I first met her at 6 months, living outside in the winter, the runt of the litter and rejected by the first person who took her home. She seemed almost too pretty for a Basset but she sat so patiently while waiting for a treat and for my crazy life, Buddie was a perfect match. She proved to me just how smart bassets are. By watching her actions, she taught me how to help her understand things. Buddie learned probably 30-40 simple hand signals or words that made life easier because she knew what they meant.

I soon realized she knew the difference between identical camera cases without knowing what was inside. If I picked up one, it meant I was working and Buddie would lay down. If I picked up the other, she would dance and spin and run back and forth to the door because we were going to visit grandma. You couldn't be sad around her because everything she did was funny. She walked funny, ran funny, she slept, played and even snored funny - and don't forget about the howl. My customers would stop by to ask her to howl.

Her fur was soft, her ears were like velvet, and the white tip on her tail spun like a propeller when she got happy. I'll miss the way she would play with toys for hours and the way she would "hide in plain sight" by sitting behind a stool and then peeking around it. When I worked 70 hour weeks, she was there to make me laugh. When I injured my leg and couldn't walk, she was the brightest part of my day. For almost 14 years, I did my best to watch over and protect Buddie - when she passed, I finally realized it was really Buddie that was watching over me. I will miss her dearly.

Mitch Anheier
Bloomington, Illinois

Barney
7/95-12/14/07

Thanks, Barney, for sharing yourself with me for 5-1/2 of your 12-1/2 years. You cannot be forgotten and will forever be missed.

We were a prime example of how GABR strives to match the right person with the right basset and when it works, it's almost magical. We miss you B-Boy.

Jeanie, Chloe, Viv, Gideon, Sweet Pea, Autumn & Huckleberry

The Bennett Family

Bodie was our “big boy” that needed another pair of legs in the middle. He chose me at the Humane Society – I think he knew I needed a funny creature in my life at that time. Bodie wagged that stubby tail up and down and gave me a good old hound howl. I knew he was coming home with me.

Part Basset, part German Shepherd, full breed clown! In fact, we called him Bodie Emmett Kelly because he was such a cloud. He always brought us a present when we came home, even if the gift was a scrap of paper. He had that sweet Basset Hound easy going personality – he just wanted to please us.

Bodie – You gave us a lifetime of smiles and laughs and you were the best singer! You accomplished your mission “Big Boy”. You can rest easy now – no more pain, no more struggling and you can have all the cookies you want. Brownie and Oscar are there with you – they’ll show you all the ropes. We are sad now but we will be OK knowing that you are safe and well.

We will always remember you and we will miss you. We know how much you loved us. You knew how much we loved you, too. HUGS, Big Boy.

The Bennett Family

While at the Waddle in 2004, we came across the cutest girl. We were just browsing, but...there was Napa.

Although she had back problems, that really never slowed her down. Napa loved to run through the puddles at the park with our other Basset, Scrappy. She also loved car rides, belly rubs and laying on your lap. Obviously, she would do ANYTHING for a treat. Just don't put a leash on her! She would lay down until you took it off. Who needs a leash for a walk? Not Napa!

In the end, she lost the use of her hind legs. She was such a trooper though. Imagine a 60 pound basset dragging herself around for snacks and bellyrubs! So strong and sweet, but we just couldn't let her struggle that way.

Our girlie is deeply missed by the family and Scrappy, too. We had almost 3 years, how we wish we had more! We hope you're running again, Napa!

Love,
Mom, Dad, Becca, Tony & Carly Bernardy
And your buddy Scrappy, too

Formal Name:
Brookside's Maverick Dapper

Adopted by Gail and Joe on 12/8/01

The regal gentleman that you were, this is a
tribute to Myyyyy Guuuyyyyy!

You were always known as "My Guy" and LOVED it!

You stole my heart and the hearts of many.

You lived in a tiny place then moved to a palace and proudly gave house tours to your guests.

Your deep howl was like a beacon in the night.Everyone loved you from adults to children to your four-legged friends.

You learned how to be a dog by rough-housing, playing pull-toy and using stairs....just to keep up with your mommy!

From your lazy days in the sun to cold winter walks in your parka, you loved walking forever in all sorts of weather. Sometimes bringing piggy-piggy along too!

I love you yesterday.
I love you today.
I love you forever.

Maverick went to Rainbow Bridge Sunday night. He was consumed with tumors that finally overcame him.

