Dreyfuss
Dreyfuss- 5/08/95 to 8/13/10 Dreyfuss was our little Basset Hound with a big personality. Dumping your puppy bowl and running with it was just the beginning of many laugh's you brought us. The crazy things you did, scratching the fridge for your food and then staring inside with those Basset eyes. The time when I opened the door and you took off on me. It took me a block to catch you but when I did I picked you up and laughed! How could a little puppy with those big ears and short legs be so fast! That loving, loyal side of you, following me EVERYWHERE to be by my side, you were my shadow. Laying next to me and nudging your head under my hand to get love, and if I stopped you just gave me that Basset look and nudged again. So many other funny things you did. I never did mind that big beautiful howl of yours. Mommy loved you too so much and took good care of you all those years. She misses you very much. In your later years you grew a little whiter but you were still just as handsome. In the past 8 months you found your first full length mirror, you would stare into it, yes that's what you looked like. That's just one reason why we loved you so much. In these later years your walks got shorter and took a little longer, I let you take all the time you wanted. We all loved you so much Dreyfuss, you will never be forgotten. I wrote this for you "My Best Friend" Our eyes first met in that store, no plans to buy just look no more. You played like you knew me all over the floor, before I knew we were out the door. So many times we had together, walking next to you was always a pleasure. You picked me up when I was down, like saying to me "I will always be around." And throughout our time I learned from you, your unconditional love is what I knew. And even through your very last day you lived so brave, that was always your way. Our journey together on this earth has come to an end without doing wrong, I know your looking down on me hoping I will be strong. While I'll try to feel your presence near, times and memories of us will stay with me for the rest of my years. And in knowing you playful, loving and clever, I write this poem to you, no way on earth could you have been any better. Thank you for being my best friend, I am lucky to have had you in my life. Love Tim.

Judy
Sometime in 1997 ~ February 28, 2010 The day my little girl left us, the world got a little darker… Because Judy was sunshine, she was light and she was happiness, all in a 40 pound bundle of energy. A happier little Basset could not be found. No matter what she went through, she was happy and cheerful. So loved and now so missed…For 13 years, her Basset sister Charlie loved Judy more than anything else and Judy loved her back. They were always together. Judy never listened to those who said Bassets are slow…. The day her brother, Tony the Greyhound entered our life, she was thrilled. She always thought she could catch him…and she kept trying… those little legs, moving so fast... ---- She came to us on a muggy day in August of 1997, a year old or so. We lived in North Carolina at the time. She got out of the car with her foster siblings from the Carolina Basset Rescue - 2 other big Bassets - promptly vomited (she was car sick in those days) and took off running straight into our house, as the front door was open. She ran up the stairs, and invited my shy little Charlie, also about a year old, to play, by loudly barking from the top of the stairs. Charlie looked at me with surprise and question, like: “What am I supposed to do with that?” Well, they played, and they fell in love. And that is how it was to be. Best friends. Judy was a small, very skinny little Basset… She had been picked up by the Durham pound 3 times, and the third time, her owner’s didn’t bother to pick her up. My luck and their loss! You got to wonder, because she never wandered once during her 13 years with me. She stayed by our side, would lie in the front yard without a leash, she would just lie there, surveying the lay of the land. My little girl… She beat severe skin allergies, terrible hot spots, to the point of bleeding, weekly allergy shots and sometimes twice a week baths, never a complaint… She beat an ugly stage 3 Fibrosarcoma, a tumor that grew over night from nothing to a golf ball… We removed it and she was treated with chemo and radiation. She was given a maximum of 2 years and she got 5… After the cancer treatments she got deaf. But she never missed a beat. She just slept better. She would hang one of her ears over her eyes, and she would sleep through a tornado if she had to…We used to laugh at that… She never had to hear me yell at the kids, because when they arrived, she couldn’t hear any longer… She beat the odds my little sunshine!! More times than one. She was a loud dog, and would love to stand in the middle of the back yard, and just tell people how she felt, barking away. I would have to go out and get her, since she didn’t hear when I called her name. Very convenient for her Every time she or Charlie had been separated, they would greet each other before they said hello to me. Such love… Charlie is the slowest Basset Hound on this earth… and Judy is the opposite. So, when Tony arrived on 3/15, 2002 – she was elated. I would walk those two dogs so far, and she was thrilled. We just left Charlie behind; she had no interest in walking like that. Judy lost 10 pounds from those walks with Tony. She laid by his side when he went to the Bridge two years ago, she loved him too, and I have hundreds of photos of Judy and Tony, lying on top of each other in some form or fashion. Sweet babies… When the kids came, never a complaint, no matter how much she was hugged and squeezed….She happily turned herself into a lounge chair for Finn, our son, to lie on… --- What do you say when 13 years of togetherness, through thick and thin, suddenly and surprisingly ends? It leaves a big hole in your heart. A hole that hurts really bad… Yet, I know we were lucky to have had her so long. She beat the odds, time and time again. Charlie misses her sister…. I miss my sunshine. I look at all the photos we took through the years, and all I want is one more hug, one more touch…. Oh how I miss you Judy! You are with Tony now…. I see you walking with him again; you are walking fast, your head held high, and the white tip of your tail, always up, always happy. My little Ju-Ju, my Juba – how can one little dog can make such an impression? Keep an eye out for Charlie, will you! Out of my three furry babies, I have only one left. It is almost unbearable. Yet, we have to go on. Sweet dreams my Angel. Life is so quiet and empty… I love you! Mommy…

