Basset and Beagle Rescue of the Heartland

Memorials

BUSTER 5/18/07

Buster was my foster dog. He had been in 3 other foster homes before he came to me. I needed an old dog after Addie passed away so Michelle gave him to me to foster. It was hard to let him go until I met his new family.

Kim and Baylee  were very eager to adopt Buster but had to wait until they moved into their new home. Kim sent me pictures of the family which included Shiloh, their other beagle, just so Buster would know what they looked like when they met him. I consequently received pictures of Buster, Shiloh and Baylee at least once a month. Buster was the laziest beagle I have ever met so most of the pictures were of him on the couch, chair, and bed lounging around. The best picture sent was of Buster in a fluffy pink sweater Baylee must have dressed him in. He still looked dignified as he sat there. He died of cancer in May. All who knew him mourn his loss. Buster is the only foster dog that rates a picture on our fridge. He was a dog with an old soul who was glad for a warm bed and regular food. He didn’t ask for much and appreciated all that was given to him.
Wally is now keeping Kim, Baylee and Shiloh company and yes, Kim is sending pictures of him also. - Kathi, Omaha NE
 

MAX 4/23/07

Max came to us late in 2004. He was a senior boy whom we had "traded" an incompatible foster for during our foster experiences with another rescue. The rescue was full, and while we could not keep his predecessor because of our other dogs, we agreed to bring this patchy, stinky, grumpy old male home with us for "just a short time." His name was Max. A.K.A. "Mr. Bumbles" as his prior elderly parents called him. He would cry out whenever we called him Mr. Bumbles, like he knew about and missed his old parents. Well, it was not long before we knew we could never let him go. He got along with our other dogs well, ok, mostly, and wiggled his way into our hearts. Max and I could "talk" like Bassets do. I could howl at him, and he could howl back at me, right on pitch. I could change the pitch or howl longer/shorter, he would follow suit. That was some of the best times with him. We called him "Maxer Blaster" because, well, the special food we gave him came "blasting" out after his meals. But we loved him nonetheless, and during his stay with us his patchy coat filled out and got very soft, his allergies went into a sort of remission, and he was as happy as he had ever been. We never knew how much we loved him until he was gone. My wife had the misfortune to come home and find him in the yard, by the gate, waiting for us to come home. He could have been anywhere in the house, but it seemed like he knew things were bad, and thought that he would wait for us to drive down the road. Max has a memorial in our back yard, where he will remain near to us forever. It took us about 9-10 months to find that we missed a 3rd dog, and we got Max's successor, MacGyver. It seems that Mac knows about Max's legacy, he is already talking to me like Max would. And he respects the memorial in the yard. Arooooooo! Max went to the bridge, and forever in our hearts on April 23, 2007. He will be forever missed. - J.T. and Brenda, Merriam, KS
 

DOLLY 10/21/06

Dolly came into rescue because she no longer had the ability to do stairs. Her family had her for years, but due to her age and mounting health issues they felt that she needed to find a one story home where she could live out her days in comfort. I am lucky enough to have just such a house, so Dolly arrived at my door on June 11, 2006. Dolly was a wonderful girl who just fit right into the house. She spent her days in the kitchen with a large dog bed and her evenings curled up next to the bed. She of course got plenty of attention in between. Dolly passed to the bridge on October 21st, 2006. She was lucky enough to have two families that loved her dearly; she is very missed by all.  - Eleanor, Peculiar, MO

MORTON - 6/22/06

Morton aka Morty what a boy.  He came to our home the first part of March.  We were given very little history.  After the first few days we knew we were in trouble.  Morty was a nightmare. 

We began evaluating his behavior and decided he had separation anxiety.  This little bundle of love would pee on the floor and rip up anything in sight if left alone.  We tried crating him and he would howl and bark.  It was so bad one evening we decided to put him an outside kennel.  This kennel has a concrete floor and chain link fence.  Morty ripped through the chain link fence and escaped.  Another occasion he ate through our wood fence, just a hole big enough for him to fit through, because I was on the other side and he wanted to be next to me.  He had a fear of men so when my husband would try to work with him he would cower in the corner or run from him.

We tried all the homeopathic meds and worked with him.  Little by little he improved but not enough to make him adoptable.  More than a month later I decided either Morty needed medication or I did.  This couldn’t go on.  Oh my, we should have medicated him earlier.  Morty just blossomed.   He could roam the house freely at night.  He went to his crate no problem.  If he did follow us out the door he stayed close and came when we called him.  He would even run up to my husband and roll over for a belly rub.  Our toddler loved Morty. You would here our son giggling as they played.  We were so excited about Morty’s progress and finding him a home.