See ya later Mavy!
Love,
Mommy & Daddy

Gail Foszcz
Joe Rucys

I asked her for one more Waddle and she gave me that, barely. She went out a winner because she won 1st place in the best decorated wagon contest for the second year in a row.

What more could anyone ask out of life?

On September 21st, 2006, Maggie went to the Rainbow Bridge. All these years of being an epileptic took its toll. The Phenobarbital would eventually cause liver damage. The day after the Waddle, she had an appointment for a pedicure. Neither I nor the vet suspected that she was in liver failure at the time. The next day she refused to eat or drink.

She had already gone through so much. She ruptured a disk 2 1/2 years ago that left her paralyzed. But she loved being in her cart and waddling up to all the cars that stopped asking what happened to her. She was an example that a handicapped dog still has value and worth. She was happy and funny. We had great wrestling matches that she always won. She took her job an ambassador for the handicapped quite seriously. It was like she was saying, "Look at me. I’m OK. Come talk to me and give me an ear scratching."

She can now run like the breeze and be the official greeter at the Bridge like she was for all the Waddles she attended when she was healthy.

Mickey Manos

What can I say about Beau? I adopted Beau on January 17th, 2006 but he touched my life before then. I had been looking at the adoptable hounds on GABR (just browsing NOT wanting to adopt) and came across Beau. His story was heart wrenching - he had a lot of needs - but those eyes were looking right at ME. He was asking me to take him home and give him a chance. I avoided those eyes for a few days but felt myself being pulled back to re-read Beau’s story. I finally gave in and filled out an application that lead to bringing Beau home.

Beau was in bad shape when his owner surrendered him. Apparently she was elderly and couldn’t take care of herself let alone an aging 14 year old hound. When GABR rescued Beau, he couldn’t walk. He had terrible teeth, tumors on his hind quarters, flea infestation and other issues. Beau had 17 teeth removed, surgery to remove tumors on his hind quarters and was neutered. Beau was nurtured through his recovery and was ready to be adopted after 2 months of rehab.

The day I picked Beau up was cold but beautiful. He was able to jump into the van and snuggled on his new bed. I wasn’t 2 miles from Larry and Emmy’s house when I felt a nudge on my arm. I looked down and there was Beau. He had left the comfortable bed to lie on the floor beside me just to get a little human contact. I scratched his head and belly all the way home.

Beau adjusted well. He really loved being with my son and slept in his room most of the time. Beau loved to eat! I have never seen a hound love to eat as much as Beau. He was missing more than half his teeth but I never found anything he wouldn’t eat. Eating was one of his favorite past times. He also liked massages, too. When I got him, the muscles in his neck were stiff because he held his head down and it was difficult for him to look up. Beau would groan and fall asleep during our massage sessions. Finally he was able to lift his head and his gait got much better too. In fact, if Beau was outside and he smelled food, he would run inside. Ever see a 14 year old hound run? It was wonderful to see him run. I also liked to watch Beau sleep in the sun. He would stretch way out and his tongue would fall out of his mouth (no teeth to keep it in) and he would snore away for hours. Beau also liked to burrow under the covers with you to be as close to you as possible.

Beau needed to have some more teeth extracted but pre-surgery blood work found elevated liver values (probably from infection). After three days of IV antibiotics, Beau came home and was happy as ever - especially when we switched him to all soft food (Beau’s favorite!). Two weeks later we found that the tumor he had in his mouth was malignant and had spread to his lymph nodes. I took him home and spoiled him. He ate like a pig and had happy days sleeping in the sun. When Beau was no longer able to eat, I knew it was time.

Beau was so appreciative of anything that was given to him. Those eyes told me how much he loved us and how thankful he was we took him in. What I hope Beau knew was how much we loved him and how much joy he gave me watching him recover. I really found satisfaction in watching Beau enjoy the simplest things in life, like stretching out on a sunny day or being so happy about that next meal. Most of all I found love in those eyes.

Sleep well Beau.

Yvonne Ramey

We only had her for two short months, my husband Tom and I. But what an impact one animal can have on two lives. Our Betsy is gone. Serious intestinal problems have claimed her and we have lost one of the dearest creatures on this earth. She was our shadow, our Velcro dog. You could not leave home without hearing these little footsteps follow behind you. It seems so unfair.

We all have benefited from her company in her short stay with us, including our seizure-prone basset Earl (who is a senior, too). These two wonderful seniors, would take an early morning stroll or evening walk in the backyard. How beautiful it was to see.

It's seems so empty here without Betsy. I can almost feel her presence as I take Earl for his walk. We miss sharing "breakfast" with our girl, saving a tasty piece of bacon and a little scrambled egg for her to eat.

