Ed Levine's Serious Diet, Week 80: Remembering Our Serious Eater Beagle Brass
"The only thing that stopped him from opening the fridge was his lack of an opposable thumb."
We had to put our 15 year-old beagle Brass to sleep yesterday. He was getting sicker and sicker, and weaker and weaker, and when Will, Vicky, and I arrived at our vet's office yesterday, she told us that it was time. The three of us had already arrived at that conclusion as a family even before we arrived at Dr. Brown's office.
Why? Because Brass, a serious eater if there ever was one, had stopped eating and drinking. He hadn't eaten anything for three days. The only way Vicky and Will could get some liquid into him was by spoon-feeding him water.
How could this be? How much of a serious eater was Brass? Well, some of you might remember this photo of Brass doing the dishes at our friends' house in Connecticut. Brass obviously hated to see one single morsel of seriously delicious food go to waste, so he became the first dog we had ever seen volunteer to do the dishes. Now that's what I call a considerate and well-trained dog-cum-house-guest. But Brass had exhibited serious eater tendencies long before he started doing the dishes, like when he visited the Serious Eats offices.
Brass should have performed some of his food-oriented stupid pet tricks on Letterman to show the world just what kind of serious eater he was.
He could go up and over like a dolphin in pursuit of something seriously delicious. No matter what kitchen counter we put food on, it was not safe from Brass. Only the closed oven and the top of the fridge were Brass-free zones, and the only thing that stopped him from opening the fridge was his lack of an opposable thumb.
Though Brass was a wonderfully gentle, child-friendly dog (one sweet little boy in our building would sometimes visit him thrice-weekly after school for play dates) no food a child was clutching was safe from Brass. When Brass was three or four—in his serious eating prime—Vicky was walking him to the bank. She and Brass passed a little boy in a stroller chomping contentedly on a bagel. In a flash, without making a sound, Brass took the bagel out of the little boy's hands with his teeth. He did this so quickly the little boy's mother didn't see it.
The little boy started crying, and his mom couldn't figure out why. Vicky had to explain to her what had happened and offered to repay her for the bagel.
Brass loved pizza as well, as Adam Kuban found out a few years ago during a Serious Eats planning session at our house:
When I first encountered Ed Levine's beagle, Brass, he had lumbered from the kitchen of Ed's apartment into the living room, drawn by the scent of pizza dinner at an early Serious Eats planning session. Ed immediately warned us all to watch that dog like a hawk. As far as Brass is concerned, that slice of pizza on your plate is his. Brass's strategy: Disarm with a deceptively slow pace, bide time until victim's guard is down, strike like lightning to take what's rightfully his. The night I met him, someone (no, not me) ignored Ed's warning, and Brass scored a prime corner slice of a grandma pizza from New Pizza Town.
Thanksgiving is of course any serious eaters' favorite holiday, and Brass was no exception. Most Thanksgivings in our house ended with Brass leaping up onto the center of the dining room table and devouring one of the many pies I had carefully gathered from around the city. At that moment he became the ultimate Thanksgiving table centerpiece. Who needs flowers? I'm not sure our guests appreciated Brass' skill and prowess, but I for one was incredibly proud. Brass was one hell of a serious eater.
It's going to be a lot easier seriously eating in our house now that Brass is no longer with us, but that doesn't make losing him any less difficult. Big-hearted Brass was a constant, joyous, life-affirming presence in our lives for fifteen years. We loved him madly and he loved us right back every single moment he was with us.
The Weigh-In
As all serious eaters can well imagine, we've been consumed with Brass this past week, so much so that I forgot to weigh myself one day. Let's see where I ended up. 213. Same as last week. I'm still going to have a piece of pie this weekend, in honor of Brass the serious-eating beagle.
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80 Comments:
A world without Brass is a world where pizza scraps and naive bagel-eating babies are much safer. He was a role model for serious eating pooches everywhere.
