“I thank God daily for Luke, because he is Michael's best friend, and they have a bond that no one can describe.” The words are Nicole’s about her husband Michael. And Luke is Michael’s 4-year-old Bluetick Coonhound service dog. Nicole’s husband, Michael, suffers from Autism Spectrum Disorder. (ASD is a neurological disorder resulting in developmental disability that affects communication, social understanding, behavior, activities and interests). After severely injuring his back while working at his uncle’s shop, Michael was left barely able to function. Even worse were his feelings of futility, depression and despair. And then …coincidence or providence? Living next door to the couple was a breeder with a puppy Michael desperately wanted. But when he approached the breeder, he was told that the puppy wasn’t for sale, and a dejected Michael returned home empty handed. The following day, the breeder called; he’d changed his mind. Never had Nicole seen her husband as happy as the day that small Bluetick Coonhound entered his life. And the loving bond between Michael and Luke was instantly and immutably forged. If not for Luke … One of Michael’s many ongoing health problems includes seizures. Seizures, which Luke instinctively and instantly picked up on. After some further instruction from Nicole, the pup learned to recognize when they were coming on and what to do. He would remain with Michael the entire time, never once leaving his side, until the seizure was over. The same holds true whenever Michael becomes depressed or is bedridden because of his back. Luke stays close to him, comforting and calming him with his presence, and providing the stricken Michael with the solace and reassurance he needs. And yet, this very special relationship doesn’t only work one way. Whenever Luke is the one in need of calming, Michael is there for HIM. According to Nicole, “They know just what the other thinks and wants.” Once, during a walk through the woods near their house, Michael fell. Luke reacted immediately. He slid beneath Michael, braced himself firmly, and was able to hold Michael's weight while he managed to get back up. Now, all anyone has to say is, "Luke, help me up," and Luke will help that person up. With Michael, however, Luke knows even before he’s asked. The pair is inseparable, and with Nicole’s assistance, the three of them have become regular visitors at a nearby nursing home, where they spend time with the seniors on the rehabilitation floor. Their mission: “to cheer them up and make their day,” says Nicole. Michael loves showing off Luke, Luke loves the attention, and the seniors love Luke. It is a single, joyous and rewarding love fest all round. “Michael tells me that he loves Luke more than me,” Nicole admits, “that they have a tighter bond. Does this bother me? Does it make me mad? The answer is ‘no.’ And I will continue to say, ‘no.’ Why? Because I am walking with Michael, step by step, and side by side, just in a different way. I definitely love my Michael, and wouldn't change my baby for anything in this world.”
Article written by Nomi Berger. Nomi is the bestselling author of seven novels and one work of non-fiction. Nomi devotes all of her time volunteering her writing skills to animal rescue organizations both in Canada and the USA. It started with a single stray hound and a pair of loving hearts. The stray, ultimately dubbed Major Hound, was a Treeing Walker Coonhound found loitering on a regular basis outside the Wal-Mart in Farmerville, Louisiana, where Sandy Lunte lived. As a longtime devoted dog rescuer and re-homer working alone, she saw him as one more dog in urgent need of rescuing. She spent the next three weeks trying to entice him close enough to safely trap him, until finally, with the help of local vet Dr. Damon Odem, she succeeded. And so it was that this abused, abandoned, and beautiful dog snared Sandy’s heart, aroused her curiosity about coonhounds in general and ignited her passion for the breed itself. Coming to Sandy’s own rescue, when she needed a second loving heart and a second pair of helping hands, was her close friend, Elisabeth Grant-Gibson. Sliding into her new rescue role with eagerness and ease, Elisabeth quickly acquired three foster dogs. Late one Sunday evening, as the pair was driving to Elisabeth’s house with yet another hound for her to foster, Elisabeth casually remarked, “We’ve got all hounds on deck now,” to which Sandy promptly replied, “That’s the name.” With that, All Hounds on Deck was born and officially launched in June 2013. As to the playful logo with its prominent peace sign? It was the brainchild of graphic artist Amy Sliger. “Peace Love & Hounds is our motto,” says Sandy. “We’re peace-loving hippies. We also LOVE Coonhounds because they’re dear, dear dogs. Silly, funny, and oh-so-loving. They’re also terribly misunderstood and constantly mistreated around here. Since