The pain of losing her so quickly is hard to bear. She was a trooper, and even though she was in such discomfort, she tried to put on a good front for us.

We love and miss you, Betsy, and you will always remain with us in our hearts.

Highly intelligent, loving,
Beautiful, graceful, brave
You gave us you love and loyalty
We loved you dear, and it was clear;
Of all dogs, you lived like royalty.

You once fought off a crazed German shepherd to protect me. You chose to stand between me and a roaming pit bull that attacked. You showed us healing from a past of abuse and neglect. You were always grateful to us for feeding you, and would always come to us softly after finishing your food, wagging your tail gently and bow your head to say ‘thank you.' You loved Gomez and bonded to him like glue. You were gentle and patient with tiny children. You loved to visit people. You always knew if anyone was sad, ill or in pain and gently went to comfort them. You ran off the leash while hiking through the woods with Russell and never strayed from his side. You loved to cuddle and nap with us, go for walks and car rides, run at the dog park, and even go camping. You did so many amazing things, I could write a book about them. We will always miss you with all of our hearts.

Adopted September 5, 2003
Basset Olympics race champ 2004

Shellie & Russell Lewis
Joliet,IL

On June 6, my husband Tom and I lost one of our dearest and loving friends, our dog Abby! She was the world to us. Cancer has claimed her life. Everything seems to have been a whirlwind surrounding how quickly she was taken from us. It just doesn't see possible that this has happened and it is like a very bad dream. We have never seen a dog so filled with a love for people. A love of life and everything that it holds, surrounded her and people everywhere were aware of this gift.

The doctors at the animal hospital had taken tests, and we were just taking her in for a biopsy of the lymph glands, they did the surgery, we brought her home filled with optimism for her treatment and recovery. We stayed with her that night and the next morning, she slipped away from us. She found her way, next to my husband, where she passed. There are great animals around us, and Abby was one of them.

She loved her rides with us, a little ice cream now and then from Dairy Queen and the all the attention she would receive from people, just by sticking her head out the window for a pat on the head. We know she is in a better place, with our other dear friend Luscious.

We have enclosed too, a picture of our lovely girl!

Tom & Tina Maurer

Holly left for Rainbow Bridge on June 13, 2006. She suffered from a very aggressive pancreatic cancer, and it comforts us to know she is at peace. She was literally starving before our eyes, and went from an overweight girl to weighing only 25 pounds in just a few short months.

Holly was a story in the Pantin' Graph in early 2001, she was found in rural Pontiac on one of the coldest days of the year. Fortunately she found her way into our home and our hearts. We could never understand how anyone could dump such a beautiful and sweet girl. She has brought us so much laughter and love since the day we adopted her. She loved everyone she met, and always greeted everyone at the door with a slipper, sock, toy, or whatever she could grab for her offering. She also loved when our kids had sleepovers, knocking at the door until they let her in and then sleeping right in the center of the sleeping bags! She really loved all the attention at the Bash too. Someone commented once that it looked like she dipped her nose in a paint can!!

We miss her so much, her big brown eyes, her girly howls, and her friendly personality. She was truly a member of our family.

Thank you to GABR for bringing us together, and also for saving and caring for so many beautiful dogs.

Don and Linda Hansen & Family

Rocky was the most gentle soul that ever walked the earth. I knew him and loved him for 15 months before we sent him to God. What an honor it was to have him - and he was my best teacher. Butter and I miss him daily.

Rocky died on Christmas Eve, 2005.

Judy Schlager

In celebration of two wonderful years with Maggie (or Maggie "Dog" Krob as Walgreens came to know her when filling Valium prescriptions for her "slight" storm anxiety), we've come to have many great memories of her. Whether it was stealing and stashing an entire loaf of bread behind couch cushions (after devouring many slices already... and then rolling on the floor and moaning about it), or hunting for (used) chewing gum on walks, her nose always lead her and mischief was never far behind. Maggie was a dog who knew her share of trouble but had a look and a tail wag that could melt your heart. She loved her walks and enjoyed telling other dogs to stay away. She thought every person along the way was there to see her - one day, when talking basset memories with a new mom and her baby, Maggie sneakily grabbed a banana from the bottom of the stroller and had a nice afternoon snack. All of our neighbors and friends knew of Maggie and enjoyed hearing of her latest antics.