Erin Zimmer at 9:01AM on 08/14/09
I'm so sorry to hear of your loss Ed. Brass won all our hearts with that dishwashing picture.
lexophile at 9:01AM on 08/14/09
I am sorry to hear about your loss, it sounds like Brass loved a wonderful (and full-filling) life. I am glad he brought your family so much joy, even if it was at the expense of your Thanksgiving pies!
KarynMC at 9:03AM on 08/14/09
Wow....sorry about your loss. I have two dogs (both rescues) Chip is also part beagle (other parts supposedly sheperd but who knows for sure). Chip is just like Brass... a serious food lover. He loves pizza too, but also add asparagus (he eats those like he's in a white-cloth restaurant), any kind of pasta (they're both crazy for pasta - I have to cook an extra lb of macs on pasta night), string beans (loves those sauteed in garlic and oil) and salad, just to name a few.
Chip and Katie are my four-legged children - the amount of love and loyalty they both give is priceless.
Hopefully when some time passes you and your family will consider to adopt one of the many dogs facing euthanesia at a local shelter. God Bless and Good Luck!
mariacee at 9:03AM on 08/14/09
So sorry Ed, my condolences.
Nick Solares at 9:05AM on 08/14/09
i'm so sorry to hear about your dog. losing a pet is just heartbreaking.
cybercita at 9:06AM on 08/14/09
I'm sorry, Ed. What a good, sweet dog.
Michele Humes at 9:07AM on 08/14/09
sincere condolences upon the loss of best-friend brass..... he certainly was one-of-a-kind..... looks like he had a very practical approach, the genius of scarfing in the dishwasher..... fond wishes, pooch
pooch at 9:07AM on 08/14/09
My thoughts are with you and your family on this sad occasion. He is in a better place, at the Rainbow Bridge waiting for you... probably eating something scrumptious.
meem21 at 9:10AM on 08/14/09
I'm sorry for your loss. Our chihuahua also enjoys standing on the dishwasher door and assisting with the dishes.
bobbob at 9:13AM on 08/14/09
My condolences for you and your family this day,and for the hard days to follow. Nothing is s uncomplicatedly good in life as the love for and from a good pet. What great memories you have. Thanks for sharing some of them with us.
lemonfair at 9:17AM on 08/14/09
I'm so sorry. He was a beautiful dog, and very lucky to have a family who appreciated his Serious Eater status.
trillian42 at 9:26AM on 08/14/09
Condolences on Brass's journey to dog heaven, where I hope he meets Scarlett, our beagle, also a serious eater who once opened a kitchen cabinet, tipped over a 3-liter can of olive oil, and was discovered madly lapping it up.
Ciaohound48 at 9:28AM on 08/14/09
My deepest sympathies are with you and your family. The loss of a beloved pet can be devastating. Take things one day at a time and let yourself mourn. Your tribute to Brass above was a beautiful and moving way to honor his memory.
Martini Me at 9:36AM on 08/14/09
My sympathies for your family's lost. I lost my cat, Frisky in March. Frisky was quite the serious eater, too. Those memories of him lapping up pasta, blueberry pancakes and going after my husband's slice of pizza will always put a smile on my face. Thank you for sharing your memories.
bkbella at 9:45AM on 08/14/09
I am so sorry, Ed. We lost our sweet Sasha to cancer about 3 months ago. I'm glad you were able to write some of your memories about him; that certainly helped me, though I am still grieving over the loss of our sweet Sasha. I hope, when the time is right, you will open your heart and home to another 4-legged serious eater. (Since we lost Sasha, we have been trying to honor her memory by becoming more involved in dog rescue. The primary group we work with places a lot of dogs in NYC, so when the time comes, I hope you will consider a rescue.)
feelgood at 9:46AM on 08/14/09
My two dogs sound like an amalgam of Brass between them. While the AmStaff definitely displays a Beagle-like prowess for liberating food from unsuspecting guests, the Boxer's dilligence in helping pre-wash the dishes in the open dishwasher has caused problems. The open door was definitely not designed to withstand 70lbs of enthusiastic dog... My condolences on your loss, I can't imagine the time I won't have either of my monsters, and my thoughts go out to your family.
hungrysailor at 9:49AM on 08/14/09
Great stories, Ed. My dog Trixie was a serious eater. She loved vegetables, which is funny for a dog, and was frequently seen stealing cherry tomatoes from the garden. She loved her meat too, but she had a pretty balance scrap food diet.
