of this world than most people, is still boss. |
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My email - staci@verypink.com |
Chris' email - barkless3@yahoo.com |