Even with all of her character, Maggie was a dog who captured our hearts. Every day, patiently she would wait on the couch gazing out the window for us to come home. When we came inside she would greet us with many loud barks (woo-woo-woo). Maggie, being a bit of a princess, would implore for help onto the couch or the stairs by putting two paws up and then turning her head with a look saying "I'm ready for my boost." Maggie was a great road trip buddy whether it was a 9 hour trip to Minnesota or just delivering Christmas cookies to neighborhood friends. She loved sticking her head out the window and letting her ears flap in the wind. She loved the snow and the cold especially running in the snow covered tennis courts with no one around. She also loved to direct the route of the walk and would lay down and "protest" if she didn't approve of the chosen direction. Her protests have even literally stopped traffic with a kind man pulling over asking if we were ok as I was hunched over her trying to get her to move.

Not long after we got Maggie we found out about her significant heart murmur and became "regulars" at the vet dealing with allergies, storm anxiety and the murmur. We counted ourselves lucky to have every day with Maggie as we kept an eye on the progress of the murmur. Over the last two months, her heart began to have difficulty compensating and had grown in size from having to work so hard. In our last conversation with the vet, he commented that Maggie had the biggest heart of any living dog he'd ever seen. We, of course, knew that (in so many ways). We remember Maggie as loving, loyal dog who gave us so much love and laughter during her days. We'll miss her dearly.

Jaime and Matt Krob

Flash was a great companion to our family. He was truly one of our children. He ran errands with us, went camping, and even had his own life jacket for boating adventures. Whether he was singing along to the Dixie Chicks or sprinting up and down the hallway for no reason, Flash always made us laugh.

Flash was the great monster slayer! He always slept next to our son as he would protect him from the monsters hiding under his bed. Flash was a great dog for snuggling too.

Flash even had his 15 minutes of fame as we entered him in a “great pet” segment on the news and he was selected. Our family will miss him dearly and we will never forget him. The Dixie Chicks just don’t sound the same without his lovely howl!

Love,
Brian, Becky, Luke, and Claire O’Connell

Hi everyone, My name’s Oliver, some may know me as the “O-man” or the “Big-O”. Today was the first day of a new journey for me, and I think it’s going to be a fun one, I’ll be waiting at the bridge for those I love. About a year ago some wonderful people came and rescued me and some of my friends (hi Lola, hi Bogie ).

I want to thank Les, Beth, Abby and Ellie for giving me the best year of my life. I mean really, good food, a warm and comfortable place to sleep and let’s not forget those tennis balls! I know I wasn’t very nice sometimes in the past months, but I always loved you all and I will forever. Don’t be sad for me, it was my time and I needed to start my next trip anyway. Well, that’s it for now, but I wanted to let everyone know I love them and will never forget the best home I had.

You know why they called me the “Big-O”? It was because I was so fat I could barely walk. You know what folks, thanks to the care and love I got …. I can now RUN!!! So bye for now, and Lola and Bogie don’t hurry, but when you come, can you bring a new Tennis ball please?

Licks and Kisses,

O-Man

Shane was born on July 1, 1992. To our knowledge, he had several sisters that he lived with until they were taken into the veterinarian one by one to be put down. After living through the heartbreak of losing his sisters, Shane was brought in to be put to sleep himself but was saved by a loving veterinarian who saw a perfectly healthy and happy dog in Shane. After being adopted by another family, they also brought him in to be put to sleep for family reasons. Once again, a veterinarian saved Shane and decided to leave him in the hands of Guardian Angel Basset Rescue. It was on their website that we fell in love with him.
Shane was brought into our lives on September 3rd, 2000. His medical history was a book in itself, complete with an impressive list of allergies. We believe that he was never house trained, and our carpet began to change colors very quickly. However, it was impossible to stay mad at Shane. After many visits to the veterinarian and the purchase of a new carpet cleaner, people said that he was lucky to have us as his family. However, we believe that we were the lucky ones. Shane gave us so much more than we could’ve ever given him. There are so many things about Shane that we will miss intensely. We’ll miss the way Shane cocked his head when he barked, the way he slid around on the ice outside, and the way he shook his head after getting a drink of water and getting his ears wet. We’ll miss his confused facial expressions, the way he walked with his tail up in the air, and the clicking of his toenails on the wooden floor. We’ll truly miss his look of sadness that made you immediately fall to the floor and hug him. We’ll miss the way he would dig his face right into our legs, begging for our attention and love. If we were watching T. V., he would sit directly in front of it, successfully gaining everyone’s attention until we managed to lure him away with treats. Interestingly, Shane was unlike other dogs in that he loved fresh produce instead of meat and sweets. He never begged more than when we were eating a salad or fruit; Shane especially loved lettuce! The most unforgettable thing about Shane was his powerful, yet vulnerable bark. Shane was truly a character.
As human beings, it is hard to imagine growing up in a situation where people abuse your trust and treat you poorly, then putting your entire heart into trusting and loving others again. This is the lesson that I learned from Shane: to love unconditionally, and to forgive. Maya Angelou said, "I answer the heroic question ‘Death, where is thy sting?’ with ‘It is here in my heart and mind and memories.’" The sting of Shane’s death may relieve over time, but Shane’s unconditional love will forever remain in our hearts, his character in our minds, and our memories of him will never be forgotten. We love and miss you, Shane!

