City Living with Coonies

We recently caught up with Billy & Henry, two rescued coonhounds featured in our 2024 Calendar who reside in Chicago, IL.

First, how are our City Coonies doing?

Billie (Blue-tick, 13.5 years old) and Henry (Black & Tan, 11 years old) are doing pretty good for two old hounds. They enjoyed lounging around this summer and now are taking in the bounty of sniffs that arrives with autumn.

After Billie's health scare last winter, she bounced back and is still in Stage 2 kidney disease after a year and a half. Henry was very recently diagnosed with Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA), and after a hospital stay has recovered and returned to his usual self - howling at Billie and chasing neighborhood cats! We hope he continues to do well with treatment.

Would you remind us how Billie & Henry came to be members of your family?

Billie was adopted in 2013 from Chicago Canine Rescue (CCR) when she was a 1 year old and full of hound energy.  At the time, CCR was partnering with organizations in Oklahoma to get hounds out of high kill shelters and to move them north where they might have a better chance of being adopted.

When I met Billie at the shelter, she was literally jumping off the walls like a maniac. I had a small condo at the time and moved most of my living room furniture into a spare bedroom to give her more space to get settled. Two years later I was crazy enough to get a second hound in the city - albeit a smaller one - so I could manage them on walks.

We met a few hounds that were not a good fit for Billie’s personality (since she has to be queen) and eventually landed back at CCR where we found Henry, a gentle one-year old that had also arrived from Oklahoma with a sibling.  I brought Billie to meet Henry and they just clicked. Opposites attract after all!  After a few days, he came home to join our family.

Did you have any prior experience with coonhounds? 

My family had crazy pets my entire life, but no hounds of any sort.

Many rescues and shelters require a fenced yard for coonhounds (and foxhounds), often with a height requirement of at least 6 feet. Did you experience any difficulties or specific requirements when applying to adopt?

When hounds end up in a city shelter, at least in Chicago, they do not have these requirements, as the shelters’ focus is on saving as many lives as possible. They try to ensure a family is equipped to meet a dog's needs and provide a good home that is better than the shelter.

What’s a typical day like for these two?

Now that both hounds are older, they spend a lot of time sleeping and lounging around. Billie still likes to hop around like a crazy bunny and Henry has daily zoomies in the yard when he is feeling good.* They continue to love a good long walk and, of course, keeping tabs on the neighborhood.

Any advice for other urban dwellers who may be considering adding a coonhound to their home?

My hounds thrived by having a regular routine. When they were young, they had 2-3 long walks everyday (plus playtime) and spent a few days at daycare burning energy with other pups.  Also, if using a dog walker, ensure he/she has specific experience with hounds! We’ve had the same wonderful dog walker since 2016, which has helped tremendously in providing the consistency hounds require.

Other comments, suggestions, etc? 

Coonhounds are the best! They will definitely keep you active, but are also quite happy snuggling on the sofa. With dedication to their needs, many coonhounds can live very happy lives in the city. I hope that came through to followers on our [former] @citycoonies Instagram account over the years.  We miss our coonhound community!

*Katey purchased a home in 2017, which has a small yard and a closed in sidewalk that runs the length of the property.