We knew it was her time to go when she stopped eating, and not even a prime piece of fat from a steak could tempt her.
YancyDC at 10:10AM on 08/14/09
Thank you for letting us join you in remembering your wonderful Brass; a dog is the purest form of love and devotion and the loss of your family member is heartbreaking... I'm so sorry. May the great memories you've listed here and the many others that you hold in your heart continue to comfort you. Thank you for sharing your stories of Brass with all of us, my heart is full and so sad for your loss.
Chooch at 10:20AM on 08/14/09
So sorry for your loss. My late beagle Whiskey was a true serious eater, it's a beagle thing. He had a special love of sticky rice, fresh vegetables and my mom's empanadas.
This was a beautiful obituary for a special dog, thanks for posting it.
faycat at 10:37AM on 08/14/09
Condolences Ed. Enjoy that pie.
simon at 10:46AM on 08/14/09
Great post - sorry about Brass passing.
I thought my dog was a serious eater, but he's a rank amateur compared to Brass.
sfmitch at 10:50AM on 08/14/09
My favorite Brass memory: Vicky and I were meeting with a Swedish subagent, a tall, staid, handsome man in his late twenties, and we decided to order sandwiches for the occasion. Somehow Brassy got away from William, came bounding into the living room, and leapt onto the coffee table to steal the subagent's sandwich. I think I tried to make sympathetic faces, but like you at Thanksgiving, I was secretly extremely impressed by Brass's tenacity and by just how far such a low-to-the-ground dog could leap. The office just isn't the same without him--he was a presence and will be missed--but I'm sure he's in the great above doing some serious eating and wagging his tail in delight.
ClaireDunnington at 11:06AM on 08/14/09
What a beautiful eulogy. As a serious eater and pet lover, my heart goes out to you and your family.
Kerosena at 11:07AM on 08/14/09
((Sniffle))
My old dog Forrest was with me when I was learning to cook. He would lay at the edge of the kitchen and wait for samples of the night's meal or for the random scrap to fall. He was my earliest critic too, because there were things that even he wouldn't eat. He also had his ninja moments, like the time hubby left a beautiful chicken sandwich on the arm of the couch to grab a soda out of the fridge, only to return 10 seconds later to the bottom piece of bread and a dog on his bed with crumbs in his mouth. And Forrest loved to eat the tops of strawberries.
My thoughts are with you, your family and sweet, dear Brass.
erinlovestoeat at 11:10AM on 08/14/09
I am so sorry for your loss, thanks for writing such a great tribute. We have two serious eating pooches now, one I actually call my sous chef, she's a serious gourmet dog.
We lost one a few years ago, and some of my favorite memories of her revolve around food. She didn't leave the kitchen or dining room on Thanksgiving day. When moving my parents bed once we found a hidden stash of pizza crusts.
Instead of taking a small bite of cheeseburger an ex-boyfriend offered to our Ashe-Li, she decided she'd rather have the, much larger, rest of burger in his other hand! And finally, once when I was finishing sorbet out of the container and got up to take a phone call, Ashe decided she'd go ahead and lick that container clean instead of me!
Dogs have brought more joy to my life that I can explain, and I hope Brass is munching on his fav foods in doggie heaven right now.
bobcatsteph3 at 11:17AM on 08/14/09
I'm so sorry for your loss. He sounds like he was a wonderful part of your family who will truly be missed, but remembered forever.
Jennifer Hess at 11:26AM on 08/14/09
Oh man, Ed, I want to extend my deepest, heartfelt condolences. My dog has been in and out of the vet lately and though she appears to be doing better, I just... don't want to even think about that.
