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Likes: Being a part of our family.
Pet-Peeves: The garbage collector - that guy is always stealing good stuff from us.
Favorite Toy: Frog squeaky toy given to him on day I rescued - what's left of it!
Favorite Food: Peanut Butter!!!
Favorite Walk: Manito Park in the fall... so many interesting smells!
Best Tricks: Huh? He's a houndy and does not perform "tricks."
Arrival Story: I WON MY FIRST BASSET HOUND IN A CONTEST!
Daina-Robin Hanson and I were in the early years of our friendship (never knowing one day I would be her Auntie M!).
In 1999, KISS 106.1 was the #1 Top 40 radio station in the Seattle area. The morning show DJs announced a contest where they would give some lucky listener $10,000 and 10 hours to spend it on a live-on-the-air shopping spree!
We knew I had to write an entry, with Daina as my shopping partner for the day.
The instructions were to submit an essay describing how you would spend the money, where, on what, etc. if you won. You could only spend $1,000 an hour including taxes, gratuities and whatever else might be involved.
The first key to success was using some of the money to buy products from the stations major advertisers.
The second key was my meticulosity or extreme attention to detail in writing. From day 1, we declared to everyone we spoke to about the entry, You are looking at the winners of the KISS 106.1 contest!
All month there were countless trips to price what things really cost, how long it took to get there, shop & check-out, taxes, etc.
Every detail of my entry was true, down to the last second of time and last penny spent.
As you have probably figured out by now, my essay was chosen from over 12,000 others, as the WINNER!!!
Both Daina and I waited anxiously on the Monday morning the DJs planned to announce my name.
Instead, they began reading excerpts from the winning entry. As soon as the third word was spoken, I knew beyond a doubt it was MINE! Daina did not know until I called her, she had never seen the final essay because I worked on it until the last hour before the deadline to submit, but she was not at all surprised, we knew we would win! The writer was supposed to call, but all phone lines into the station were jammed! I tried for hours all morning and arrived late to work.
I called Daina at her office and she started trying to call in for me too.
I eventually made contact from my office, right before the morning crew signed off!
You are probably wondering how this story relates to Bosley?
I added something FUN to my shopping spree that I had always wanted and would truly love - rescuing a Basset Hound! Reminder, do not shop, ADOPT!
I was not a home owner yet though, I was renting a bungalow from a friend, who insisted NO PETS. After extensive discussions, I persuaded him to agree I could have a dog, IF I paid a colossal damage deposit of $1,000. Of course he agreed, knowing I did not have that kind of money and thinking no one was cRaZy enough to want a dog that bad - right?
Enter Daina's Mom Mij (and my future Sister-in-Law) who saved the day and loaned me $1,000 up front to pay the deposit until I received the contest winnings in cash. I could have never saved Bozz without her help and will forever be grateful for her generosity!
After winning the contest, I saved our Bosley (AKA Bozz) from WA Basset Rescue for $100. From the shopping spree money, he got a collar, leashes, stainless steel bowls, a wood, white picket fence installed around our small yard, doghouse, bed, ID tags, microchip, city license, toys and oh so much MORE. I paid my landlords hefty deposit loan back to Mij too and lucky for us, Bozz was such a good boy and I got 100% of that $1,000 refunded upon moving to my first house across the state.
We like to joke that I won Bosley in a contest but people rarely believe us, honest, it's TRUE!
Bio: Generally when you adopt through rescue, you do not know much about a dogs background. They come into the system from different circumstances, often shelters with no history. This was not true of Bozz - he was relinquished to WA Basset Rescue from his original owner, with an extensive folder of information, including papers showing his registered name as Sir Bosley Winston III DOB 10-20-1995 & original purchase price of nearly $1,000!
Bosleys first owner was a single attorney living in an upscale condo in Bellevue, WA. Some light bulb went off over his head one day he needed a pet. According to paperwork, although age 35, he never had a dog before, but thought a Basset Hound would be perfect after seeing a puppys photo in a magazine and because they were so cute. After speaking with the rescue volunteer that met him when handing Bozz over, that was the extent of his research
about dogs and this breed. Incredibly, she said he showed no emotion when letting the dog go.
Mr. DumbAss as I choose to call him (Bozzs relinquishment forms have his personal info blacked out to protect confidentiality but I am sure the name fits), bought my handsome fellow over the phone from a backyard breeder in South Carolina without ever seeing him, his parents, siblings, living conditions, etc. Then he paid to have him flown out to Seattle, where he was left at SeaTac Airport almost 17 hours after arriving, because Mr. DumbAss did not pick him up that day, he was working late on a case.