so many people don’t realize what wonderful pets and loyal family members coonhounds make, we’ve made educating the public about them a vital part of our mission.” Although not exclusive to hounds, the rescue focuses on medium- and larger-sized dogs, who are often the most difficult to place. Having modeled themselves after several rescues they admire, what sets All Hounds apart from some of the other local groups is that they fully vet their dogs – deemed unadoptable by many -- while keeping their adoption fees low. “We’re also not limited as to where we acquire our dogs,” explains Sandy. “We take them from shelters, from dumpsters, and from the streets.” Because All Hounds is such a new rescue group, their earliest funding came out of Sandy’s and Elisabeth’s own pockets, and they were the group’s sole foster homes, together with a local boarding facility. But as they quickly began rescuing more dogs, they started to work on establishing a network of temporary foster homes. And although they had begun by using volunteers strictly on an event by event basis, over time that base began to grow. Their decision to pull a dog – whom they named Shemp Hound -- from a local shelter was a game changer for them. Although they had nowhere to place him and no funds for his medical costs, they posted his story on Facebook and appealed to the public to call in donations directly to their vet. To their relief and delight, their first fundraising effort was an unqualified success. Building upon that success, All Hounds continued to use not only Facebook, but also some of the burgeoning websites devoted solely to raising money for rescues. Two of their own most effective fundraisers were leaving collection cans at area businesses and selling All Hounds on Deck t-shirts with their whimsical logo. Then, as more people became familiar with them, contributions from other donors, both public and private, began trickling in. And as a non-profit rescue, they continue to rely solely on the generosity of others to sustain them. One of the unique features of All Hounds on Deck is that most of the dogs they save from certain death are re-homed out of state. And for these operations to succeed, all HANDS must definitely be on deck. And on call. Sandy and Elisabeth have personally driven dogs to the northeast four times. The majority, however, are delivered to their forever homes by volunteer transport, a remarkable and highly coordinated network arranged through an independent rescue coordinator. Like a relay race, a volunteer will drive a pre-arranged number of miles until another volunteer takes over, and so on and so on. Most transports involve between 20 and 30 different drivers and take between two and three days to complete. A major support to Sandy and Elisabeth in the area of rescues and placements has been Jerry Dunham, founder of Tejas Coonhound Rescue, and an integral part of Coonhound Companions. Case in point: a beautiful, tri-color English coonhound they called Cindy Hound. Found in December on a highway in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, she was taken to the shelter, where she languished for weeks with no interest shown in her whatsoever. Despite being a sweet and obviously loving dog, she was scheduled for euthanasia by the shelter due to overcrowding. In desperation, Jerry, who had first helped Sandy with Major Hound’s rescue, contacted her and asked for her help. All Hounds promptly posted Cindy on Facebook, and to everyone’s profound relief, a potential adopter was found and ultimately approved. After Jerry had arranged for Cindy to be flown to Monroe by Pilots N Paws, Elisabeth drove Cindy across country to New Jersey, where her adoptive family was eagerly waiting to welcome her to her forever home. As part of their mission to educate the public about coonhounds, dog health and safety, and responsible pet ownership in general, Sandy and Elisabeth are frequent guests on several local radio and television programs. They also speak with students and work individually with children whenever they appear at public meet and greets. And they are currently laying the groundwork to visit schools with Jack, who is Sandy’s onetime dumpster dog turned certified therapy dog. As All Hounds on Deck continues to grow as a rescue and in reputation, both Sandy and Elisabeth continue to lead by example. Sandy and her husband, Tony Cortellini, share their home with four rescues including, Major Hound, the Treeing Walker Coonhound who started it all, and Elisabeth not only fosters dogs, but her cat, Gin, lets them “cat-test” the dogs they rescue, while her backyard fence allows them to test for fence jumpers.