Love,
Mom, Dad, Liz, Matt, and Buddy

Miss Petunia went to Rainbow Bridge on March 14th 2006.

Even though I only had her for a little while, she has touched my heart forever. My little Tune girl was very special. When I first picked her up at the vet and I saw her I knew she would be special. Then she went to another Foster home for a few weeks and call it fate she got to come back to me.

My baby girl knew I loved her.When we took our walks she was so funny. And when she was awake at night and the house was so quiet she wanted mommy and Tune girl time, so she would come to the side of the bed and scratch on the bed frame and I would wake up and she would be looking me right in the eye, I would have to pet her back and she would fall back to sleep. Her last 3 seizures it took a lot out of her; she just wasn't the same. She couldn't scratch the bed any more. And she didn't have the strength to have belly rubs, we knew it was time to let her rest. So we took her to the Vet one last time. I had to say good by to my Baby girl. As I held her little head and rubbed her ears, she was at peace. And now she is seizure free. She knew she was loved.

Thank you Petunia for touching my life, I will always love you Tune Girl.

Mommy and Sissy, Toaster, Edgar, and Lilly.

You joined the family while still a young pup, our tri-colored wonder, our handsome and playful basset that made us smile. Your gentle spirit and nosey ways will not soon be forgotten.

Whether you were on “guard duty” and barking at every dog that went by, or destroying your new toys as fast as Mom could mend them, or saying “heelllllllllllllloooooooooo” in typical dog greeting to your loyal Daffodil basset friend, or doing “the potty prance” to tell us of your need to go outside, or sitting for ages in Mary Lou’s lap enjoying all that lovin’, or showing your precious face at the garage door upon our return as if to tell us to “hurry up and get inside,” rest assured that you touched our hearts and lives in immeasurable ways.

You may be gone, our sweet baby boy basset, but you will never be forgotten. We know you’re watching over us, smiling and waiting with wagging tail, in eager anticipation our reunion on the other side.

Missing you,
Mom and Dad and all the Ary and McGee families…and Daffy, too

Dear Lucky,
You were incredible. You had such a hard start in life. You were only here for about 6 years, but luckily we were able to know you for almost 4 of those. And I know by the way you made me feel that you learned that loving humans was okay. In fact, you truly loved us more than I think we realized. You were the primary care taker of our family in many ways… guarding the fence line, keeping the other dogs in order, welcoming & explaining the rules to the new fosters, and reminding mommy how rewarding patience can be. You were such a huge part of our lives and had been through so much with us (moving, new fosters, new baby, etc). We never saw our lives without you so soon. It’s been hard & your buddy Huckleberry misses you the most. But we all like to remember everything about you and how special you truly were. We love you so much and thank you for taking such good care of us. We hope we did the same for you when you needed it most. Run & bark as much as you want now and we will be looking for you at the bridge.

Love always,
Mom (Angie), Dad (Jerry) & your baby (Keira) White

Chloe was just a beautiful girl - inside and out! We miss her so much! Even with five other dogs, our house feels empty without her! Chloe was our guardian angel - and this donation is in her memory!

Our young son, Bradley, is autistic and Chloe had such a wonderful way with him. He really misses her. He put the glasses on Chloe and took this photo. Thank you GABR for bringing Chloe into our family.

The Anderson and Rosswurm Families

You touched so many lives of us humans when you entered the rescue just about 2 years ago. Originally found tied to a flag pole outside the Gus Grissom airport in Indiana (your dad’s original home town), you found your way to us and into our hearts. Thanks for spending what time you had left with us … You’ve left us with a life time of memories.