But he'll live on in our hearts.
feistyfoodie at 11:37AM on 08/14/09
Sorry to hear about Brass, Ed. Our family friend's dog, Tanker, a rottweiler, can now do serious eating together with Brass. Tanker once snatched a whole burrito from an obnoxious local morning TV personality live on camera. I've had to work with said obnoxious personality and I've never been prouder of a dog in my life!
I've grown up with dogs all my life and losing them has never been easy, especially considering how much they enrich our lives. It's fairly obvious Brass enriched your life so much that you shared a common hobby -- serious eating.
Lorena at 11:42AM on 08/14/09
Sorry to hear about your loss, Ed. I also have a serious eater beagle, Morris. She once scored herself a piece of raw salmon that was sitting a little too close to the edge of the counter-top. All the best to you and your family.
margaux at 11:45AM on 08/14/09
I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of Brass! He sounds like he was a wonderful dog!
lisasav5 at 11:52AM on 08/14/09
Me deepest condolences.
KB in Toledo at 11:54AM on 08/14/09
Sorry to hear about Brass, Ed. I think your diet is going to be much more difficult now that Brass is no longer there to steal food from you.
Adam Kuban at 12:11PM on 08/14/09
Condolences Ed and family on your loss of Brass. My serious eating dog was named Rusty and half beagle. He took a roast right off the counter and we had to chase him down to get it before he devoured it. Our fur children are always the ones who give us the most pleasure in all they do.
queenbleu at 12:17PM on 08/14/09
My deep felt condolences to you and your family Ed. The loss of a pet is heartbreaking...they love us so unconditionally and bring such joy and comfort. Thank you for sharing your memories of Brass - he was a beautiful dog and I am know he loved his years with you and your family. Take care of each other in this hard time.
radley24 at 12:28PM on 08/14/09
I'll never forget that picture of Brass in the dishwasher...he stole my heart.
My deepest sympathy for what must be an unbearable emptiness right now. What a wonderful life you and your family gave that doggie and what warm memories he will hold for you.
bessfour at 12:47PM on 08/14/09
What a wonderful atricle. He was a great doggie and I'm glad we were able to share some of your memories with him.
aprilring at 12:54PM on 08/14/09
I'm so sorry, my parents put down their black lab yesterday, like Brass he had not eaten for the past three days. I have two beagles and remember seeing them laying at the top of the stairs sharing a five pound brisket that they had snuck from the table. Beagles. :-)
gusgus18 at 1:00PM on 08/14/09
Ed, I was reminded of that poem by Auden when I read your story. You know, that poem about Icarus, and these lines:
Anyhow in a corner, some untidy spot
Where the dogs go on with their doggy life and the torturer's horse
Scratches its innocent behind on a tree.
I always liked that image of the dogs having their own meaningful lives, in their own doggy way. Brass must have had a wonderfully doggy existence.
Chichi Wang at 1:10PM on 08/14/09
I'm sorry. I've been there before. I think it's a fit feeling to know he's in a much better place now. The way a dog becomes more than a companion and changes your life is priceless.
mtgall at 1:16PM on 08/14/09
We'll lift a glass to Brass who had a wonderful life - a Serious Eater in a family of same.
islandexile at 1:39PM on 08/14/09
So sorry to hear of your loss - I have tears in my eyes as I read the story. It has been over 7 years since we lost our last dog - and every once in a while I still get a tinge of sadness...these little guys bring so much joy to our lives. The dishwasher picture is perfect and shows what a character Brass must have been. Thank you for sharing your story.
46137 at 2:05PM on 08/14/09
Finally, my lab retriever, Kane will have someone in Serious Eats Dog Heaven to swap "foodie"stories with. Kane can share the time he nabbed a veal roast of the table and ate 5 boxes of Girl Scout cookies-boxes and plastic! Hope you can smile at the image-sending good vibes your way.
janaatwg at 2:13PM on 08/14/09
God bless Brass. Can't imagine Heaven being much of a place without our best friends joining us there. So, here's to hoping and praying you'll see your beloved pup again. He sounds like a wonderful dog and I know you and your family must be very sad. Best wishes at this time.
mamatulka at 2:35PM on 08/14/09
I believe I'll honor Brass with a slice of pie this weekend, too.
abreen at 2:48PM on 08/14/09
Awww. Rest in peace, Brass. I'm so sorry, Ed, losing a pet is appallingly hard. Take care!