Rosie Mae O’Dogalld
Yesterday a precious Basset went to Rainbow Bridge: "Rosie" Mae O'Dogalld - born May 14, 1996 - died February 17, 2010. Rosie attended many Shuffles, and was once the Bassett in the pink wagon with the pink tiara and feather boa at the Shuffle. There use to be pictures of her at that year's shuffle on this site. Her spirit showed through until the last minute. She could no longer see or hear, but would still wag that tail and bark her "happy bark". It got where she could no longer walk a few days ago, but of course she tried. So we took her for an ice cream (she was allowed chocolate on top this time) on the way to the vets office. She went to sleep peacefully on her person's lap. She will be greatly missed. Kaye Toellner-Martin

Gertrude
Ms. Gertrude came into my life about a year ago as a Foster. After only about a week I adopted her, she had many health issues because she was and elderly lady. A few weeks ago we found out she had a large mass on her right kidney and other not so good news. She started to go down hill and on Monday January 18th at 430p Ms. Gertrude crossed over the rainbow bridge. My heart is aching but I know now she is able to run and play again with no more pain. She was my buddy. I love you Gertrude and I will miss you always. Mom, Duncan and Rusty

Droopy
My sweet Droopy-Dog, It’s been exactly 1 year since you left us and my heart aches as much today as it did the day you died.  My heart broke the day you died.   I can vividly remember the day you came into our hearts.  I remember thinking how tiny you looked next to your new big brother, Buster.  You came home with us that day and you knew you were home.  We were surprised when you jumped up into bed with us that very first night and snuggled in between us.  That was the first of many “snuggle sessions”.   You were such a sweet, lovable, playful dog.  You loved to wrestle and play and race through the house with Buster and Maggie.  You’d get so animated when the 3 of you were playing that your front legs would bounce off the floor each time you barked.   Snuggling was your passion though.  I used to joke that you’d give up food before you’d give up snuggling.  You were my snuggle buddy.  You liked to jump up on the couch and lay with me and snuggle.  Every night, you would crawl under the covers to the foot of the bed and sleep with us.  I can remember many nights when you’d get in bed and stand at the head of the bed while we lifted the covers for you to crawl under.  You even liked to jump in the hammock with us.  It didn’t matter where, you just loved to snuggle.   Your eyes were so beautiful.  I often thought to myself that I could look in your eyes and see straight to your soul.  And it was a beautiful soul.  Your daddy and I were never able to understand how someone could hurt you or not want you in their life.  You brought us many years of love, joy, laughter, fun and memories.  You live forever in our hearts, never to be forgotten.    Until we meet again.   Love, Mommy