We all love you…

Mom (Angie), Dad (Jerry), Arthur, Lucy, Lucky & Huckleberry White

Our Beloved Boone,

From the first moment you walked in our path, a rainbow appeared, colorful and full of life. So very reminiscent of the love you gave us including anyone else that ever met you. Boone, you will always be in our hearts. A handsome boy whose wit and spunk kept each one of us, feeling young.

Each day with you was a blessing. Having you as a part of our family made us proud. You overcame so many things. Just within the few years we had you, you trusted us knowing you were never going to starve again. You always cuddled with us on the couch, enjoyed the long walks in the neighborhood, playing cat and mouse with the squirrels in the yard, and a wonderful playmate brother to our late Cal and new addition Dory.

Boone put all four paws in the air for continuous belly rubs my angel. There is not a day that goes bye where we will not miss you!.

Our paths will cross again on the other side. We will look for the rainbow, colorful and full of life knowing the love you shown us is touched upon others.

Love,
Mom and Dad

Sandy and John Covey

Beau,

You had me wrapped around your paw the second I picked you up. I only had you for a few months and your passing has left a void in my heart. I miss those happy barks and your goofy "tigger bounce" you did when I came home each day. I miss looking down at my feet and seeing my "teddy bear" right there wherever I was. Everyone that had the pleasure of meeting you fell in love with you.

I was blessed to have the time with you I had. This is not goodbye, but "till I see you again."

I Love You Teddy Bear!

Rusty Saxer

I will remember you, I promise.

I will remember your first night with us – I slept hanging off the bed into your little box so I could touch your puppy softness. When you cried for two seconds, I scooped you up, put you under the covers and pressed your little body to mine so you could be warm and know you were safe.

I will remember the first time you barked, tripped over your ears, lost your first baby tooth, and ran to me for protection.

I will remember our walks and the pride I felt at how unafraid you always were to experience new things and new people.

I will remember thinking I knew everything about dog training, and how humble I felt when I realized you were not just a dog but rather a little person in a basset body.

I will remember how you would stick your nose straight into the carpet when you were pouting.

I will remember how disappointed you looked when you couldn’t go with us when we left the house, and how happy you were to see us when we returned.

I will remember teaching you to eat corn on the cob. How cute you looked as you curled your lips out of the way to nibble just the kernels with your front teeth.

I will remember having to think up new words for walk, cookie, dinner, and bath because we couldn’t use them in general conversation without you thinking we were talking about you.

I will remember how you wouldn’t leave our side if we were sick, and how you purred in your sleep when I petted you.

I will remember playing hide-and-go-seek with you, and our private playtime when daddy left for work in the morning.

I will remember lovingly cooking your food for you when you would no longer eat store-bought; and how happy we were when you went from not wanting to eat at all, to being very excited at dinner time.

I will remember not missing a beat in answering ‘pastapotatoeschickenandgreenbeansinagarlicliversauce’ when people asked me what I cooked for you.

I will remember your sweetness and the unconditional love, affection and adoration you showered us with for almost 15 years; we will never be the same.

I will remember you, I promise.

Karen & Jeff

A Tribute to Rocket

For those of you who didn’t get a chance to meet Rocket, I’d like to tell you a little about him.

Cuddly Teddy Bear
Rocket had a thick, long black coat that resembled “faux fur” and he had white markings. His ears were like thick felt and long – perfect for scrunching and massaging. His previous owner said he liked butt rubs. Rocket also liked face rubs, backbone massages, and of course, ear scrunches. Rocket’s right eye looked a little off compared to his left so he looked slightly wacky! The thick drool string hanging from his lips completed his casual look. I’ve got a few dried strings of drool throughout the house; I didn’t agree with Rocket’s idea of interior decorating. ; )

'Lil 'Ol Guy
My husband picked up Rocket and told me Rocket reminded him of our previous dog Dodger, who died at age 14. We guessed Rocket’s age to be about 11, but he acted more geriatric. His vision and hearing were limited and he was extremely slow on steps. He could get on our lower couch but he needed “butt boost” assistance to get on a higher couch. He had a lot of trouble with UTIs and there were times that his back legs gave out on him.

Mistaken Identity
Rocket was very calm and quiet but his greatest joy was meeting other dogs. Then his head came up and his tail went "turbo.". One time, on a walk, he went into his Mr. Excitement mode. I turned to where he was looking, expecting to see Taffy the cocker spaniel, but all I saw was a set of plastic deer lawn ornaments that were in the yard. I think Rocket was a little embarrassed over that mistake!