Needless to say, this beautiful boy did not start out in the best of circumstances. Anyone who has ever been around a puppy knows, they require time, patience, training and lots & lots of unconditional love to become a well socialized, forever companion. Mr. DumbAss must not have understood these basics.
In his own handwriting, he described how Bosley would not do anything he was supposed to and did not listen to commands the list of issues went on to describe that Bozz would be locked in his crate for 10 hours a day, sometimes longer if the man had to work late. Then upon coming home and letting Bozz out, he would piddle on the carpet and had numerous accidents. I suppose Mr. DumbAss assumed all dogs are born potty-trained? Then while the man would work in his home office at night, the dog was destructive and always found ways to get into trouble. He listed; shredding paper, dumping over garbage cans, chewing anything he could wrap his mouth around, drinking from the toilet, etc. (he was a PUPPY who needed attention - DUH!). Discipline was using a rolled-up newspaper. Bosley lived under these conditions 3 years, then Mr. DumbAss met the future Mrs. DumbAss who it was noted does not like dogs. I am sure she is probably mentally unstable - maybe Mr. DumbAss got what was coming to him? Hopefully they will not procreate!
Bosley was taken to Redmond Animal Control and Mr. DumbAss wanted to pay to just have him put down saying, this dog has cost me a small fortune. The worker in processing told him about the Basset Rescue group and he agreed they could be called they were there within 30 minutes to save him. Bosley had not received regular veterinary care (Mr. DumbAss was probably too busy) so his thick toenails had grown all the way around and into his pads - our poor baby. To this day keeping those extra thick Houndy toe nails trimmed is a major chore.
When I was ready to adopt, my friend Mark directed me to the Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue, who referred me to WABR.
It was quite a learning experience for me that almost every breed of dog has their own dedicated rescue group!
I talked extensively with rescue volunteers (now dear Friends). After learning A LOT about me, my living arrangements, etc. I completed a 5pg application including personal references and anxiously awaited a call, it came Sat, June 06, 1999.
There was also an older couple waiting to see a dog then all of us went into the backyard and she let the dogs out. There were hounds EVERYWHERE, sniffing and howling with excitement. My heart broke I could only adopt one!
Buddy was leashed and brought over to me. He was a beautiful black & white with no brown.
He had a very deep howl and lots of loose skin. Buddy had been well loved, but his owner of 7 years died suddenly.
I introduced myself and dropped the leash. He sniffed my hand, then proceeded to waddle away to lay on the grass.
The older couple sat down in plastic chairs to meet a younger, tri-colored male. He is really beautiful too, I thought to myself. They were giving ear rubs and he looked content. Then they stood up to walk him around the yard and an interesting thing happened - he pulled loose and came BOUNDING toward ME - took a running jump and landed in the middle of my lap! Bosley started licking my hands and laid his head across my chest (something he still does often) and
it was clear, Bosley was going to be Mamas Baby.
Meanwhile, Buddy got up from his siesta and waddled over to the older couple who were looking at me in complete disapproval - BOTH dogs found new homes that day.
As rescue volunteers often say, you do not always choose a dog, sometimes, they choose you!
Forums Motto: Mama's Baby Dogster Local Spots I've Marked: Washington Basset Rescue (WABR) The Groups I'm In: Basset Babies, Basset Hounds of America, Basset Hounds of the dailydrool, Bassets Hounds Abound, Bassets Drool, Furends of House of Puddles, Spokanite Dogs
Bozz: Bosley is a member of The Daily Drool.
WA Basset Rescue Link: http://www.WABR.net
Quote: Until he extends the circle of compassion to all living things, man will himself not find peace.
Albert Schweitzer 1875-1965
German-born medical missionary, Theologian, Musician, Philosopher & Nobel-Prize Winner.
Our handsome houndy Bosley left us at 6pm Mon 3/16/09, he was 13yrs old. The depth of our grief is overwhelming, but his passing was gentle, in peace and embraced by love. Undoubtedly, it was just Bosley's time. We miss you so much already Mr. Bozz, you will NEVER be forgotten. Thank you for 10 wonderful years of memories! Waddle free sweet boy, thump that strong tail, ahhhhhrrrrooo loudly, give lots of slobbery snooter kisses, counter cruise all you like and let those beautiful velvet ears flap in the breeze - we'll see you on the other side. Love, your Forever Family
A faint scent wafts along the air and they turn to look with the eyes of an assassin... nothing is stronger than their powers of manipulation and absolutely no one. They will play games with your mind to get exactly what they want, when they want it. Every mission they select is accomplished and they take no prisioners. This elite team of special ops experts is known only as - the Basset Hound.