Article written by Nomi Berger. Nomi is the best-selling author of seven novels, one work of non-fiction, two volumes of poetry and hundreds of articles. She lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with her adopted morkie, Shadow, and devotes all of her time volunteering her writing skills to animal rescue organizations throughout Canada and the USA. "Hello. My name is George ... now. I used to have another name; at least I think I did. That was a long time ago & I don't remember. About a year ago, the only person I'd ever known dumped me in a strange place. It was dark & I was scared. I didn't know what would happen to me - I only knew that everything I had known was gone. I hid behind a dog house. Once the light came, a stranger approached me & took me inside. There were a lot of other dogs there & I was even more scared than I was outside. The stranger was nice. She talked to me, fed me, & gave me a blanket. I waited there for someone I knew to pick me up & take me home. Little did I know that wouldn't happen, at least not the way I thought it would. That lady, Monica Collins, was so kind & gentle. She told me I was safe & told me she'd help me. She said to be brave & she took my picture. I am not a brave dog but I stood there & she snapped some shots. Of course I didn't know it, but those pictures - they saved my life." On November 10th, 2012 a young Treeing Walker Coonhound was abandoned at the Mount Pleasant Animal Shelter in an outside pen. The photos taken by a dedicated volunteer were posted on the Coonhound Rescue Network page on Facebook and were shared no less than two dozen times by well-meaning hound lovers from across the country. In the post, Monica wrote: Please help me find a place for a sweet hound they just got here at the shelter today. A young male, doesn't look quite a year old by his teeth, dumped in the outside pen. He has beautiful markings & long ears. Not sure what you would call him ... other than hound. He is very scared, but he does let you handle & pet him. I loved him & made sure he got a nice clean blanket to lay on. He wasn't sure what to do & sat & looked at it. He must have been outside all his little life. My husband and I had often discussed bringing another hound into our lives and something about these pictures touched our hearts. The photos were heartbreaking – maybe it was the small cement cell he was in, the roach of fear in his back, or the string of stress-induced drool that hung from his lip. We shook on it – we'd try to give this dog a real home. After posting my initial interest and inquiring as to the logistics of getting the dog from northeast Texas to southeast Connecticut, a familiar voice chimed in, that of Jerry Dunham, a long-time, well-respected coonhound rescuer. We already had two coonhounds, Clementine, a 6 year old Black and Tan Coonhound, and Sonny, a raucous 2 year old Redbone Coonhound. Naturally, we struggled with the ramifications of bringing a teenage, intact male, unknown dog into the midst of our home. Jerry contacted me via email and arranged, with Monica's help, more photographs and the results of a temperament test. The boy was tested for food, dog, and cat aggression. He passed with flying colors. Knowing there was a lot that could go wrong, but feeling as though it was the right thing to do, I contacted Jerry and Monica giving the go ahead for the adoption to proceed. Needing a name for the necessary paperwork, my husband picked George. This would seem like the end of a sad story, but really it was just the beginning. Over the course of the next week or so, flurries of emails were exchanged, advice was sought, phone calls transpired, and arrangements were made. As all the necessary details of a long distance adoption were being set in place the shelter filled up and our boy was placed on the PTS list. His time was up there and he needed to be removed from there immediately. Dog Runner Pet Transport, the operation run by Elaine and Dave Stutz, couldn't pick George up for another eight days. Through a network of very kind and selfless volunteers a local boarding facility in Mount Pleasant, Texas,was found that agreed to house George for one week. Unfortunately Dog Runner couldn't pick him up there due to logistics. George needed to be transported, for an overnight stay, near Plano, Texas. Bright and early on the morning of November 26th, he was picked up and on his way to us. That journey of over 1500 miles took four long days. In the meantime, we set things up at our home as best we could. We'd placed a crate in the living room, lined with a soft bed. An extra dog bowl and a new collar were purchased. I'd made a veterinary appointment for George on the following Monday and we had enlisted the help of a trusted friend of ours to help with dog introductions upon his arrival. On Saturday, December 1st we got the call we'd been waiting anxiously for for over two weeks. The transport was not only on its way and joy of joys, it was running early! I was too nervous so I sat in the front seat, wringing my hands, as my husband drove. We met the transport in nearby Mystic, Connecticut on a