The Frazz (A Tribute)

Francie was with us for ten years. We went down to Burlington Washington, where a kennel run by the Seattle Beagle Rescue society houses beagles who have been abandoned by their owners because they've outlived their prime hunting years. We had checked her out on their website (where she was named Chloe), and drove down to see her. We took her for a walk, then she jumped up on Sheila's lap, and we were sold. I had just seen Neil Jordan's film The Butcher Boy, in which Sinead O'Connor (as the virgin Mary) says "For fuck's sake Francie" to the young boy who is the film's leading man, and I wanted to name her Francie so I could say that to her one day. It was the right name.

We got her some shots at a local vet, who looked at her teeth and guessed that she was about six. She had no manners and was a handful on the leash, and  the first night we weren't sure what to do - we set up a dog bed in the room down the hall from our bedroom, but she got up and walked over and stood in our doorway. Sheila said, "Go to bed, Francie," and she turned around and walked back and went to bed.

Later, she ended up in our bed anyway.

She was our dog. She had a good life with us. Over the years I gave her countless nicknames, because I like to do that:

Frazz
Wilford Frimley
Frizzle the Dizzle
Frazz Bot
Dirk Doggler
Frizzy Bats
Grunty
Frabtrons
Farb

There's something about dogs. If that thing about dogs gets you, you come to really love them. I'm a bit surprised to find myself this heartbroken, but Francie was one of the family. We really really miss you Frazz.