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Basil's Story

4/18/2018

9 Comments

 

by Courtney Harris

My husband and I both grew up with family pets. One of the things we found ourselves dreaming about before getting married was our future four-pawed family. By the time we hit our first anniversary, we had adopted two cats. We loved dogs but had decided to “cool our jets” before we turned into a proper zoo by Year Two.

Fast forward to late, muggy August of 2016.

One of my friends was ready to add a dog to her family. We bonded strongly over animals, and she graciously let me tag along when she went to check out a small, rural animal shelter in the neighboring county. We navigated the gravel road and barely put the car in park before hopping out and hustling to the door. We checked out the first few inside kennels first. There were adorable Lab mixes that stopped Katie in her tracks. Every pup was cute, but we’d only seen one side. I rounded the corner and a dog instantly caught my eye. In the second kennel, there was an orange and white dog with floppy ears  watching me. I started talking to him. I forgot about the dogs immediately to my right and left. In fact, I may forget many things over the course of my lifetime, but I will never EVER forget this moment I’m chronicling right now. Although he started towards the wall of his cage, he was quick to come to the front to interact with me. Do you know how you feel after watching a two hour film that fills you with more emotions than you can recount? Well, this dog had eyes like the end of a good movie. He looked tired, hungry for affection, and melancholy. But more than that, he looked relentlessly hopeful. My new floppy-eared friend ran his face against the cage wire so that I could squeeze in a few pets.
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Howard, soon to be Basil, at the Shelter
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I backtracked to Katie and told her about “Howard” and how I’d like to take him on a walk. Howard was just patient enough to let me leash him up before he scampered across the concrete floors to get outside. He knew right where outside was, and he made sure we got there quickly. He stopped to sniff and pee about every five feet. He was just about beside himself with joy being in the fresh air again. When it was time to go back in, I stopped and chatted with the shelter manager about Howard. We discussed that he was a hound mix and the word “coonhound” was thrown around. I’d never seen a coonhound in person, and I’d barely even heard of one. I just knew that I didn’t come to the shelter prepared to or even looking to adopt, but I sure was praying that my husband fell in love with Howard at first sight like I had. Before leaving, I stopped at the front desk again and expressed that I was very serious about this dog and would bring my husband back the next day. That’s when I found out that, due to an overcrowded shelter, longtime resident Howard was slated for euthanasia in two days.

So, I trust that your deduction skills will help you figure out what happened next. The following day, my husband met the dog of our dreams. After we decided “Howard” aged this six-year-old pup, we dubbed him “Basil” and made him a Harris.​
Picture
Basil's first picture inside his forever home: He's nervous and won't leave the wood-floored kitchen to walk on the carpeted parts of the house.
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Basil and his Dog Mom are pretty attached to each other.
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It's hard work being a beloved family member.
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This guy's always trying to drive the car!
If you only remember one thing from this little story of mine, I hope it is this: Hounds make extraordinary family members. They don’t make adequate, okay, or even good pets. They are extraordinary pets. I have never been so enamored with a breed. Basil is gentle, affectionate, and loyal to a degree that impresses me every single day. He loves everyone he meets. Although hounds are known for being noisy, I’ve found that this isn’t always the case. He is one of the quietest dogs I’ve ever met. He is as happy to sniff some scents as he is to lovingly snuggle against me on the couch. He’s the doggie best friend that I never knew I needed. It’s a truly a case of “who rescued who?”

Are you considering adding a dog to your pack? I beg you to go check out a hound. That’s right—I’m begging you, stranger. Basil made me crazy for the breed, but he’s not the only wonderful hound I know. I volunteer with a few animal rescues, and I have engaged dozens of coonhounds and foxhounds. Although every dog has its flaws, the love of a hound is infectious. I hope that you’ll take a chance and visit one at your local shelter. I have a pretty good feeling that the floppy-eared canine on the inside of the kennel will be all the convincing you need.

The opinions expressed in this guest blog are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by Coonhound and Foxhound Companions.

9 Comments
Raven StMichel link
4/18/2018 10:18:58 pm

First off..what a wonderful amazing story!
Ty for sharing and for stepping up for this sweet hound...
I rescued my first coonhound Bubs..a Plott Hound over 5 years ago..had alot of dogs but never a hound.
Bubs is a gentle sweet soul and one of the best dogs I have ever had..

You are right..hounds make awesome family member's!!

Reply
Courtney Ann Harris
4/19/2018 08:02:09 am

Raven,
I'm so thrilled that you enjoyed my boy's adoption story! Bubs sounds like a wonderful family member; Plotts are so handsome, too! :)

Reply
Ann H.
4/19/2018 01:13:49 am

Great Story! I love hearing how people come to love the hound breed! Basil is one handsome dude!

Reply
Courtney Ann Harris
4/19/2018 08:06:50 am

Ann,
Thank you! I am grateful you took the time to read it! I also love hearing how people discover and then fall head-over-ears about the breed. ;) Basil blushed when I told him he was dubbed a handsome dude! ;) :)

Reply
Angela Faeth link
4/19/2018 02:36:08 pm

I liked how you were so drawn to Basil and he to you. It seems like you both picked up on each others personalities.

A perfect match!

Reply
Joyce
4/21/2018 12:50:24 pm

That was absolutely beautiful! Brought many tears to my eyes. I love how you love your furkids!

Reply
Courtney Ann Harris
4/29/2018 08:42:29 pm

It means so much to me that you liked it, Joyce! Basil loves you (and his humans do, too!)

Reply
Maria
4/12/2019 11:01:24 pm

Almost 13 years ago, I was rescued from doglessness by a wonderful Coonhound mix. Reading your story about bonding with Basil reminded me of the minute Callie's eyes met mine in the get acquainted area of the shelter she was at. I'd seen her pictures on their website, and there was something about her even then, but when our eyes met it felt like I was reunited with a piece of myself I hadn't known was missing.

Callie is approaching the end of her life now, and she's developed dog aggression, but I already know that when she passes I will be looking for another hound to love. They're such amazing, wonderful, funny dogs.

Reply
Courtney Ann Harris
4/18/2019 08:28:06 am

That immediate connection is something special, isn't it? It sounds like your Callie is a wonderful friend to you. :)

Reply



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