GirlFromJetCity at 2:58PM on 08/14/09
Sorry to hear this. Our own serious eater, Baileys, also reached the end of her life last month, after 14 very good years. How serious of an eater was she? Well, she once managed to put down (and keep down, without any apparent ill effects) half of a cheesecake that we thought was safely out of her reach.
Osomatic at 3:50PM on 08/14/09
sigh....((hugs))
kathyvegas at 3:51PM on 08/14/09
A beautiful tribute to Brass, a wonderful and devoted friend. It's always hard to find words of condolence for such a special companion. My best wishes to you and your family.
MMinNYC at 4:49PM on 08/14/09
Adding my condolences to all of the thoughtful ones above. Losing a loved one, no matter if they be a biped or quadruped, is difficult to cope with. Hoping that all the support from the SE community helps you feel better. Your loving memorial to Brass sure did show that he was a sweetheart of a dog.
Susquehanna at 5:25PM on 08/14/09
I'm so sorry for your loss. Having had to put a number of beloved cats down over the last 25 years, gives me insight to your feelings at this time. Please go to a rescue pound soon and find another baby to love and spoil. You'll feel better knowing you've saved some sweet pooch from loneliness or, worse. God bless you and, Brass.
Twinwillow at 5:33PM on 08/14/09
Sorry for your loss. But it sounds like Brass had all a dog could ever dream of in life. The dishwasher photo is too funny. My dachshund-beagle mix is too heavy to try that. And too lazy.
beth1 at 6:13PM on 08/14/09
Four legged serious eaters with melting eyes are hard to resist. It was lovely of you to share the story of Brass with all of us.
Please extend the heartfelt sympathy of our family with yours. We have a little Westie girl who will turn 13 this week and thinking of Brass makes me hold her closer and enjoy every day.
In honor of Brass I just took her out and spent an hour in the park with her. It means I'll be at my keyboard later tonight but it was worth it.
"When we think of those companions who travel by our side down life's road, let us not say with sadness that they left us behind, but rather say with gratitude that they once were with us. " Russian proverb
BostonZest at 7:33PM on 08/14/09
I'm very sorry for your loss. At times like these we always search for the perfect thing to say but we find that there are no words that could express those feelings we have during times like these. It's great to see you reminisce about Brass, that brings a calm in this terrible storm. I'm sitting here with my 1year old golden retriever, Dempsey. He and I have just come home from a longgg walk, he too is a serious eater. So much so the vet has instructed me to help him lose 5-10 lbs! Everyday he plots how to get the boiled chicken (especially cooked for him daily), or how to look his cutest next to the pantry with the milk-bones. What joy our best friends provide us, he is more than a pet, he is more than my dog, he is more than my son, he is a part of me. The part that never gives up on anything, or anyone. The part that is child-like but serious in times of need and confident when confusion sets. He understands everything I say by saying nothing at all. He is the best parts of me in a fuzzy, warm, and loving form.
Peace be to you and your family :)
steakpuff at 8:22PM on 08/14/09
Ed, your beautiful tribute brought tears to my eyes. I think you have hit upon an essential truth--what doggie heaven looks like. Plenty of open dishwashers, abandoned boxes of pizza and half-eaten dishes of ice cream, and all the bagels you can steal off of the ground (or from small children).
I am sure Brass is there somewhere, wagging his tail, and letting nothing go to waste--just like he did in life.
HeartofGlass at 8:52PM on 08/14/09
I'm so very sorry. I had to put my dog Aussie to sleep a little over 2 months ago, and I know how much it hurts. They may tell you when they're ready, but we can never be ready to say goodbye. Be kind to yourself, and let yourself grieve. And definitely honor Brass's memory the best way you can.
