May Blog

Written By Yvonne Dagger

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We adopted Tommy on October 28th, 2007.  His name was originally "Jake." We liked the name Jake, however, our neighbors dog was named Jake...so, we thought that it would get a bit confusing over the years with dogs that lived next to each other had the same name. Plus we really thought he looked like a Tommy....The "TuTu' was added as the years passed and we really got to know our Tommy TuTu.
Tommy was our first and as it has turned out...our ONLY Pure Breed Dog to date. Tommy was from an very elite group of Pedigree dogs called the Kentucky Derby line of Beagles.  He was registered Under the American Pet Registry and named "A Million Dollar Baby" and The Copper Penny Breed. He was a 15 inch tri-color beagle. Whenever I'd read his lineage I was  impressed.  So regal and so very special.

I met Tommy TuTu for the very first time at the Park Animal Hospital. He was being boarded there because his owners had medical issues and were unable to care for a puppy of 6 months old.  We had just lost our beloved beagle Melvin and the doctors at the hospital knew that we were interested in a third beagle.  Maggie and Jimmy were left of our three beagles. So, the great doctors at the Park Animal Hospital, Dr.s Jane & Jim and the Vet Tech, Cathy, who knew how special our beagles were to us, contacted us and wanted to know if we were interested in adopting Tommy. We would then become a three family beagle brigade again! How wonderful!, I thought. Cathy suggested that I bring the other two beagles to meet this new little puppy...Just to see if they'd get along.  I will never forget that day...The weather was incredible! It was pouring rain! But, I didn't let that deter me from meeting Tommy.  I took Maggie & Jimmy with me over to the hospital in the torrential rain to meet Tommy.  We waited in the examination room to meet our potential new friend.  When the door opened a scared, super sensitive little puppy ran right between my legs and stayed there throughout our visit. Of course, Maggie and Jimmy nosied around...sniffing Tommy everywhere. It seemed that they would be ok with each other AND... I knew right then and there that this little boy was mine. It's funny as the years passed Tommy became more and more attached to me. He followed me around the house and found a place to curl up and lay his head when I was working in an area.  I had "Tommy" beds everywhere.  I knew that there was some sort of separation anxiety...I just didn't know that it was me that felt the separation anxiety the most. I always thought it was him.  I am missing him more since he ventured over the Rainbow Bridge with each day that passes. 

I think what I miss most was that Tommy was a true character. When we got the "Papers" from his original owners, in the packet was a note telling us what Tommy liked, what his daily routine was like etc. 

They wrote that Tommy loved socks, oven mitts and dish towels.  "That's common", I thought. What I didn't realize at the time was that he loved socks so much that he ATE the socks. Socks, very often, got Tommy in the most trouble. Most of the time he did end up at the Park Animal Hospital to get x-rayed to try to locate the sock. One such time was when Denis and I had gone to a concert in NYC.  We always had our Doggie Sitter, Gabby, watch the dogs for us while we were out.  Unfortunately, Gabby was unable to do it that night, but she referred her friend Bobbie" to come over to sit with the dogs.  Bobbie was a wonderful young man. While we were at the concert my cell phone rang...a very distressed and panicked Bobbie was on the other line. "Mrs. Dagger, he cried, "Tommy just ate one of my socks!"  I replied, "Are you sure of this, Bobbie?" He answered with even more panic in his voice..."He ate it right before my eyes. I tried to get it away from him, but he swallowed it before I could even get to him." I told him to give Tommy a slice of bread with butter smeared on it...sometimes this helps to get them to throw up the sock. He did just as I suggested.  Tommy ate the bread and walked away like the "king of the sock dog." We rushed home only to see a very anxious and stressed out dog sitter who was clearly apologetic. I felt so bad for Bobbie. But, this was Tommy...in true fashion. The next day I took Tommy to the Park Animal  Hospital to get X-rayed. After a few days in the hospital, the doctors told us that there was no sign of the sock. I always thought that Tommy had another pocket in his body made just for socks 😁 The doctors suggested us taking Tommy home since he was eating and looking good. That afternoon, I went and picked Tommy up.  On the way home from the hospital Tommy threw the sock up in the car. Yup, Tommy was a real character. By the way...we never saw Bobbie again.

I could go on and on about Tommy TuTuism's. In his later years he became a media sensation.  In fact, more people from all over the world expressed they deepest condolences when they heard he had passed. People loved him. He was so photogenic. But, most importantly he was loving, gentle, smart as a whip and a real character.  To us he was just Tommy TuTu...We had many nicknames for Tommy..."Bob Barker Marker.  Little pain in the drain and Tommy TooDaLooToo."  He certainly gave us 13 1/2 years of sheer delight and kept us on our toes with his antics.  We will miss him dearly. But, toward the end of his life, we knew that Tommy was not feeling his eager, spunky self anymore. It was heartbreaking to let him go. 

It's a funny thing...Life...I met Tommy up at the Park Animal Hospital through Cathy and it was Cathy that held Tommy in his last minutes here on earth. I will always treasure her love and compassion and all of the Doctors and staff at the Park Animal Hospital for Tommy in my heart forever.

Well, thank you for reading about Tommy TuTu.
​He will be forever in our hearts and souls. 

With love and gratitude,
Yvonne

Pretend "Veterinarian" Maddie Dagger set up a Animal Hospital with Tommy as one of her patients. All of the other patients were stuffed animals. He was such a good sport! Circa 2010