cold, drizzling, snow spitting afternoon. Our first sight of George was of him stretching his legs and bawling at a passing horse drawn carriage. He looked young but bigger than I'd thought from the photographs I'd seen. He seemed happy. He seemed worthy. But best of all, he seemed like ours. Once parked, I nearly leaped out of the car. We introduced ourselves to the Stutz's and thanked them. George was brought over to us and in an instant, he could tell something would be different. He was hesitant and uncertain. Of course part of me expected this but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed he didn't jump into our arms. I tried to bribe him with treats but slowly he backed away from me. I was nearly heartbroken. It was understandable though, this boy had been through so much and I'm sure he was very unsure as to whether this situation would last. In just a couple weeks he'd been dumped in the shelter, from boarding to boarding, living nearly a week in a crate on a trailer, and finally to us. Dave and Elaine made encouraging small talk and held him as we slipped on his brand new collar. We said our good byes as Dave tenderly lifted him into the back of my car. I rode home in the back seat with George, hoping to make him feel a little more comfortable. He sat politely and quietly. All the while he looked out the window, wondering I'm sure, why he was here, who were these new people, what would become of him, and why it was so damn cold. It's a very long way from Texas to Connecticut in more ways than one. Only part of George's journey was over, the next part was yet to begin. He was, for all intents and purposes "home" even though he didn't know it yet. "So that's the story of how I got my very own family. I can't believe how much has changed. Now I have a mom & a dad & a brother & a sister. I have a soft bed, my own blanket, & regular meals. I get petting & cuddles every single day. I get to go for long hikes in the park too. I'm learning a lot & trying to be a good boy. I love it here & my family loves me. Every day I think how lucky I am – it's been like winning the dog lottery!
It could have been different. I don't like to think about that. What if there had been no Monica? What if those people hadn't shared my pictures? What if my mom hadn't seen them? What if everyone had turned their backs & hadn't helped? Where would I be?" The very sad fact is that without the generous help and support of so many kind-hearted people, George may have ended up like so many other hounds that get dumped in shelters – if they're lucky. His story has a happy ending but many, many other hounds won't get that. Coonhounds, by the dozen, are euthanized every single day because there is no one to help them, to want them, or to see their value as wonderful family members. In rescuing this boy, experiencing the joy and love he has brought to our lives, I know we've only made a small difference to the situation. To George though, that difference is everything. — By Ellen Jones FOLKS, HERE IT IS - our 2014 Coonhound Companions wall calendar featuring AMAZING and inspiring photos donated by our houndy-loving pals! Price is just $16.99 each. Remember to select January 2014 as your starting month if you want a traditional calendar. Beautiful full color throughout and nice heavy paper stock. Just about every breed represented. Every dollar of profit supports our programs directly. Admit it: you want one! It won't be a silent night when you wear coonhound and foxhound themed apparel and gifts. You'll get lots of compliments. Check out our newest selection of designs in the Coonhound and Foxhound Companions store on CafePress.
Follow this link to get our special pricing. Every penny of profit goes directly to our programs because we are 100% volunteer based. Help us help the hounds! Read about our most important life-saving program here: Long Ears Alive! If you prefer to donate to Coonhound Companions, find information here. We are fiscally sponsored by Sunbear Squad Inc, an all-volunteer, non-profit humane awareness organization with 501(c)3 status. Your donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law. Thank you for supporting our work! Her given name was Elisabeth Spain, but in her hometown of Owensboro, Kentucky, she was known simply as Riley. A typical teenager in some ways, certainly. Unique in others, absolutely. After enduring months of crippling pain, she was finally diagnosed with hypermobility (a condition where joints pop in and out of their sockets) and fibromyalgia (the result of having contracted the H1N1 virus) early in her freshman year of high school. Everyone predicted a future of impaired motor function and limited possibilities for her. But not Riley. By the time she was a sophomore, she proved just how wrong they were. And just how much of a typical 16-year-old she could be. She was surrounded by caring friends, had