Aussie had a set of stealth lips/teeth too. She once ate all of a cookie while it was being held except for a little 1/2 moon around the fingers. My friend was quite surprised when he lifted his hand to eat the cookie and found nothing there! And cheese? No cheese was safe from her stealth maneuvers.
You can't help but be proud when your dog has an excellent palate. :) It means we've taught them well.
slmcdanold at 8:56PM on 08/14/09
It's so hard to lose a special companion. But when the time is right, or maybe sooner and by surprise, do as many other SErs have suggested. Reach out to a rescue.
whoot at 9:34PM on 08/14/09
So sorry Ed...I know what a big loss this is.
pickled at 12:10AM on 08/15/09
May the memories of Brass and the love you had for him get you through this time. He only knew love and good food. We should be so lucky as Brass. He lived a really good life and that should comfort you. Losing a fur baby is always a sad time. We will never forget Brass, I know thinking someone stole pizza from Adam made me smile.
JerzeeTomato at 2:22AM on 08/15/09
Ed, So sorry for your loss, but it sounds like Brass found the right home for himself for all those years! Beagles are notorious 'Serious Eaters' by nature and I'll bet he found himself some very tasty treats. We've raised and shown beagles for many years now, and are on our 5th generation of those who climb into the dishwasher. Been fortunate not to have anyone jump onto the dining table yet, but did have one who'd reach far enough to grab an entire roast off the platter right in front of us. Beagle's are the best, I'll give ours a hug, and a bite of rib eye, for you!
blenny at 9:35AM on 08/15/09
I'm sorry about your dog. But Brass was not only a Serious Eater but a lucky dog to live in your house. I think animals like Brass are fortunate, when they tell us in their own way it is time, we can let them go with the help of a Vet in a peaceful way! That picture of the dishwasher dog says it all!
Jbout at 10:54AM on 08/15/09
My cat and I are very sorry for your loss. How brave of you to let him go when the time was right.
annien at 12:56PM on 08/15/09
So very sorry for your loss of Brass. We had to go through the same thing with 2 greyhounds and the emptiness is huge for a long time. This post left me very emotional. I'm sure he knew he was loved.
finsbigfan at 5:47PM on 08/15/09
My heart goes out to you. That picture was priceless! My basset hound China and our Siamese Mix cat Yummy are serious eaters and have formed a rare bond. When China spots anything up high on the counters that she wants to eat.......she communicates with Yummy. Next thing you know, that loaf of bread, box of crackers, bag of cookies, is on the floor and China is having a blast! The cat looks at me like she knows nothing about the food on the floor, and China revels in her momentary glory. Of course, they wait until there is no one in the room before swinging into action.
Boscompb at 9:36AM on 08/16/09
The Lewis family for one is here to say that eating on Martha's Vineyard simply won't be the same. We recall the time that Brass swam across Tiah's Cove Road to snatch a hotdog off our grill. May Brassie rest in peace. We will all miss him.
danica at 11:59AM on 08/16/09
I'm so sorry. I had to put my dog to sleep about 1 month ago also. I feel your pain.
thebirdie at 12:21PM on 08/16/09
There ain't no love like pet love!
My thoughts are with you....
pthom at 1:02PM on 08/16/09
Oh, Ed... My heart goes out to you and your family. I have my own furry "first rinse cycle" and he's 12. He, too, is a Serious Eater my BF insists I turned him into an Italian because his favorite food is bread - The crustier the better.
(((Hugs to you.))) And all who know this kind of hurt.
therealchiffonade at 7:28PM on 08/16/09
Only funny now 3 years later. I had to put my beagle down around the same age. Seeing those pictures reminds me how he once tore a cabinet door of its hinges to get at garbage. He also was able to open an oven door and remove a pizza, eating 8 slices(well, he ate 4 and hid another 4 under various couch cushions), we only knew he ate the pizza because there was sauce all over his fat little face. Good stuff. All that aside, I am so sorry, sir.
sc0tt at 9:53PM on 08/16/09
I am so sorry for your loss and hugged Wags a bit closer tonight, Losing a pet is not easy and my heart is with you!. Doesn't make it any easier, but on reading the above - lots of us care!
