To my readers: My wife and I felt that for all her loyalty, love and help in raising our family that the above tribute to our family dog, Biskette, was in order. I will resume regular publishing next week. -- Greg.
Biskette 1994 – 2009
I had to have our family dog, Biskette, put down this week. About a year ago we noticed that she had lost a lot of weight. The veterinarian did some blood tests and diagnosed her with liver disease and arthritis. Through a regimen of medicines and supplements she had rebounded to a healthy “elderly” dog. Not as rambunctious as a puppy but still full of life and aware of her surroundings.
Biskette was the only dog I have ever heard of who came into this world toilet trained. Even as a puppy, she would patiently wait at the door to go outside to take care of business. When finished, she would simply scratch the door with her paw to get back in the house.
She was a mutt. Part American Eskimo and part Cocker Spaniel. She also had characteristics – pointing, stalking of squirrels and rabbits in the back yard, that I am told were akin to that of a bird dog.
When I brought her home 15 years ago, she was a small ball of white fluff. You could see there were brown colorations in all that white fur. When my wife, Mecee, saw her she exclaimed, “she looks like a biscuit!” Our children agreed and so, we Europeanized the name (my wife is of French heritage) and named her Biskette
Biskette loved to be with her people.
As with most dogs, she was practiced in the art of watching people. She was a pro at it. If Mecee was doing laundry, Biskette could be found at the end of the hallway, watching through the door to the laundry room. Almost as if she was making sure it was being done right.
Often times in the evening I would come into my office at home to work on the computer -- closing the double set of hinged doors so as not to be bothered by the television in the next room.
After a while, the doors would slowly be parted. Biskette would make her entrance. Sit down next to my chair, always in the same spot, and watch me type.
She was always happy to see you at the end of the day. Waiting in the same spot in the back yard so that she would be ready to race into the house when we arrived home from work. I will miss the routine of being greeted by her every morning, giving her a “cookie” before leaving for work. Her peculiar ways, like her habit of not touching her food until she saw that you were eating your meal – the night I came home from work to find her barking excitedly as if to tell me about the strange animal in the yard (it was the neighbors cat), will stay with me forever.
My daughter used to tell her friends that Biskette was a “genius”. No doubt she was smart, clever and had personality to spare. She was special. I doubt the strange mix that brought her into this world will be repeated. And that I am probably expressing the same thoughts that many other dog owners have about their animals.
At the end, she was in pain. You could see it in her eyes as if to ask, “what is wrong me?” The helpless feeling I had when I knew there was no way to answer the question or to ease the pain. So we took one last car ride to the veterinarian.
I know that drive was for the best. But it still hurts. We miss her so much.
31 comments:
I'm sorry Greg, I too had to put my best friend down on the 11th of Feb. She wasn't as old as Biskette, but I really don't feel age matters. I still can see the hurt in her eyes as I drove to the clinic, I wasn't expecting to have to put her down.
She had cancer, which we never knew not even the vet, a tumor the size of a large grapefruit was in in abdomen and ruptured her spleen. We could have done major surgery but she would have either died on the table or live for maybe 6 months and her quality of life would not be good.
I can honestly say I know how you feel, 15 years is not just a dog it's a family member and will be missed. I wish there was more words that will comfort you and your family but time is the only thing that takes the pain away. Remember the good times, remember she is now pain free, young again and playing at Rainbow Bridge with my pup.
I'm so sorry.
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown.
Greg,
Sorry to read about your loss.
"The average dog is a nicer person than the average person." - Andy Rooney
To my readers:
When I arrived home this evening I found a notice entitled "Neighborhood Enhancement Progam" taped to my front door. The sheet was placed by MB Painting and purported to be a BBB Accredited Business.
The sheet offers to pain addresses on curbs for $25.
If someone wants the service, they are instructed to sign the order form and tape it to their door so that it can be seen from the street.
I have received a number of calls this evening regarding this offer.
Many have expressed a fear that some elderly citizens may feel they do not have a choice in signing up for the service.
This piece of advertising pretty much fits the bill of door to door soliciting. Such soliciting requires a license in Raytown. To my knowledge (and City Hall is pretty good at informing us beforehand) there has not been any permits given for this solicitation.
I will be turning it over to the City Administrator to investigate.
If you have a neighbor who may be prone to fall for this type of pedatory advertising please let them know they have a choice.
"Neighborhood Enhancement Progam" sure makes it sound like the city authorized ot requires it. Not a good way to do business.
