Baxter was just a month short of his 17th birthday when he went to rest. Mila and I missed him so much. He was a very loyal companion.
In above picture, he will not stay put, so I have to pin him between my two legs. At age 2 to 6, his most notable act when he was playing with me was, he will bite on his rope, I will raise it up in the air with him hanging onto it. That's how strong were his teeth were !! He was a very smart dog. Actually he was Ana's dog, when Ana was in Texas Tech in Lubbock. Ana and her friends found him as a 6-month old puppy, left at the apartment building. He was already house broken. Ana taught him to ring a small bell, when he wanted to go out to do his "business". After 8 months, when Ana became very busy at school then we took Baxter home. Baxter is a mixed Dachshund/Beagle.
When I give him treat for being a good boy, I will command him to roll over. But when he saw a treat in my hand, without me telling to roll over, he will do it right away so he can get the treat sooner.
He was a well-traveled dog. He was always with Mila and me whenever we visited Ana and family. He had been to Huntington, West Virginia where Ryan was born. When Trey was born in 2007, we traveled to Louisville,Kentucky.
He was always well until 2010, when he was diagnosed with nerve sheath tumor in his front right armpit. The tumor grew to a golf ball size when he had surgery. A year later, the tumor showed up again and he had surgery. In 2013, when the tumor recurred, we decided and the vet agreed that he was getting old for a 3rd surgery. All this time, his appetite and well-being were alright, which we thought will last "forever".
In 2014, was when we noticed that old age was now with him. He started developing severe arthritis and medication kept him going although his gaits were now slowing. Then he was diagnosed with a leaky valve in his heart, when he was coughing .
On Aug.7, 2014, with the advise of his longtime vet, we decided to let Baxter "go to rest". Mila and I had a very hard time accepting this decision, but we cannot bear to see him suffering anymore.
Baxter, you had been a loyal companion to us for 16 years !!! You rest now buddy !!!