Molly is the ring leader. She is tough, a solid powerhouse and ready to tackle any obstacle in her path to get what she wants, regardless of the consequences. Others have described her as brutal and a complete Bitch, yet those who love her know she has a softer side that involves lots of "me" time and snuggling on the couch.
Bosley THINKS he is the leader of this pack, but is constantly reminded by Molly "that dog don't hunt." He is constantly trying to get promoted within the ranks, but the chain of command says no, so he must bow to his superior power.
Tucker is the new recruit, green to this game so he is constantly re-evaluating his strategy and order in the unit. Unfortunately, he will always be last in role call and must understand his greatest strength resides in the power of cute and just being in the right place at the right time. Timing after all, truly is everything.
But let's not get too far ahead. In the beginning...
My heart has always been struck by the deep, soulful howl of a hound, I love to watch them waddle and adore those long, velvety ears – yet was not owned by one myself until 1999. The Basset Hound is a low-slung breed and we describe it as a big dog in a short body. They really are solid, weighing-in from 50lbs and up and live on average to be 10 to 12 years old. Males usually weigh more than females. They were originally bred in France to hunt rabbits and are known to be scent hounds. They have the best sense of smell in the dog kingdom, second only to the Bloodhound. This makes them intensely curious, brave explorers and absolute "Food Whores!" Unfortunately they are only one-way trackers, which means they catch a scent and pursue it with passion. When they stop, they are unaware of their surroundings and often can't find their way back home. This is one of the reasons you MUST have a fenced yard to be owned by a Basset!
I’ve always been an avid reader – as a young girl, one of my favorite books was “Where the Red Fern Grows.” They weren’t Bassets, but Hound Folk will say, when you have a love of hounds, you love them all.
I assure you the reasons I watched "The Andy Griffith Show," "Columbo," “The Dukes of Hazard,” “Smokey & The Bandit,” “Coach,” "King of Queens," "Judging Amy," "An American Werewolf in Paris," "American Pie 2," "Nanny McPhee," "Spiderman 2," and many, many other TV shows and movies had little to do with the quality of the productions and everything to do with the hounds that would steal the scenes and make me go Ahhhh, so cute!
I also LOVED Droopy Dog cartoons and the Fred Basset comic strip as a kid. When I met the Basselope in the comics during my teen years, it was then that I knew I would always love Opus and Bloom County. Are you sensing any type of theme here?
I suppose it will also come as no surprise that I've always had an affinity for the MayTag brand of home appliances. Call it being easily influenced by advertising, but it wasn't that repairman who never had work that got to me but rather his trusty Basset Hound friend. I also own my fair share of Hush Puppy trademarked items - go figure! Yes, it's become quite a compulsion at times - my husband calls it my Cult. One can never have enough Basset crap though... or can they?
Perhaps it’s genetic – maybe I have “I Love Bassets” typed in my DNA? It’s quite possible, because they have quite a history in my family.
Long ago, my maternal Grandmother was a reputable Basset Hound breeder. She loved these low-riders and worked with a distinguished bloodline for many years. Growing up, when our Mother would tell us stories of her youth, inevitably, there was a beloved Basset involved. While I have few photographs to document them, my mind imagines they were awesomely beautiful. My Mom and her sisters would dress them up, play with them, help ready them for the show ring and of course, they would fight over who got to snuggle with them in their sleep.
At retirement, my Grandmother gave my parents her last houndy puppy as a gift for their 1-year wedding anniversary.
This magnificent red & white named “Lulu” was instantly a family member. Eventually my older Sister Karen arrived and the Basset had a new best friend. I can still hear my Father reminiscing about how good that dog was around children. Mom said that when my Sister was a baby, Lulu would sleep protectively under her crib. When she would wake, Lulu left the room to let them know Karen was stirring and wouldn’t stop “talking” until someone went to check on her. As my Sister grew, she would lay down on the floor with her Basset to play. There are many times Karen fell asleep with a Basset pillow underneath her head. My favorite story though is of the day my Mom was baking and Karen dressed Lulu in an apron and played with her in the kitchen. Unfortunately, they lost this Basset too young.
When I was growing-up, there was always at least one dog in our home, often more – all well-loved and different, but none like these sweet Bassets.
It would be almost 30 years before another Basset Hound joined our family's pack…
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