His Only Fight
Rocket was a quiet dog. The usual reason he let out a woof was to try to track us down in the house. Like radar, he gave off woofs until I appeared to let him know which of the 3 floors I was on. One day he was outside in the fenced yard and he started letting out woofs. I looked out the window and he was by the two steps that led up to the deck. He looked OK and so I ignored him, figuring he could get up two steps. After a few more woofs, I went out to discover the problem. An old flower hanging plant had fallen off the shepherd’s hook and the hook of the hanging plant caught Rocket in the ring of his GABR tag. It was a battle between Rocket and a dead plant and the dead plant was winning!

A Case of the Slows
Rocket provided entertainment for my grown children. They delighted in saying things like, "Whoa, slow down, Rocket. Take it easy," as he laboriously got off the couch and meandered out of the room. We went on two walks a day. At leash time our dog Darby would get excited and her tail would wag wildly. Often, Rocket had to blink his eyes when her tail hit him in the face. During the walks, I was just like Elasti-girl of the Incredibles, except for the fact that my arms don’t stretch. Darby would be pulling us to go faster. Rocket was like a drag line in the rear. Once in a while, his leash would ease and I’d look back to see him coming along in a really pretty trot that just flowed over the ground.

A Measure of Happiness
Rocket gained 5 pounds during the 5 months he was with us. Drive though bank treats and drive through McDonalds burgers had something to do with it! He loved to eat. When I made my lunches at night, lunch meat would start flying through the air and he literally inhaled his share. About a month ago, a neighbor told me Rocket looked better than when he first arrived. I looked at him and thought about it and said, "I think he’s content."

Rocket, wherever you are, I hope you are content.
Mom and Dad Barton

Woody was a very very special boy to us. When we got home the day of the picnic in 2003, he jumped out of the car and ran into the house. He checked out all the rooms, ran out the doggie door to check out the back yard, ran back in and ate our cocker's food, laid down, and slept. It was like he said I've come home. He loved the idea that he could out the doggie door anytime of the day or night. It was not unusual to wake up in the middle of the night and find him on the deck or wandering around the yard checking things out. He developed a habit of always checking the perimeter of the yard before laying down.

Our back yard butts up against a 3 acre park. One day our neighbor told us that Woody was a better watch dog than his lab. In the middle of the night, Woody was barking up a storm. He got up to see what the problem was and didn't see anything. Then he noticed 3 figures in the park walking near our fences. Because of Woody, they kept walking. He said it'd nice to know that Woody was on the job.

Woody became very protective of our cocker when it came to other dogs. Four months after we got Woody, my niece's husband brought 2 pugs over to our house. One is extremely aggressive and went after our cocker (she is only about 20 pounds). Woody was in another room and came into the room the dogs were in. He walked in between them which put our cocker behind him. He sat down and growled at the pug. Her sister ran behind Woody as if she said I'm on your side. The other one ran out the doggie door and Woody followed. When she came back in, so did he. She ran into the dining room and Woody laid down between the kitchen and the dining room and would not let her back into the kitchen. The whole time she was in our house, Woody followed her and watched her.

He loved to sit and look out the picture window with our cocker. They would sit side by side and watch the world go by. If someone would be walking their dog, they would bark and bark. Then they would both turn around and run toward the back door at the same time. Sometimes they would both stop at the same time and look at each other as if to say "if you run, I'll run" or "if you don't run, I won't run."

We have so many fond memories of Woody that we will treasure for the rest of our lives. Everyone in the family fell in love with him and he with them. When we would say who was coming over, he would run to the window to look for them. When they got to the door, he was the first one to greet them.

I only wish we had more time with him. As my brother told me, at least Woody knew that he was loved and loved his time with us. We always told Woody that this was his forever home. We are having him cremated and will bring him home to be with us forever.

Charles and Rosann Murtaugh

In Memory of Georgey

A gentle breeze; a quiet sigh,
A fleeting memory of a day gone by.
Hope and renewal that could not last,
Burdened with a heart wrenching past.

As your foster family
We yearned for you to grow;
Peace and contentment we longed for you to know.
But time only brought sadness and feelings of being alone.

May we rest in the assurance that
crossing the bridge granted your forever home.

We love you and miss you

A long goodbye,

Tom and Tracy

We became owned by Samson in November of 1999 when he was 7 years old. We were looking for a pal for Dewey, since we read that bassets are pack animals and we felt that having a second hound would keep Dewey occupied when we were at work and would also give us each our "own" hound to cuddle with.

We were looking at the GABR site and saw his photo. What an adorable little face! He was exactly what we were looking for. Big Ears. Big Paws. Classic Basset. On November 14, 1999, Samson came home to his forever family.

