Fred
I got Fred from Bluegrass Rescue after my other basset" Leeroy"passed over from congested heart failure.That was 3 years ago.I was totally lost without my buddy,so I got Fred 2 weeks later.At first I didn't think we would make it together but we finally bonded and it was pure bliss.He was my best friend and companion .I lost my pal Friday:February 12,2010.It's very lonely without him;but I know somewhere down the road I will be able to love another.I know he knew he was loved and I know he loved me the same.We will be together again someday.Love you,Miss you.Your Mama Susie

Griffey
Griffey came to Bluegrass a year ago in sorry shape. He'd been found trapped in a pen without water or food, and he couldn't move due to the dead body of a companion who had passed away from severe neglect. The inside of the home where he'd been found was beyond disgusting with feces and garbage everywhere. Griffey had medical issues he just couldn't overcome, and sadly had to be let go to the Bridge a short time ago. In the past 12 mos, we made sure he had the best year ever. He was clean, fed, and loved very much. We will miss this old character.

Charlotte
Today, I said good-bye to one of my canine friends, the one that started me working with rescue, the one who came into my life and stole my heart. I had not wanted a dog. My oldest did. He wanted a basset. I told him if he could > find a rescue within an hour's drive, we'd get one. He found on in town. That was 5 years ago this past August. > We applied and Charlotte came for a visit. Her only true basset feature was her feet. Her ears were a little short, her face was shaped a bit wrong.....But she was wonderful and I fell in love with her and her alpha attitude. In September, we adopted her. In October, we were asked to temporarily foster a dog with fear issues. That was before Scott and I married and he came over every day to work with Baxter and spend time with Charlotte. Baxter stayed and we became foster failures for the first time. When Scott and I married in November, we started fostering. For 3 years, we opened our hearts to basset hounds who needed love, a place to stay, some manners, some patience, housetraining, belly rubs and ear treatments. Some became a part of our souls. Others, we were glad when they found a place with people who could appreciate their "uniqueness." Through it all, Charlotte was there. She loved each one, with a mother's touch we never truly understood. She dished out discipline with an iron glove and gave comfort with a velvet hug. She was our pack leader, keeping us in line as well as the pack. Yesterday, we noticed that she wasn't using her back left leg. She didn't even go to see an old friend who came to visit. Never left her bed. We made her an appointment this morning, Scott being a positive as possible, me being a realist and knowing this was the end. She looked so tired. He carried her in, and the dog who hates vets and runs to the door to leave as soon as you take her in sat on the rug I had taken for her and never moved except to snuggle close as she shook. Our vet took little time in telling us that she had some spinal damage and would not regain use of the leg. We could try steroids, but the outlook was not good. She was very sweet and cried with us as we made the choice. We talked to Charlotte and she looked at us as if she knew and understood. As if she were ready to go. She gave her "daddy" one last kiss, then within seconds, it was over. She never struggled, never whimpered. Our decision was to have her cremated. Part of her ashes will go back to her other mother, the rescue director, whom > she always loved. The rest will be placed here, under a marker with her name in the puppy run so she'll be with the others. My house is oddly quiet. Of our 3 remaining dogs, Baxter, Charlotte's constant companion and the one who seemed to be training lately to take over her job as alpha, has gone with Scott to Pennsylvania to visit family. We thought that would be easier for him than being here without Scott, who had been planning this trip for weeks, as well as without Charlotte, who has been with him since before they came to live with us. Just Christie, the Pikeville puppy mill basset, and Sadie Grace, the mix breed, are here. They seem a little lost, but will probably be better in a day or two. I know we did the right thing, but my heart aches right now. Charlotte was my baby. She always knew that she was mine and Baxter belonged to Scott. She was difficult, stubborn, and a true basset personality with all of the ins and outs that come with it. I miss her so much. Five years was much too short a time, but I know that we gave her a life as she had known somewhere in her past. Somewhere, she has a mommy who missed her for a long time. You see, we're pretty sure she was grabbed by someone who didn't know she was spayed until after they had her. Then, they just dumped her and she ended up in a shelter. Her life with us was like coming home again. But she never forgot that other home. For a time after she came to live with us, she'd take off every chance she had to go "home." In time, she understood that we loved her and settled down. Still, there were vehicles she searched for familiar faces. Green vans with ladies who had short blond hair and glasses made her ears perk up. White trucks made her shake and bark. Not any more...all that is behind her now. So is the pain. As much as I hurt, for that, I'm grateful. Rest well, my angel. 'Til we meet again. Forever Charlotte's Mom, Kolley

Nellie
Nellie came to us in November 1995 as a young basset along with Sammy. She was a wonderful girl who ruled the roost here as the only female basset. She took care of foster puppies, stuffed animals, foster rabbits and the kids. We had to send her to the Bridge on July 16, 2008, at somewhere around 14 years of age. She went on vacation with us a few weeks earlier, returning to her home in Missouri one last time. As an Army basset she did extensive traveling, and now she's home forever. I will always love you, baby girl!

Reagan
Reagan and her other half, Spencer, came to us a few years ago as a senior bonded pair. Last week Reagan got very sick and was bleeding internally. Short of emergency surgery--which would have been very hard on her as she was also diagnosed with hemolytic anemia that would require blood transfusions--we elected to release her from her worn out body and send her to the Bridge to wait for Spencer. Farewell sweet old lady!