My name is Sprite and I am now 18 years old. On November 22, 1991, I was captured by animal control with a snare loop. It frightened me so bad I was wild with fear and they considered putting me down. Fortunately they called the Dallas / Ft. Worth Basenji Club to rescue me.

On December 13, 1991 Fran Medley and Pepsi, another DFW Basenji Club rescue, came to see me in my foster home. I went home with Fran and Pepsi for the weekend and guess what--

I’m still there!!

Pepsi was my best friend but she left me and went to The Rainbow Bridge on April 22, 2002. She had a rare cancer in her left front “wrist” that kept returning after repeated surgeries, radiation therapy, and leg amputation. The day she left me I was also diagnosed with the same kind of cancer except it is in my right hind leg, high up between the muscles.

I was 13 then and have had 5 surgeries. Because of the type of tumor and place where it is located, my vet can only de-bulk the area for my comfort. This type of cancer usually does not metastasize, but keeps growing again, slowly, in the same place after de-bulking.

Since I have to have anesthesia anyway, my vet cleans my teeth at the same time. I always go home feeling so much better after this visit.

I was so depressed when Pepsi left, I just lay on the couch and stared out the back door.

After about a month, Fran decided to find me another friend. 17 month old Ruby was looking for a home so she came home with me Memorial Day weekend 2002.

I had so much work to do teaching Ruby how to use the doggy door and where the best potty spots in the yard were located that I forgot I was depressed. We went camping, took long walks, ate good food and slept anywhere we wanted.

I got another Basenji friend to teach all kinds of important stuff when Zoë came to live with us February 20, 2004. She was 11 weeks old and decided the best place to sleep was on top of Ruby or me. When she got as big as Ruby, snuggling next to me in my cuddle bed had to do.

I have had seizures about every one to three months during the night since I was 9. When I woke up after the last one, Zoë was licking my face. It sure is nice to be loved.

I don’t hear much any more and my vision is clouded. I can no longer jump on the bed or couch, but my warm cuddle bed is on the living room floor where it is easy to access.

I still enjoy a slow walk around the block and we went camping most of the month of September to many new places. I also enjoy going to the dog park because I get to watch all the dogs play and I usually get many pets from their humans.

Life is good.

Being a hunting dog and all, someone said I ate the Energizer Bunny and just kept going and going and going and...