The Story of BB the Great Dane

 ”He’s havin fun and I’m not…” BB’s turn to wait for play, 17 wks old.

The sweet Beebster isn’t an only child, and is a bit too fragile to horse around with his hard playing brother, Kenai. So play time is actually 2 play times: one for Kenai, one for BB.

While big brother plays, BB watches, unwillingly. Unlike brother, he isn’t daring enough to bulldoze his way over a barrier to get into the fun. So he waits his turn.

But his turn does come, and he gets to hop about and shake his toy, squeak the squeakers, and squawk the squawkers. He plays tease, tiny tugs, and swats around a flashing red ball. That’s his favorite ball. It flashes and is just the right size to pick up and carry. If puppies could giggle, BB would.

BB had his evaluation for puppy class yesterday. He got all the attention, all to himself, and had a smashing good time. He smelled everything, and checked out every nook and cranny. His magic personality even got the trainer’s observer to crawl down on the floor and just play with him for fun.

That’s BB. He has a way with people. BB is a people whisperer. With adults at least. Kids are scary–too loud, too quick, too grabby-touchy. But adults can’t escape his clutches. No one yet has met him, and not been reduced to drooling and baby talk. It’s the eyes: so vulnerable, trusting, expressive. He wants only to love and be loved.

And love he gets! Buckets of it, and then some. He whispers his way into your heart and gets his love, every time. He is going to be terribly missed for the 2-3 weeks the vets at U. of Missouri have to keep him. Big brother Kenai isn’t going to be the only one having great crying jags.

BB is going to Columbia MO this Sunday, for some heavy duty surgery on that leg. He will have his bones, muscles, cartilage, and connective tissue surgically modified, and an external fixitor attatched to hold it all in place. The fixitor will have adjustments made to allow for his growth 2-3 times a day, for 2-3 weeks. There may be a second surgery at the end of those weeks before he can come home. And the chances of sucess are 50/50.

I’m really amazed at how much work the vet is willing to do for him. He’s had surgical instruments specially designed and made for BB, he’s involved the entire orthopedic department experts, all the heads of other departments like anesthesia, and internal medicine to advise and help…The whisperer strikes again.

We can visit anytime, though the four hour drive each way will be a limiting factor. He can have his own food, and will have 24/7 care. But still, he won’t be with us. He won’t be in his own bed, with his people. I don’t want to think about how hard it is going to be having our little four-pack seperated that long.

So if you have a healthy, happy little pup, love him good and hard today. And if you like to pray, mention the sweet little Beebster when ya think of it. He’s one of God’s little creations too, and he is so very loved.