Carolina Basset Hound Rescue- Rescue Spotlight

If any of you are children of the 80’s, you remember the Dukes of Hazzard. Most people watched it to catch the Duke boys and their antics in the 1969 Dodge Charger. However, as a testament to my future calling in life, my favorite thing about it was the sheriff’s lazy and sweet Basset Hound named Flash. I just loved his big ears, his squishy rolls and his baying howl. In this month’s Rescue Spotlight, we give a nod to all the “Flashes” of the world by featuring Carolina Basset Hound Rescue (CBHR).

CBHR was founded in 1993 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Their mission is “to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome unwanted Basset Hounds in North Carolina and South Carolina.” According to their website, in that time they have found homes for over 2000 hounds who were abandoned, surrendered or lost.

In order to carry out their mission, CBHR focuses on four main areas: fostering, adoption, donations and events. They are able to do all of these things thanks to a tireless network of volunteers who all share a love for this floppy eared and silly breed.

The rescuing begins when a volunteer hears about an animal who is in need of a home. Once notified, a volunteer will retrieve the Basset and take him in for any necessary veterinary care. After he receives a clean bill of health, along with any needed vaccinations, treatments or medications, the dog is moved into a foster home. The dog’s foster parents provide love and support and at times behavioral

injury. This continues until a furever home is found! (Or until the foster family “fails”, a term that I know many of you will be familiar with, myself included!)

If you have ever thought about adopting a Basset Hound, here are some facts you may want to know. According to Pet MD, these dogs are a gentle breed who love to sniff, inspect and track any scent that catches their nose. Their website says that,“by nature, the basset hound is very friendly with children and other pets, and is also one of the most relaxed and good-natured of the hound breeds.” It is noted that despite their wonderful personality and happy-go-lucky attitude, they can be extremely stubborn at times! (My guess is this stubbornness often coincides with walk time!) Luckily, they are not a breed that needs much exercise. A short walk, some playtime and a good belly scratch should make for a happy hound. Since their ears are so long and their faces are typically wrinkly, they must be cleaned regularly to prevent infections and other health issues. Sadly, they are prone to many health problems due to their physical characteristics including canine hip dysplasia, obesity (which can lead to back problems) and something called Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD) – a serious joint disorder. However with regular exercise, frequent check-ups and a good diet, there is no reason your Basset can’t live a long and happy life! And if you doubt they are worth the work, just go ahead and take one look at that droopy face, sincerely pleading with you for “just one more treat”. I guarantee you will fold like a group of dogs playing poker.

There are several ways you can help CBHR continue their mission of saving bassets. If you go to their website, www.cbhr.com, you will find information on the adoption process, how to donate to their cause and other ways to get involved, such as fostering. Another way to help is through “The Hoover Movers” program. Since they have yet to issue drivers licenses to dogs (coming soon?) the hounds still need humans to get them to where they need to go. This program recruits volunteers who can spring into action when they find out a dog is in need of rescuing. Since CBHR helps dogs throughout the Carolinas, there is a lot of territory to cover. Typical drive times can go from 45 minutes up to 2 hours. If you are not able to drive such a distance, there are plenty of times when the rescues simply need a ride to and from a vet appointment. CBHR also needs help with conducting home visits for potential foster or adopt situations. They receive a ton of adoption applications and are always in need of volunteers to help with this vital step in the process. Even if you are unable to assist by doing things such as fostering or transporting, you can help by doing something as simple as sharing a post of an adoptable dog on Facebook or chatting up people you meet in the street about the wonderful and majestic Basset Hound.

Please make sure to read more about Carolina Basset Hound Rescue online and visit their Facebook page for information about upcoming events. Your support is vital to continuing their rescue mission. In the meantime, those Duke boys can keep on with their bridge jumps and runnin’ from the law. I’ll be hanging out on the porch swing with Flash, lazily rocking with Basset drool on my lap.