UPDATE OF BUDDY

Three years ago, we inherited our daughter's familys Australian Shephard. He is a wonderful dog and almost seems human. I must admit, we have really spoiled him.

Last year he had prostate trouble and we had to have him neutered at 10 years old. He actually had papers and the kids had thought about breeding him which is why he was still unneutered at that age. We felt terrible about having it done.

Last week, he stopped eating. We wormed him-no difference. Finally, on Friday, my husband took him to the vet. We both felt sick because we were sure he had prostate cancer and we would lose him.

Good news! He has cellulitus from some kind of injury to his butt. Bad news! In addition to his antibiotic, someone is supposed to hot pack the injury. Luckily, my broken leg prevents me from helping with this chore!

Poor Old Bud now has a totally bald rearend from the Vet's razor and has the indignity of having to lay there for this kind of treatment. He is horrible about taking medicine so I used a pound of cooked ham and made him his own vegetable stew to entice him to take his pills. He'll probably never eat dog food again.

I generally don't get attached to animals but I have to say that Buddy is really so smart that he is a member of the family. Just like kids, though, he really finds lots of ways to outsmart and outmanuever us.