3 months later life was good.  I told Morty someday soon he would be going to a great home where he would get more love than he ever knew.  I was right only not in the way I expected.  Morty went into seizures that wouldn’t stop.  On June 22^nd Morty was put to sleep.  Morty will be forever in our hearts, may he rest in peace. - Jason & Angela, Ellsworth, IA
 

POTTER 5/19/06

Potter came from the Chillicothe Animal Shelter. I took him in as a foster, but knew quickly that he would be staying with me for good. Even though Potter had been treated for heartworms, the damage had been done and he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. While we only had 10 months together, he was my best little friend and went everywhere with me. He loved to ride in the car and I think the only time he stayed home was while I was at work, and even then he let me know what he thought of me leaving him home. He insisted on riding in the passenger’s seat for all of our journeys. On one trip to Pittsburg KS my mother came along and dared to ride in his seat, making him ride in the back. On the way home, he panted and fussed like he was on death’s door until we finally pulled over to rearrange. He slept soundly the rest of the way home in his rightful seat while my mother fumed in the backseat about that spoiled rotten dog. Potter went to the bridge on May 19th, 2006. He was my little angel who is missed everyday.  - Eleanor, Peculiar, MO

DERION 4/24/06

Derion came into our lives on August 2, 1998 as a puppy and immediately became my best friend. For years we played ball, walked and went everywhere together, especially camping. It was Easter of 2002 when Derion was diagnosed with canine Diabetes. It about broke my heart. I remember the vet asking what we intended, and I stated we intended to treat the disease. So after many weeks of daily vet visits and countless blood tests, we were able to get the diabetes under control. Daily injections twice a day, everyday, as well as a special diet and exercise kept Derion healthy and active for two more years. That is when we adopted Katie, a special beagle friend for Derion. The two bonded immediately and became friends. Two months after having Katie enter our lives, the diabetes took Derion's eyesight completely. We were devastated. We bought a book on living with Blind Dogs. We worked daily to get Derion familiar with the paths of the house. Installing rugs at key locations, and gates on the deck. It seemed that Katie knew her sister could not see and she took over, becoming Derion’s eyes. After several weeks, Derion could run and play all through the house. Friends would visit and comment on how active she was. Life went on as normal. Daily walks, playing, and camping continued. Then on April 23. 2006 Derion had a seizure caused by the diabetes. Our vet, attempted to get the diabetes under control to no avail. We had to make the decision to allow Derion to join the angels in heaven. At 1:08 in the afternoon of April 24, 2006, I kissed my best friend goodbye and held her as she went to the angels waiting on the Rainbow Bridge.

We love you, miss you and think of you everyday Derion, and we know you will be waiting for us. -Rohn & Dave, Omaha, NE

ADDIE - 2/13/06

Miss Addie Banana crossed the Rainbow bridge on February 13th, 2006. Her heart stopped at the ripe old age of 14, but her spirit lives on. She became my baby girl on October 18, 2004 when I said I would take her home overnight from the Nebraska Humane Society, but I wasn't going to keep her. I took her back but I never put her back in adoption. I just wandered around with her for an hour then took her home. She was almost deaf, severely arthritic, and had hardly any teeth, but she was my beautiful baby girl. From the first step into the house she told the boys (Riley, Toby and Jack) and me who was boss. She wrapped me around her little beagle paw so quickly I didn't even realize it. For those her knew her, she is stomping her feet about ready to bark to tell me she is waiting. See you on the other side Miss Addie! - Kathi, Omaha, NE
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King - 1/20/06

I received an e-mail from a volunteer at Kansas City Missouri Animal Shelter about a sad old beagle named King who had been relinquished by his owners to the shelter. When I saw his picture I had to go get him. After being neutered (required by the shelter even at his ancient age) and his multiple tumors removed, King made an amazing recovery. He loved to be held like a baby and have his belly rubbed for hours. If you dared to stop even for a second he would start hitting you with his paw to make sure you remembered that you had a job to do. He was very demanding in all things which I am guessing is how he got his name. King went to the bridge on January 20th, 2006. He was my first senior boy and is the reason why I foster the seniors today. I didn’t even get to have a year with him, but everyday was a joy and I am very thankful he came into my life.  - Eleanor, Peculiar, MO
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