This type of offering happened a few years ago. I don't recall what it was called but I felt uncomfortable with it because it didn't say who to make the check out to (no name, no address, no phone number). In other words I didn't know who I was doing business with. It sent up a red flag with me. My neighbor had it done.
I think if sounds like a good idea to have your address on the curb for emergency resonders. $25 seems high to me. They already invested in the stencils and all it takes is some spray paint. I think a person could buy the stencils and paint for less than $25 and do it themselves if they were so inclined. I remember when it use to cost $10. I guess we are in hard times.
BBB accredited means nothing to me. I have filed complaints with the BBB and it was totally useless. I think it means they paid for a membership.
Andy Whiteman
I am not sure that BBB Accredited means anything at all.
Does BBB stand for Better Business Burea? Does the Better Business Bureau "accredit" anyone or anything?
The whole thing sounds like an overpriced way for someone to hustle a buck.
Making the ad look like some sort of city program makes it smell like a scam.
This is Raytown! Who has curbs?
There are some areas with curbs. I think they were put in by some developers. My block has curbs except that one curb ends at my property line since the subdivision ends there.
I was at the BOA meeting tonight and Mahesh Sharma said that the company painting the curbs is not authorized by the city and in fact does NOT have a city permit. Anyone thinking of using the service should ask to see a city permit.
Andy Whiteman
Gee! Poor bastards just trying to make a buck. Give them a permit. At least they're not out trying to break into your house!
It is a good quality to actually look for work, but I think the requirements is that they apply for a permit. Permits are not simply given.
Andy Whiteman
Due to recent budget cuts and the cost of electricity, gas and oil, as well as current market conditions and the continued decline of the economy, The Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off.
Sorry!
Soliciting without a permit. H ate it when security systems companies, who are the most nitorious for this, come door to door and tell me that my neighborhood is going to the crapper and thier system will stop the burglars. Well i have made it a habit now to allways ask where is your permit. If they don't have it, bam call the cops. They don't wanna pay the $10.00 or whatever it is, then they can post a bond and pay a fine. I would encourage everyone to do the same. This will also help out your neighbors who often fall victim to things like this.
To Anon 10:15
Give them a permit, yeah when they come to city hall and pay for it. They could be casing houses too. think about that. That is not paranoid that is cautious.
The Hawk
Greg
sorry to hear about your family pet. It is always sad when a pet is gone.
I saw an individual walking across lawns as close to the house as possible. I asked him what he was doing. He claimed to be selling secutity systems and looking for signs. Hell, he could see a sign from the street. Looked like he was casing houses so I called the cops.
My Chief of Security happens to be a big dog. Much better than an alarm system. Don't have to wait for the alarm people to call the cops.
Pat, I am glad that someone has decided to conserve electricity and turned off the light at the end of the tunnel. I like you sense of humor.
Andy Whiteman
The predatory practices of some so-called businessmen are well documented. Two of the entries this week tell of typical door-to-door abuses by salespersons.
One is the roll of the bully who give dire warnings of what will happen if you do not buy their product -- as was expressed in the post about burglar alarms.
The other is more insidious and was used by those who are wanting to paint street addresses on curbs.
The piece was made to look and read like it was a municipal program. I received calls from people asking if (what they thtought) was a city program was mandatory -- one told me they could not afford the $25 fee.
Honest businessmen and women do not resort to such tactics.
The police have been told of this unlicensed "business". City Hall records all show that the required permit was not acquired for this particuar door to door solicitor.
There is nothing wrong with painting addresses on curbs. But questionable business practices in making the sale should not be tolerated.
I sponsored the (and helped write) the ordinance that created the requirement for door to door soliciting. It is a proven safe-guard for our community against questionable business practices.
By the way, there is no "fee" for obtaining a solicitor's permit to go door to door. The purpose of the ordinance was to inform the police of who they might expect to be in Raytown neighborhoods.
It sounds like the address painters are targeting a part of the city. The never posted a notice on my home.
A couple of years ago (about 5PM) an attractive young lady was going to give me a FREE alarm system if I allowed them to post a sign in my yard. The only requirent was that I PAY for monthly monitering. I explained to her why I preferred a dog. She stood there chatting to me for almost 1/2 hour with her supervisor calling every 10 minutes or so. Finally he called and said they were going home. After she left, I thought she had a 1/2 hour to work her con.
Andy Whiteman
If an attractive young woman came to my door it wouldn't be me who needed an alarm system.
I will have to agree with Mr.Whiteman. My dogs are excellent alarms. Two of them have mean barks and the three is the size of a small horse. They notify me if anyone is in my yard or even walking down the street, which helps me keep an eye on my nieghbor's property as well. No alarm can do that no matter how fancy. Plus like a good strong supporter of the 2nd amendment i have the security portion a security alarm too.