He was stoic. That's the best word to describe him.The polar opposite of Dewey. Getting a belly rub and then hitting the right spot that shook his leg like mad didn't change his expression at all. We knew he loved it, but never a change in his face. It was a great indicator of his personality. He was most definitely the strong, silent type. And we loved him for it.

He loved to explore. When we'd go the dog park and all the other dogs were chasing each other around, he was content to wander through the trees alone just following a scent. But he also liked to escape the yard whenever possible and waddle around the neighborhood. He just followed his nose until we found him again.

He also loved to sleep. Any time. Any place. But it must be comfortable. Anything on the floor or hanging off a couch that could be used to nest on was taken and he was ready to power nap. Dirty clothes, clean clothes, jackets, blankets, dish towels, wash cloths, plastic bags, magazines, newspapers, anything he could sleep on, he would.

About two and half years ago we found a lump in his neck. He had a cancerous tumor on his thyroid. Our wonderful vet performed surgery on it, removing the mass and we thought it was the end of the story. It came back a year later and we we knew how the story of our little man was going to end. But he kept surprising us hanging on, by having more good days than bad, making us laugh more and more even as that tumor grew larger on his neck.

As the good days turned to bad over the next year, we knew it was his time, but didn't want to let him go. We called Cindy Huff, an Animal Communicator, who "talked" with Sam and told us how he was. He was ready to go, but was staying here for us. But that it was his time and he wanted us to help him to The Bridge.

On August 7, 2004 we took him to the vet one last time to help him along on his journey. Knowing that it was what he wanted helped make the decision a little easier, but it was one of the hardest things we ever had to do.

Samson was a great dog and a great friend and the reason we support Animal Rescue as much as we do. He taught us to be more patient and understanding, to wait for the right thing instead of taking the first thing, to always stick up for those you love and not be afraid to be demanding if the situation calls for it, that being alone sometimes instead of running with the crowd can be satisfying, to always follow a path that intrigues you to find the adventure that lies upon it, that sleeping the day away wasn't a bad thing--as long as it was on something comfortable, and to always to ask for help if you need it, no matter how tough the situation.

Samson was loved greatly and he greatly loved in return. He will never be forgotten and always thought of as "our little man."

Sleep well Bo, we know you are comfortable now.

Amy, Marc & Dewey Belanger

It’s taken awhile for me to come to terms with Bailey’s life and subsequent passing to the other side.

Bailey wasn’t a normal, happy, go-lucky basset. He lived his life as an outside dog for 7 years without much human interaction. He came to live at my house in March 2004 as a foster.

I watched as he discovered for the first time the feel of grass on his toes and the joy of toys all his own. On May 2, 2004, Bailey spent his very first night inside a home. He would never sleep outdoors again.

Bailey had so many troubles that over time it became quite apparent he wasn’t going to be able to make all the adjustments necessary to be adoptable or even to be a happy basset. With heavy hearts we let him cross to the other side where things make sense and his mind is no longer a jumble.

Mighty Mouse, we miss you and hope you’ll wait for us at the bridge. We weren’t your first family but we will always be your forever home.
Jeanie and the basset herd

Dixie – what a complicated basset you turned out to be. Inside your hard as nails exterior lived an extremely crabby basset, who thrived on confrontation and sounding off to anyone who would listen. I’m sure you must have been a drill sergeant in another life.

You arrived in rescue back in August of 2002. You were arthritic and had horribly infected ears. You couldn’t climb the stairs at your first foster home so you came to be my foster in October. A few months later your ear canals were removed to relieve all the pain and suffering you had endured. After a year in the rescue without any phone calls inquiring about adopting you the reason became clear to me. Everyone but me must have realized you had already chosen your forever home. I signed the adoption contract and mailed it in. I was now the proud owner of Dixie Doodle, a 10 yr old stone deaf, severely arthritic, ultra crabby basset and I couldn’t have been happier. The other permanent bassets weren’t pleased that you were here to stay, but that just fueled your desire to be even more irritating towards them. You succeeded.

Last summer, I knew you weren’t feeling up to par but I couldn’t pinpoint if it was the arthritis or something else that made the fire in you start to flicker. Then came the morning when I looked at your eye and I knew the cancer we had held at bay for over a year was back. You were in pain – there was no other decision to be made. We took that last long drive to the vet and you found peace.

My home and life haven’t been the same without you Doodle, I still miss my crabby patty.

Jeanie and the basset herd