Sugar
I got Sugar a year and a half ago from GGBR. I got the call that they needed a home for a dog with special needs and that I seemed to be a good fit. Turns out we complemented each other and her needs seemed like nothing to me or her. We had a good life. After 5 weeks of dealing with stage IV lymphoma I lost my pretty girl on Labor Day 2010, at only 4 years old. She fell ill just after the Waddle. We went with chemo to maybe give her some quality time and it initially showed promise, but I could always sense some discomfort and in the end she was not in remission. Still, she always rose to the occasion when it was walk time and would be just as energetic as ever, even up to her last day. That day she was in pain and I could not deny it. I sat on the floor for hours just rubbing her tummy, then brought her up on the bed and just held her for a long time. She yelped a couple of times from pain and then her eyes rolled back in her head. We left immediately for the vet. He talked with us and we all basically agreed there was nothing we could do. I spent an hour on the floor of the examining room just holding her and talking to her, making her as comfortable and loved as I could. When the time came I held her head and that moment where her pain ended and mine began happened. The very attributes that made my home a good fit for her, makes it that much harder for me to bear her loss. She had needs that required someone with a lot of free time, a quiet home with not much traffic and an understanding of how to deal with issues. Now that she's gone, my quiet home has turned silent and my constant companion, best friend and beautiful girl is gone I'm left looking around the corners for her. I'm all alone, except for the memories. Goodbye my pretty girl. I have your baby and I'll hold on to it for you. -- September 6, 2010

Kirby
Kirby was already an adult (estimated to be 3-5 years old) when he arrived at a Sacramento shelter as an emaciated stray in 1996. He was rescued by a Rio Linda couple who fostered him for two years before Mark and I adopted him in 1998. If you do the math, that made Kirby at least 16 years old when he left us in August, 2010. Kirby participated in parades and fun field trials, met people at rescue/information booths and home visits, and attended many parties and costume events. His debut at a Basset Club costume party in 1999 as a Tomato Hornworm is legendary! He reigned as King at the 2010 Waddle in Novato. His favorite activity was hunting and digging for gophers. For us, Kirby was "the start of it all"; he was our first basset hound and our first rescue, and he inspired us to help other lost or abandoned basset hounds to find loving homes. Over the years, Kirby shared his home with 6 other basset housemates, (outliving five of them), and with countless foster dogs. Kirby’s gone to join Gus, his wingman; Gus didn’t have to wait long for him. He’ll also rejoin his best girl, Lulu, as well as Bubba, Nancy and Ralph. It’s hard to imagine our home and our lives without him. Fran and Mark Madden, and Jackie, August 18, 2010.

Gus
Gus, Gusmo, Gusmoto, Goose, Gooseman. Gus came into our lives in June 2007, on his second pass through rescue. His age was unknown, but his shelter record from his first rescue in 2005 listed his general appearance as “old”. A nice couple adopted Gus and even adopted another dog to keep him company, but in 2007 Gus turned up again in a shelter. Through his microchip, Gus was returned to GGBR. Gus had deep-set eyes, which, with age, sunk farther and farther into his head. It eventually interfered with his vision, but it also gave him a goofy look. I always thought Gus looked a little like Walter Matthau. Our dogs, Kirby, Ralph (a.t.b. September 2009) and Gus made up the three GOM (grumpy old men). Gus was never grumpy, though; he was just a happy, bumbling old guy. Gus was not a low maintenance dog. In December 2007, Gus underwent emergency surgery for bloat and gastric torsion, but he came through the surgery and even walked out of the emergency clinic the next day. Gus had arthritis in his spine, which, in summer 2008 caused him hind limb weakness and paralysis. Fortunately, it didn’t seem to be painful, and with rest, acupuncture and mild exercise, he regained the ability to walk, and although his feet went out from under him frequently, he could get himself back up on his feet again. Gus didn’t let much get him down or keep him down, and he trucked around on his wobbly old legs for two years. He lost his sight and his hearing and was unsteady on his feet, but he could negotiate either of our two homes, and even get himself up and down ramps and stairs. Gus was a dog who needed the company of another dog, and was always more content if he knew that Kirby was nearby. I called him Kirby’s wingman. We miss the noisy old guy, and his constant wanting to go out, and then come back in again. He was a kind, happy, wonderful old dog. Fran and Mark Madden, Kirby and Jackie. June 12, 2010.

George
After 18 treatment of radiation for a nasal cancer tumor it was not a success. We let George go to heaven this afternoon. The doctor came to the house. I, of course, as with all of our other beloved bassets who have passed, held him in my arms. Then Trent, from caringpetservice.com in Santa Cruz, who was here with us throughout it, took Georgey with him to be cremated. We have had 9 WONDERFUL laughter filled years with our George, and of course Georgey was a (well, back then a Northern Calif Basset Hound Club) rescue baby. Our hearts are bleeding for him. We loved him so much and we did everything possible to save him. FYI, please check out the website of caringpetservice. They are really wonderful caring and very compassionate people. They run a cremation service in Los Gatos/Santa Cruz. Trent really helped make things smoother. God bless to everyone. David and Dan (Feb 2010)

Amos
The hounds and I have an agreement - I promise to keep routines as normal as possible, to love and cherish the babies, and they promise to not leave me at the Holidays - a very difficult time for me for many reasons. Bodie tried to leave just before the Holidays - we were faster. Bodie is doing great. And I thought we would actually make it thru the Holiday - and be on the other side. Not to be. Amos. Well I remember the night he arrived from Golden Gate - a warm breeze blowing, late at night when Kevin & Danielle pulled up with the cantakerous Amos and his cookies and food. Amos told everyone off, and then he let me pick him up. He let me pet him, and he walked onto the ranch and started humping every young male dog he could find. Amos. Stealer of Pizza and surveyor of Hamburgers. Originally he chose the bathroom, however after some time he decided the bathroom was not as much fun as a crate and he and Morey grumbled at each ot her - two old guys arguing about crate space. Both would grumble until one fell over and rested and thus the winner would claim the preferred crate. Morey went to the bridge earlier this year - and Amos remained. No longer enjoying a crate without argument - typical Amos. And so he chose the runs. A different run every day, a different bed mate every evening. Today - although a bit chilly with wind, we had blue skies and the hounds enjoyed Christmas - last night Jim & Sherrie and Denise all participated in the annual toy giving - and special cookies baked by Bob Hohman (Delivered by Dodson along with the incredible volunteer spread) and Sherrie Strachan. Amos had more than his share of yummy home baked cookies and snuggled up with a stuffed monkey. Today - he enjoyed the ranch. Throughout the day he was in various sun bathing spots and grumbled at me if I made an attempt to pet him during bleach down. He chose his run tonight - and ate his dinner. Just as it was close down, he left to give the rainbow bridge a try out. I suppose there may be grumbling tonight as Amos finds his old buddy Morey and they once again grumble for bed space. So typical of Amos to choose Christmas Night for his passing. I cried and cuddled his earthly remains - the only time outside of bath day that he allowed a cuddle. Bath Days he tolerated it but you always knew if given a choice he'd rather tell me off. I guess he had the ultimate tell off. He left us on Christmas. I am breaking tradition with Amos. I shall bury him forever to live at Daphneyland - at the tree line, where his gaze never faltered. We shall miss you Chunky Monkey. Many tears Dawn of the West Basset Rescue Network (Barni) at Daphneyland