PS, my daughter has a black lab that does the dishes too. It's a trip to watch.
suegsf at 12:07AM on 08/17/09
I'm so sorry to hear of your loss.
As sad as it is to lose a pet, it is wonderful to read a tribute as sweet and funny as your memories of Brass. What a great dog. As I read your post, I couldn't help but remember similar Thanksgivings and missing food mysteries of my own with my old Lab, Checkers.
In memory of Brass, I will let my dogs do the dishes tomorrow...and I will eat pie and make sure there is plenty left on the plates.
wookie at 5:03AM on 08/17/09
My sincere condolences.
When I lost my dog, it took me ages to finish a whole sandwich by myself...he knew he would always get the last bite, and would wait patiently for it.
NotAmerican at 9:43AM on 08/17/09
Thanks for sharing your memories of Brass--sounds like a wonderful dog who was just right for your home. I'm so sorry for your loss.
leeber at 10:47AM on 08/17/09
I once walked into Ed and Vicky's kitchen and caught Brass actually pushing a chair closer to a counter so that he could climb up and reach some food!
A sandwich "shared" with Brass always tasted better. I hope he's sharing one with Jasper right now.
ArlynD at 11:37AM on 08/17/09
@ArlynD; I'm sure he is. I hope to share some of mine with him someday. There may not be a heaven, but dogs need something better anyway. A land of endless squirrels to chase and muddy bogs to run through, and where treats are copious and delicious. And the last bite of hotdog always falls just between their hopeful paws.
NotAmerican at 4:25PM on 08/17/09
My favorite obit ever. May we all be remembered for such a well lived life.
wcchopper at 1:28AM on 08/18/09
Ed and Vicki,
What a wonderful piece abt Brassy. Another passing of an era, like college graduation.... I still remember you "just walking the dog" in the morning -- staying 2 blocks behind W when he first started going to school on his own. Time moves on but the memories continue to glow--
Best, Gael
gt240 at 9:44AM on 08/24/09
Brass's story brought bake lovely memories of our wonderful "Puppy" - a mixed breed terrier of dubious parentage and who blessed our lives for 19 years. She, too, was a serious eater, and our favorite Puppy story is the year that she was left in our van with a gift wrapped FIVE POUND box of See's Candy for approximately two minutes, while I stepped out of the van to mail some letters. In that two minutes, Puppy managed to open the box of candy and devour every single piece! Thank God she was not chocolate sensitive. We took her to the vet, who said basically to wait and see what happens. What happened was that Puppy went home and slept for about two days straight and following that short rehab period, was fine. I'd like to say she never tried to eat any more candy, but that would be a lie, since no food was safe from her skinny little terrier self. I still miss her very much twenty-five years later.
Thank you for the lovely story.
sandydee8 at 12:51PM on 08/24/09
Someplace in Doggy Heaven Brass is communicating with our dear departed Suzy Beagle, his soulmate. Suzy ate crayons and balloons with gusto. She got into the garbage can and devoured the skeletal remains of 6 barbecued chickens. Forget that bit about never giving chicken bones to a dog, she did fine. She did, however, become a bit bloated, after eating 5 lbs of ditalini and then taking a long drink, however the 5 pounds of blood meal fertilizer went down just fine.
rbave at 2:22PM on 08/24/09
Brassy was pound for pound the greatest hound dog the world has ever seen. He pursued food with ingenuity, stealth and sheer athleticism. Once Marcia and I picked up a Carnegie Deli corned beef sandwich for Vicky, who was convalescing and had expressed that somewhat out-of-character craving. Before I had two feet in the door Brass charged like a wounded tiger and leaped impossibly high, given his short legs and considerable girth. I pulled my arm up in the nick of time, saving Vicky's lunch, but Brass earned my eternal respect that day. RIP, Brassy. We'll miss you.
kqrbob at 11:30AM on 08/25/09