Cassandra

After losing both our beloved bassets Electra and Cleo in May and September 2012 (13-1/2 and 14 yrs old) our house was very empty without a dog. So in October we adopted an 8 month old German Shepherd/Catahoula mix from the local shelter. Quite a difference after elderly bassets but I had a German Shepherd mix growing up and she was one of my favorites (we had bassets too of course!). Anyway, we also immediately contacted all the local breeders (thinking maybe a basset puppy) and Golden Gate Basset Rescue. After losing two dogs so recently we just couldn’t face adopting an elderly basset and so decided while we were waiting for the right adoption opportunity that we could offer to foster a dog in the meantime. Well it didn’t take long for the right fostering opportunity to present itself. We found out about Cassie the week before Thanksgiving and it just felt like she would be a good fit for our home (albeit temporarily) as she was a younger dog. So on the day after Thanksgiving we drove to Sacramento to pick her up from the shelter. She was sweet and friendly from the minute we met her and very excited. She didn’t like the car ride home and poor thing was a little sick and cried a lot. I sat with her in the back so that I could reassure her (she was in a crate). Once we got home our dog Pixie was delighted to meet a new friend. They took to each other right away. Cassie was a stray so we don’t know anything about her, but can’t possibly understand who would let her go. She’s very cuddly and will climb into your lap if you sit on the floor. She would love to sit on our laps on the couch or sleep with us if we let her! Our first day and night was a bit interesting. We left her and Pixie in their crates for about an hour to run some errands. When we came home Cassie had escaped from the crate and was sitting looking out the window in the living room waiting for our return. Needless to say we determined that the soft crate we had borrowed wasn’t going to work as she knew how to work the zippers! So we purchased a wire crate. She didn’t like it at first and cried a lot of the first few nights. We toughed it out but it was so hard! In addition to crying at night she would also become upset and cry if you left the room or walked out of sight in the backyard. One can only wonder how much she must have been missing her former family, whoever they were. Cassie is very food motivated so once she got over her separation anxiety she happily went in her crate and she often sleeps in Pixie’s crate during the day. Speaking of food motivation, she is also very agile which is a bad combination in the kitchen. Cassie quickly learned how to jump from our breakfast bench onto the adjacent kitchen counter. Luckily we don’t keep any food up there but it doesn’t stop her from trying when she gets the chance. Have you ever seen a basset on a kitchen counter? Not a sight you will soon forget. Funnily enough our basset Electra who passed last year was also able to do the same thing in her younger years. It brought back bittersweet memories. In December we took Cassie and Pixie up to our cabin in Lake Tahoe where they enjoyed romping in all the fresh snow and then crashing in front of the fireplace afterwards. Two lucky dogs! After much consideration on my part (I was and still am mourning for Electra & Cleo) and absolutely no hesitation on my husband’s part (he says he knew the minute we brought her home) we decided to adopt Cassie in January. She is now a firm member of our family and Pixie’s best friend. Our vet estimates that Cassie is 2-3 years old but she plays for hours with Pixie and can run circles around her. She’s also got a great hunting instinct and has chased rats out of our back garden several times – good girl! Needless to say we’re one big happy family now. Cassie even gets along with our cat Celeste which you can’t say for all dogs. We hope our story encourages others to adopt and/or foster a basset with Golden Gate Basset Rescue. Puppies are cute but they grow up quickly! There are so many older dogs needing homes and we’re certain there is a “Cassie” out there for everyone who is looking. Elke M. Wood

Copper (4/13)

Copper came to us accidentally while we're still mourning the loss of our 13 year old basset Bandit. We're considering fostering a senior dog and Sally called one day and told us about Copper. We picked him up the next day. Copper quickly made himself at home. Although he is 10 years old, he is physically fit like a youngster. He is smart and mischievous but with a healthy dose of guilty conscience. He is very sociable with other dogs and cats. He is loving, independent but not aloof or clingy. We've decided Copper must have a motorized tail. He can wag his tails at will and for the longest time. He is super easy to take care and we're very thankful for his previous owner for bringing up a wonderful dog. His good personality makes us very thankful for having Copper coming to our lives. Teresa and Judy

