Buddy

The run was last-minute. Would I go to Jefferson County Animal Shelter to pick up a basset?

The basset had been turned in. The owner had tried to "band" the dog (Buddy was basset's name) as in castrate his Buddy. My words feel inadequate; maybe the pix tells more.

A pliers like device, it must work inversely, stretches a small, thick, rubber band to about 2" round, to allow the testicles to be passed through. Hey, goats, dogs, calves, bulls; what's the difference? In Buddy's case there was no mention of a device. Some type of "band" was placed on the scrotum, beneath the testes, thus forcing them up behind his penis and into Buddy's abdomen.

I've read a banding is "extremely" painful for dogs. Buddy felt it to be so. He chewed off his scrotum and testes to leave his doggie deferent ducts hanging. I say nothing of possible infection. The words animal shelter suggest multiple layers of caring in Buddy's case.

Buddy was perfectly happy to greet me. I walked him to pee, then went to my wagon, lifted the hatch, and he leapt up and into the back, just as happy and confident as you please, thank you very much. Hey! Let's go! He went right to the window. This is a confident dog.

I brought Buddy to a veterinary. Thanks be to Jefferson County Animal Shelter, Belly Rubs Basset Rescue, and John Sevier Animal Hospital. Buddy's doing just fine; his "owner" is being prosecuted for cruelty.