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 

Doc

Doc’s Life

• Adopted from North Texas Basset Hound Rescue (NTBHR); we had our eyes on an older female, described as a couch potato; instead NTBHR asked if we’d like to check out a young, LARGE, male red/white basset with lots of energy!  We are so glad they picked him for us!!
• Doc led us to additional rescue work; we have adopted 2 other bassets (Mabel and Marvin); fostered bassets thru NTBHR; we donate monthly to ASPCA; we donate regularly to HOP (House of Puddles; a retirement community for senior bassets); we currently are fostering/adopting a non-basset shepherd mix (Bob) who has so many characteristics of a young Doc and is helping us through our grieving process.
• Doc loved all creatures (we’ve seen him crying over a salamander, a baby bird); he was shy and gentle.  He thought all humans wanted to pet him; he would be nosy wherever we walked and stop to make sure people gave him attention.  One of the funniest sights was Doc at a high school baseball game that was near some livestock.  Doc was interested in one of the longhorns; when it got up (it was HUGE)—Doc started howling so loud that it stopped the game so everyone could look at the excitement.
• Doc allowed us to adopt our second basset hound, Mabel (from our vet, Dr. Morris).  Mabel was unsocialized, had been hit by a car, had to have major orthopedic surgery; we call her our “personality disorder.” Doc was the only dog she ever loved—he let her yell at him, played gently when she wanted.  I don’t know that any other dog would have got along with her like Doc.
• Doc liked to eat!  He could be fast asleep but hear someone opening a slice of cheese (even if trying to sneak it in a different room)!  He was the BEST beggar; never aggressive, would just put his head on your knee to let you know he was interested.  He also could stealthily steal a sandwich out of your hand if you were walking away from him.  He was a “counter-cruiser” and has retrieved a whole pizza, a package of frozen rolls, a pan of baked chicken (including bones), a large box of Greenies, and a dozen cupcakes.  The latter caused acute pancreatitis.  We worked so hard to keep Doc from eating human food but sometime he won!
• Doc loved his walks.  Until the last year (when he was totally blind), Doc walked every day.  He was the pack leader.  We have so many memories.  He taught us so much—such as not taking him on a walk in too hot weather.  Doc went “flat basset”, requiring my husband to carry him almost a mile home.  Through the years, we can’t count the number of cars that drove by him and smiled, beeped their horns, stopped to tell us their basset stories.   
• Doc protected us during a Rottweiler attack; both my husband and I were knocked over; cars were stopping and calling 911; Mabel (our other basset) was hightailing it to safety, but Doc was our hero.
• Doc was popular with our son’s friends (they are now 24, 22).  He watched poker games, went to baseball games- everyone loved Doc!  I took many pictures of Doc and used them for annual presentations at work.  Doc has been a hit on Facebook and even had his own MySpace page back in the day.
• Doc could PLAY!  He loved running (the Basset 500), wrestling, howling (he and Marvin would do this a few times everyday).  An especially fun game to Doc was being chased by an acoustic guitar (by our youngest son)—it wasn’t the same with an electric guitar.
• Doc was everything good in terms of what a dog can be.  He was truly our best friend.  Greeting us every time we returned, no matter how brief, would always put a smile on our faces.  He liked to be massaged; he would always be up for a hug.  He has given us so many laughs, some worries (pancreatitis, got loose a couple times—those are long stories!!), unconditional love, and happy happy memories.  We loved him so much.

The Hightowers

Dreyfuss
Dreyfuss- 5/08/95 to 8/13/10 Dreyfuss was our little Basset Hound with a big personality. Dumping your puppy bowl and running with it was just the beginning of many laugh's you brought us. The crazy things you did, scratching the fridge for your food and then staring inside with those Basset eyes. The time when I opened the door and you took off on me. It took me a block to catch you but when I did I picked you up and laughed! How could a little puppy with those big ears and short legs be so fast! That loving, loyal side of you, following me EVERYWHERE to be by my side, you were my shadow. Laying next to me and nudging your head under my hand to get love, and if I stopped you just gave me that Basset look and nudged again. So many other funny things you did. I never did mind that big beautiful howl of yours. Mommy loved you too so much and took good care of you all those years. She misses you very much. In your later years you grew a little whiter but you were still just as handsome. In the past 8 months you found your first full length mirror, you would stare into it, yes that's what you looked like. That's just one reason why we loved you so much. In these later years your walks got shorter and took a little longer, I let you take all the time you wanted. We all loved you so much Dreyfuss, you will never be forgotten. I wrote this for you "My Best Friend" Our eyes first met in that store, no plans to buy just look no more. You played like you knew me all over the floor, before I knew we were out the door. So many times we had together, walking next to you was always a pleasure. You picked me up when I was down, like saying to me "I will always be around." And throughout our time I learned from you, your unconditional love is what I knew. And even through your very last day you lived so brave, that was always your way. Our journey together on this earth has come to an end without doing wrong, I know your looking down on me hoping I will be strong. While I'll try to feel your presence near, times and memories of us will stay with me for the rest of my years. And in knowing you playful, loving and clever, I write this poem to you, no way on earth could you have been any better. Thank you for being my best friend, I am lucky to have had you in my life. Love Tim.

Droopy
My sweet Droopy-Dog, It’s been exactly 1 year since you left us and my heart aches as much today as it did the day you died.  My heart broke the day you died.   I can vividly remember the day you came into our hearts.  I remember thinking how tiny you looked next to your new big brother, Buster.  You came home with us that day and you knew you were home.  We were surprised when you jumped up into bed with us that very first night and snuggled in between us.  That was the first of many “snuggle sessions”.   You were such a sweet, lovable, playful dog.  You loved to wrestle and play and race through the house with Buster and Maggie.  You’d get so animated when the 3 of you were playing that your front legs would bounce off the floor each time you barked.   Snuggling was your passion though.  I used to joke that you’d give up food before you’d give up snuggling.  You were my snuggle buddy.  You liked to jump up on the couch and lay with me and snuggle.  Every night, you would crawl under the covers to the foot of the bed and sleep with us.  I can remember many nights when you’d get in bed and stand at the head of the bed while we lifted the covers for you to crawl under.  You even liked to jump in the hammock with us.  It didn’t matter where, you just loved to snuggle.   Your eyes were so beautiful.  I often thought to myself that I could look in your eyes and see straight to your soul.  And it was a beautiful soul.  Your daddy and I were never able to understand how someone could hurt you or not want you in their life.  You brought us many years of love, joy, laughter, fun and memories.  You live forever in our hearts, never to be forgotten.    Until we meet again.   Love, Mommy

Duke 648
Good morning, I’m sad to report that our Mr. Duke passed during the night after a long and fun life with us. We fostered and adopted him from the group around 2005 when our other basset fell in love with him. They were just inseparable during their time together. About 5 years ago, we lost her to cancer and considered fostering again, but Duke didn’t grieve the way Winnie did. As a result, we became a one dog family for many years. However, earlier this year, we could tell he needed a friend and adopted another dog. Her vigor breathed life into him for many months but sadly, he began to take a downturn with multiple issues. Last night he left us to live in peace and pain free. RIP Duke!