Charlie (and Sadie)

We have been a 3 dog family for many years. That changed in the fall when we lost our old guy, our 12 year old lab. Then, on December 17, our precious Buddy, a basset, died of intestinal cancer. It was a terrible time for our family. With Buddy’s death we became a one dog family. Hank, our younger lab was now the head dog of the family, and since he was used to being the baby, he was having a terrible time adjusting to the loss of his brothers. For quite a while prior to Buddy’s illness I had been checking out Golden Gate Basset Rescue regularly, and I knew when the time came, we would adopt a basset from them. A month or more before Buddy’s death I saw Sadie and Charlie on the GGBR website and fell in love with them. They had to be adopted together, and I just sensed their place would be with our family. I was not ready to adopt them yet, but I felt that when Buddy was gone, it would be his legacy to welcome them into our home. We brought Sadie and Charlie home on December 22. We had new collars, Christmas stockings, and presents under the tree waiting for them. They slept in bed with us the first night, and within days it seemed like they had always been members of our family. Sadie is a little princess. She’s a doll and she knows it. She’s spring loaded and will jump into our laps before we even see her coming, then wiggle and kiss, kiss, kiss. She’s got lots of squishy wrinkles and she loves to cuddle. She’s also a howler, and she’s taught her big brother Hank how to howl, too, although he sounds pretty ridiculous. Charlie is a quirky guy. He likes to cuddle, too, but he’s kind of pushy about where and when he wants it. For some reason, he often looks down at the ground, so we are really working with him to keep his head up by scratching him under the chin and lifting his chin towards us when we stroke his head. He’s not big about giving kisses, but just in the last few days he’s licked my nose twice. He gets so many kisses, so I guess he’s figuring out he might as well give some out, too. Our biggest challenge with Charlie has been his obsession with food, but since he’s learned there is always food in their feeder, he’s grown relaxed about it. He’s a great hugger, and at night loves to sleep between my husband and I on our pillows. Sadie and Charlie are wonderful dogs. They’ve fulfilled Buddy’s legacy more than we could have ever hoped. Buddy would be so happy to know Sadie and Charlie have found a blissful new life with us. We are so thankful to GGBR for rescuing them so that they could join our family. I hope Sadie and Charlie have forgotten any unhappiness from their past life and now only know what their life with us.

Capone

"Capone was adopted early May into our little family in Carmichael, CA...and we just adore him, as well as all our extended family. We are so happy Capone is on our lives and couldn't imagine life without him. He enjoys walks with his mom and dad, hogging all the furniture, being the ham of the party, and his new feline sister Bella of course. Capone is our little gangster and we hope someday to adopt another basset to join our family. I thank all the GGBR volunteers for helping us learn more about bassets and walking us through our first couple of weeks with Capone. Thank you all! ~Krista, Eric, Capone, & Bella"

Cassidy

Both Butch (formerly "Louie") and Cassidy are doing wonderful here at our house. Cassidy has gained quite a bit of weight and now is looking like a real basset. She is madly in love with Butchie and they are together all the time. Their favorite spot is on my husbands lap when he is on the recliner (very cozy). They have the run of the house and feel quite comfortable anywhere and on anything in the house. One morning I woke up to find Butch sound asleep on my dining room table! How he got up there I will never know. He also likes to lay on the back edge of the couch (our couch is not backed up to a wall). We try to make it to the local Basset meet ups and they have alot of fun running with the other dogs around Union City and Fremont dog parks. Butch is very loving and has a favorite tickle spot of under the front paws. Cassidy's spot is more normal for a basset right on her belly. They are good about sharing toys and take all of them out of the box everyday. Now it would be great if I could teach them to put them back. I have attached a picture of them on their favorite spont, I hope you enjoy it. Best Regards, Jan