a wonderful boyfriend, and drove her own car. Atypically, she worked after school at the Town Square Animal Hospital and Pet Resort. Why? Because animals were her passion. One night in late November of 2011, as she was following some of her friends on Facebook, she did what she usually did. She clicked onto the page of the local kill shelter, glancing at the photos of the dogs, many with comments such as "cute" and "I’d love to take this one home" underneath them. Scrolling further, she was suddenly brought up short. Staring out at her with a long, sad face and long, droopy ears was an extremely thin Treeing Walker coonhound with no comments under his photo at all. His name was Jethro. And something deep inside Riley responded. She promptly burst into tears because, as she herself explained, “he looked so sad, and no one felt his sadness.” When she saw that he was scheduled to be euthanized in two days, her heart sank. She quickly printed out his picture and took the paper Jethro to bed with her. By the following afternoon, she had made up her mind. She told her mother that she wanted to save Jethro’s life. Her mother was stunned. They already owned two poodles. Why would her young daughter who loved two beautiful poodles suddenly want to save the life of an old, ugly and dying coonhound? But Riley was adamant. She could neither be swayed nor moved. This was what she wanted to -- needed to -- do. In the end, her mother grudgingly relented. But her permission came with three rules. One. If they did get Jethro out in time, Riley would have take him to daycare at the animal hospital with her every day. Two. At home, he would have to stay in a crate. Three -- and the hardest for Riley to accept – she had one month to rehome him or he would be returned to the shelter. To the agitated teen, all this meant was a stay of execution, a temporary reprieve for this hapless dog. And she was determined to do better than that. But for the moment, there was no time to waste. And so she quickly agreed to her mother’s terms. They drove to the shelter, arriving exactly ten minutes before closing time. And those ten minutes literally saved Jethro’s life. They were taken back to the kennels and neither of them was prepared for what they saw. The coonhound was scarcely more than skin and bones and too weak to stand or walk. A tearful Riley ran to him, and the ailing dog had just enough strength to lift his head and lick her face. Riley immediately took this as a sign. She was doing the right thing. And Jethro knew it too. As her mother signed all the necessary papers, they were told that prior to his leaving the shelter, Jethro would have to be neutered. They were also warned that because of his age and poor health, it was doubtful that he would even survive the surgery. After worrying about him the entire next day, Riley and her mother drove up to the vet’s office just in time to see a dog catcher dragging Jethro away. Riley jumped out of the car, picked up the scrawny, half-sedated dog and held him like a baby while the shelter was contacted. When Jethro was finally released into her safekeeping, an elated Riley exclaimed, “As I clung to my beautiful, alive, and slightly smelly, first foster dog, I was the happiest girl ever!” At home, both toy poodles seemed to understand what was happening, and after a few curious sniffs at Jethro and a few half-hearted barks at Riley, the pair headed to her bedroom. Next to her own bed was a crate filled with warm, cozy blankets and a wonderful new dog bed. Just for Jethro. That night, Riley kept a watchful eye over the sleeping dog she had rescued. “I believe and always will,” she later said, “that Jethro knew he was finally safe from harm. The look in his eyes that first night hasn’t changed in 2 years. It’s a look of pure happiness and relief.” But ever conscious of her mother’s third rule, she kept her word and started Googling various coonhound and senior dog rescue groups. “Hi,” she wrote again and again. “My name is Elisabeth Spain. I’m 16 and I’ve saved a coonhound from being put down in Daviess County, KY. His name is Jethro. He’s 10 years old and what a wonderful dog he is. He loves to play ball and chase. He’s microchipped, neutered and up-to-date on his shots. I would love to keep him, but my mother has given me a month to either rehome him or find a rescue for him. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME? Transportation is not a problem. Thank you for any help. Love, Elisabeth and Jethro.” For every hopeful email she sent out, every answer she received was discouragingly the same. None of the organizations could take Jethro. They were simply too full. Undeterred, she cast her net wider until finally, her efforts were rewarded. Coonhound Companions replied that although they themselves couldn't take him, they would help her rehome Jethro within the month. And they did. They located a suitable adopter in Spring, Texas and arranged for Jethro’s transportation there. With mixed emotions, Riley relinquished the dog she had only just gotten to know, convincing herself that it was best for Jethro and that she had kept her promise to her mother. But, in reality, it didn’t make letting him go any easier. Now all that remained of her own coonhound companion was his crate, his dog bed and her printed picture of him. Within 24 hours of arriving at his new home, however, Jethro escaped through the fence and disappeared. Thanks to Facebook, people in the town were alerted to the situation, prompting them to put up posters everywhere and search the shelters. He was found 4 days later. It seems he had wandered into an open garage only blocks from his adoptive home and was taken in by the owner. At first the man had considered keeping him, but then changed his mind. He brought Jethro to the local shelter, where he was immediately recognized as the missing dog in the posters. Unfortunately, though, when Jethro was returned to his adoptive home, some family issues arose that jeopardized his safety, and Coonhound Companions quickly stepped in. Riley, meanwhile, had spent the entire week without Jethro in utter misery. She realized how attached she had become to him and how desperately she missed him. When she heard that he couldn’t stay in his new home, she couldn’t have been happier or more relieved. What were the chances, she wondered, what were the chances. Acknowledging the depth of their daughter’s feelings for the dog she had rescued, her parents agreed that Jethro could return to Owensboro. He would stay with Riley’s father, who lived close enough for Riley to visit him. For Riley, it wasn’t a perfect solution, but it was a solution. Her beloved Jethro would be coming home! But his homecoming would prove anything but simple. It was like a page torn from an old movie script – part comedy of errors, part Ripley’s Believe It or Not. It began with Coonhound Companions arranging for Jethro to be surrendered to the Houston County Hearts Hound Rescue. While he was there, he underwent some much-needed dental surgery, paid by the Coonhound Companions "Long Ears Alive!" fund. Through Pilots ‘N Paws, he was flown to Little Rock, AK, where he was to be driven to Jonesboro for the night. Another pilot was to fly to Jonesboro from his home in Missouri to take Jethro to Kentucky Dam, where Riley and her father had agreed to meet them. When the driver couldn’t make the trip to Little Rock, the original pilots flew Jethro on a circuitous route through several counties, picking up various bloodhound rescues along the way, until they finally reached Jonesboro. The next day, the plane in Missouri that had been reserved to fly to Jonesboro and pick up Jethro wasn't at the airstrip. The previous renter hadn’t returned it and no one knew where it was. When the plane eventually did show up, mechanical problems grounded it for days. Ultimately, the stranded pilot, sympathetic to the plight of the waiting dog and the anxious teenager, got in his car, and drove to Jonesboro himself. He picked up Jethro and drove all the way to Kentucky Dam, where the exhausted dog was reunited with an equally exhausted, but elated Riley. (While all of this had been happening to Jethro, young Riley had had a cancerous lesion removed from behind one ear.) Everything was forgotten though, when the “forever mommy” as Riley called herself wrapped her arms around her skinny, shaking hound and vowed to never let him out of her sight again. Rather than going home with her father, she returned to her mother’s house. And the slow but steady rehabilitation and revitilization of Jethro began. He gradually started putting on weight, pleasantly filling out his gaunt, long-legged frame. He became Riley’s constant and adoring companion, one who lived to love and be loved. Riley soon discovered that the loyal and lovable Jethro also loved going for car rides and playing fetch. She learned how affectionate he was with other people and how good he was with other dogs. She found he loved to snuggle, to get his tummy rubbed and to watch TV with her. And each time she looked at him, she saw his gentle soul reflected in his eyes. These were the best of times for the young girl and her dog, but punctuating them would also be the worst of times. Because, as the months passed, with each step forward, Jethro took another step back. He bounced physically from one health crisis to another (including the drainage of infected fatty tumors, irritable bowel disease and pancreatitis) and his doting, forever mom bounced emotionally with him. Every time the aging dog was hospitalized, the vet recommended that he be euthanized. But Riley wouldn’t agree and Jethro wouldn’t succumb. He rallied each time, just in time to get sick again. But neither girl nor dog gave up or gave in. United by bonds stronger even