Basil's Story

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.​

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.

Basil and his Dog Mom are pretty attached to each other.

It's hard work being a beloved family member.

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.