Clara came to our lives during a hot summer night in Evanston, IL in 2000. We met her, as would have been expected for Clara roaming a diner begging for food. Her current keeper could not care for her the way she deserved and asked us if we would like to take her. After about a 20 minute deliberation we agreed and immediately Clara became a part of our lives.

She came to Seattle with us in 2000 and until this morning she rocked and partied like no Basset Hound we have ever met. She was the boss! Clara would not stop and a dear friend of ours called her the energizer bunny. Clara had a disposition that was brighter than the sun. She would always be game for the park, a walk or even a hike. She was a short little girl but that never stopped her from going to her favorite places, meeting her favorite people and above all torturing her mom for attention. When Clara wanted something she would get it.

Clara went through a lot of medical procedures in her life. She had a broken back, bloat and even cancer. Yet she beat them all. After all the surgeries, vets and hospitals she would always recover and before anyone could notice she was back in the saddle, stitches and all. Watching Clara fight back was something incredible; which makes losing her particularly hard. We knew that at some point age would claim her but her will and strength made us question it all the time.

Clara will leave a mark on everyone she met. She was really a very special dog and will be sorely missed.

There is nothing we would not have done to keep her around us but we know that life must go on and she had lived a full life.

Those floppy ears and deep belly barks will never be forgotten but we know that she would have not liked us to be sad. In her honor we ask everyone to love their pets and care for them with deep love.

Clara. You rock!

Maria G.