The Hawk.
I will have to agree with Mr.Whiteman. My dogs are excellent alarms. Two of them have mean barks and the three is the size of a small horse. They notify me if anyone is in my yard or even walking down the street, which helps me keep an eye on my nieghbor's property as well. No alarm can do that no matter how fancy. Plus like a good strong supporter of the 2nd amendment i have the security portion a security alarm too.
The Hawk.
Do what I did put a No Solicitation sign up. It even keeps the Jehovah Witnesses away.
And of course the dogs help.
The Hawk is correct about dogs watching the street. At first Red Dog didn't bark, then she would bark once as an alert. One day she barked 3 times at someone walking down the street! With 3 barks, I had to check it out. It was an individual who didn't belong in the neighborhood. He gave ma a strange look and was never seen again.
When I lived in Albuquerque, day time burglars broke down the neighbor's door while she was hanging laundry. Exacatly one week later they were pounding on my front door to see if anyone was home. Due to the nuisance, I was very unfriendly when I answered the door. My dog stood his ground barking. I made no attempt to restrain him. They left and never returned again. A traditional alarm system will not stop these perps. Raytown has am excellant Police Dept. with quick response but many cities don't. I prefer a dog as a deterrent.
Andy Whiteman
Andy Whiteman
See where another Gateway to the Graveyard, Gregory intersection update, is going to be started. One on Blue Ridge cost over $1 million but the paper didn't report the cost on this one. That would be the main part of the story I would think. Just another way to put lipstick on a pig courtesy your Board of Aldermen and Mayor.
According to The Raytown Post article online...
"The total cost of the gateway project is estimated at $524,448, however because of a state grant from the MoDOT Enhancement Grant the city’s contribution will be $149,448.62."
That sounds like a great deal to me, and a good job by city staff to get a grant like that for the city. I'm not sure what "lipstick on a pig" means, but I guess its easy to say things like that when you don't leave your name.
Oh I forgot. I'm David Jr. like David tells us anything
It was stated at the BOA that the gateway would also include road improvements. I am in favor of the road improvements, but in my opinion, the gateways are a waste of taxpayer's money. The gateways look nice but are only decorative and totally useless.
Remember even though Raytown got a grant, all the taxpayers paid for the grant!
I saw on the news that Lees Summit wants to use porkulous money to put in several gateways. They are getting as nutty as Raytown.
The gateways are a bridge to nowhere.
Andy Whiteman
Mr. Whiteman.
Too True but lee's summit has an over abundance of capital to pay for things like that. The amount of taxes that city collects just at Christmas time for the mall is enough to fully fund their police department for a whole year. I am all for the City getting state grant money. True that taxes is what grants are formed from, but the whole state contributes. Makes me feel like Jeff city cares about the little ole town of Raytown.
The Hawk.
The gateway and the Gregory project are a sign of what is wrong at city hall. The BOA and mayor want to build these monuments to themselves, but as soon as you pass through the intersection we're back to gravel roads instead of paved streets. DO SOMETHING ABOUT OUR HORRIBLE STREETS AND FORGET THE COSMETIC FIXES.
Not so fast Hawk.
A good portion of that Christmas sales tax goes to pay for the highway improvements that Lee's Summit is STILL PAYING FOR.
Got to hand it to you for the clever wording. The sales tax revenue produced is a high amount. But to say it pays for the funding of their p.d. is simply not true.
I agree with Anon 8:03 AM. People pass through these decorative monuments. Looks nice (but what is the purpose other than decorative?) and then they reach cracked, pot holed, and failed streets!
Fix the streets first!
Why not get a grant to fix the streets? Maybe Raytown should apply for a Porkulous grant for street REPAIR.
Personally I don't beleive in wasting money on decorative items. I was talking with a handyman about installing a door to a room in my new house. He used the word decorative several times. That word really annoyed me. Finally he explained that the word "decorative" meant he would paint it. That is not my defination of decorative. Decorative spending is really wasteful, It serves no real purpose.
Andy Whiteman
D
Put the Police in charge of their own money???? Now that's a riot.
If you recall, it is the Police who helped put the City in a hole with 5% annual raises across the board, unfettered travel expenses, and a we're better than the rest attitude. To prove that, just look at the Chief who is now making over $100,000 a year, wants to kick it up a notch with a 5% raise. What a joke. Cityhall must reaalllllly think the taxpayers are that gullable. Maybe we are.
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