Harriet Cloud
One of the happiest days of my life was June 18, 1997, when two wonderful women from NTBHR drove to Norman, Oklahoma, to bring my angel Harriet to me. She was found in Texas with heartworms, was well undernourished, and was expecting babies. All her babies died but Harriet lived and was treated for her heartworms for several months before she was well enough to come to me. She instantly became the light of my life and I relished her affection, her noises, her tendency to bury and unbury stuffed animals, and her desire to remove buttons or beads off any object. She had a cancer scare in 2000 but that malignancy was removed and I felt safe. She also took medicine for an enlarged left atrium and even ate a two month supply of pills; luckily she was rushed to the emergency room in the nick of time and her life was spared. She loved to lie in the sun, then come inside and snooze in HER chair. I was devastated to learn she had adno-carcinoma in 2001. That is a malignant nasal tumor that grows rapidly and returns even after surgery. She enjoyed life with her sisters Casey (who died in 1999) and Little Bit (who died in 2003). Her later life was enriched with two more stray basset hounds named Gertrude and Josephine. She loved to play with them and in later years just enjoyed the site of the two younger ones playing. She will always be a part of my heart and I am blessed to have been her mother for nearly 7 years. I will love her to the end of my days. Donna Cloud Norman, OK

Slowmo
Slowmo came to us as "Fred" from Basset Rescue on February 5, 2000 and left us unexpectedly on January 20, 2005 due to complications from an unknown heart condition. He was a unique, delicate soul and brought a great deal of joy and love to our home. Thanks for enabling us to meet our wonderful best friend and family member. Laura & Russ Stukel Corinth, TX

Marlow
Michael's Lady Marlow Thomas Died Oct 8, 2004 Miss Marlow came to live with us as a puppy at 8 weeks of age, before we knew about puppy mills, backyard breeders, or any basset rescue organizations. She was our "baby", our companion, and our best friend. In September of 1992, Marlow was a charter graduate of a PetsMart obedience class, and graduated second in her class of 32, including some poodles, retrievers, labs, german shepherd and a second year cairn terrier. It was there she learned to do anything for a treat. She was quite adept at using these skills, and frequently demonstrated how to con humans out of their food. Marlow was an avid participant in the early days of The Daily Droolers, and was one of the first bassets on the Drool to have her own web site. She freely exchanged regal concepts with Princess Fey Fey and others for about a year. When we found out about North Texas Basset Hound Rescue in 1997, we were in the process of moving from Illinois to Texas. Marlow looked forward to attending her first "Shuffle" in Roanoke, and she never missed one until this year when she became ill. Marlow was usually found at the Registration desk, sulking under a table. It's not that she didn't like other bassets. She just wanted to be the only cute basset in the crowd, receiving all of the attention. Needless to say, this never occurred. Marlow never gave up her zest for living or begging, or sharing her home with an occasional foster basset, and welcomed many a Basset Rescue Volunteer to her home for Shuffle Planning Meetings and NTBHR Board Meetings. She greeted everyone with equal 'arrrooos', and loved to demonstrate her ability to "fly her ears" upon request. (That was always worth a special treat!)   Marlow had unfortunately suffered from skin allergies, inflammatory bowel syndrome and chronic bladder infections since she was 2 years old. Most of her infirmities was a direct result of improper breeding, even though she was AKC registered. In 2003, Marlow was diagnosed with 2 forms of skin cancer as a result of her allergies. Then in September 2004, she was diagnosed with lymphoma, which took her life so quickly only a month later. Had Marlow been able to speak English, she would have encouraged all humans to spay and neuter their pets, unless they are professional quality breeders. It's the only way to prevent these insidious diseases in our beloved companion animals. Marlow gave us 12 1/2 years of unconditional love, sheer joy, and a lifetime of memories. There is a hole in our lives, a place only she can fill when we meet again at the Rainbow Bridge.  Mike and "Sam" Cox Bedford, TX

Lurch (Big Boy)
Lurchie was a very special boy. He was found as a stray in East Texas covered in fleas and ticks. NTBHR took him in and cleaned him up, but unfortunately Lurch's story was not destined to have a fairy tale ending. It was soon after he entered the NTBHR program that we found he had an inoperable, malignant lump in his throat. No one was interested in adopting Lurch because of his cancer but he had so much heart and love left to give the rescue looked for a hospice situation where he could live out his life. He touched many homes with is silly "it's time for dinner" bark and big tail wags. As one foster home said "He was impossible to dislike." We are all glad he is no longer in pain and feel lucky to have shared in his company for even a short time - NTBHR foster families  

Daisy
I had been without a dog in my life for 16 years until Daisy came into my life during June, 2001. The last dog I'd had was a basset hound and I made a promised to myself that if I was ever in the position to have a dog again, it would be another basset hound. I had read in a newspaper about NTBHR's annual Shuffle event, kept the article and that's what led to Daisy coming to live with me. She was recovering from heartworm treatment, very little for a basset hound (30 lbs.) and it was obvious she had been treated very badly in her life up to the point of coming to NTBHR. I remember seeing her on the couch at her foster home. I sat on the far end of the couch, began talking to her very softly, gradually being able to get closer and closer until she finally allowed me to touch her. I fell in love with her at that first touch. Needless to say, we left the foster home together!  Always afraid of loud noises and quick movements, Daisy did overcome some of her fears of humans and other animals. Daisy tolerated my two cats, Cougar and Lincoln; my daughter and family's Basset, Buster, and Doberman, Razor; and three foster bassets that came through my home during the past year, Sally, Max and Rosie. Sally and Max intimidated Daisy a bit as they were both larger and a bit more playful than she was, but Rosie seemed to be just what Daisy wanted in a companion basset. Daisy really came 'out of her shell' when Rosie arrived just a couple of months ago. Daisy would perk up her ears, lean down on her front legs, cock her head to one side and look at Rosie with this pleading look in her eyes as if she were saying 'Don't you want to come and romp with me a bit?'. Poor Rosie was battling a number of health issues at that time, but she would always respond to Daisy by leaning down on her front legs, too - for a very short period of time, then slowly go to the floor as if she was saying 'That's all I can do for you right now, Kid - I'm ready for a belly rub!'.  Daisy became ill on a recent Friday evening, and by the next Monday it was obvious that she was in liver failure. An effort to turn the problem around wasn't successful, and on 5/27/2004 Daisy went to the Rainbow Bridge.  Dr. Richard Kirk and his entire staff at Park Mall Animal Clinic in Plano were so good to both Daisy and me during her final illness. I know that Daisy went to the Rainbow Bridge with her new angel wings lifting her to that beautiful place where she will no longer be in pain. One day Daisy will be romping with her new friends at the Bridge, she'll look around, her nose will begin to twitch with a scent she'll recognize. Putting her sweet basset nose to the ground, Daisy will come running across those fields of green and I'll get to see and stroke that beautiful face once again. I miss you something fierce, my Ms. Daisy Mae, but I know you are happy, loved and cared for in a very special place, waiting until we see each other again. Janet