than love, they fought together and beat the odds together. Tending to Jethro and seeing him improve under her care gave Riley an idea. Why couldn’t she look after other dogs the same way? At the animal hospital, she watched sick and injured animals coming and going all the time. And she knew that only one kind of animal interested her: the ill and unwanted. Like her beloved Jethro. With her mother’s permission, she became a foster for a local rescue called Saving Paws Animal Rescue of Kentucky (S.P.A.R.K.Y.). She fostered both puppies and kittens -- some for just a weekend, some for longer, and some for whom she herself found adoptive homes. Then in the spring of 2012, she adopted (a decision she laughingly attributed to Jethro) a black coonhound/lab mix puppy. Her name was Lexi. She was part of a litter dropped on the side of the road and brought, sick and dehydrated, to S.P.A.R.K.Y. Riley and several other volunteers, together with a vet, nursed them all back to health. While the rest of the litter was adopted, Lexi remained the Riley and her family. And of course, Jethro, who couldn't have been happier.
“She’s brought out the puppy in this old man,” said Riley. “Since she’s been here, Jethro hasn't been in the hospital once. Its amazing! Lexi is also a blood donor at the animal hospital and Jethro encourages both of us all the way. He’s like our own little mascot.” When Riley decided to work at her cousin's veterinary clinic, faithful Jethro accompanied her there. Today, Jethro either cuddles with Riley in her bedroom or camps out in the backyard, depending on his mood. And the bond they share has only grown stronger with time. Riley is still the compassionate teenager who gave her heart to an ailing and aging dog. And Jethro is still the gentle survivor of a thousand scars who holds Riley’s young heart in his large, loving paws. Article written by Nomi Berger. Nomi is the bestselling author of seven novels and one work of non-fiction. She lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with her first pet -- and the love of her life -- her adopted morkie, Shadow. Nomi now devotes all of her time volunteering her writing skills to animal rescue organizations both in Canada and the USA. By Officer Katie Zaimis There she was, excitedly leaning against the door of her cage at the animal shelter. With trusting brown eyes, a white-tipped tail, and those floppy, spotted ears, she was the most adorable puppy I had ever seen. I had seen her for the first time a few nights prior in the hallway of the police station, on an early morning after my shift. I had not been able to forget about the 8-week-old abuse victim ever since. The officers who witnessed the incident had apparently seized the pit bull/beagle mix from her owner, and the puppy was going to be kept at the shelter until the court hearing. I didn’t know yet if she would be put up for adoption or returned to her owner, but I knew how much I wanted to keep her. My husband Alex and I both love dogs, but we live in a small townhome without an accessible backyard. We had previously agreed that we wanted at least one dog but had decided to wait until we moved into a larger home. Now, a sweet little face and wagging tail were quickly convincing me to reconsider. Over the next month, I visited the puppy almost every day. I brought her treats and toys, clipped her nails, and took her for walks. Her name at the time was “Princess,” but she had not been treated as one. I decided that I wanted to name her Seven of Nine after a character from Star Trek: Voyager (the character on the show was also “rescued!”) Animals are a special kind of victim—they can’t tell anyone that they are hurting, or seek help for themselves. It was a stressful month knowing that Seven might eventually have to go back to her owner. She would not likely get another chance to be saved. When the court hearing came around, I was relieved to find out that the owner had decided to sign the puppy over to the county. I went to the shelter and filled out the adoption paperwork that same day. Seven was finally ours, and would have a loving home for the rest of her life. Having had zero experience at raising puppies, I relied heavily on advice from friends and Internet research. One thing I never expected was the constant biting during the teething process. I came to realize that a dog’s natural reaction to touch is defensive, and they need to be taught to view humans as non-threatening. This must have been especially difficult for a pup already injured by a human at such a young age. Seven used to latch onto hands, arms, shoelaces, pants legs—pretty much anything that she could sink her razor sharp puppy teeth into. With a lot of time, patience, and the occasional band-aid, we slowly taught Seven bite inhibition. Ignoring bad behavior and praising good behavior goes a long way when training a pup. I would yelp like a puppy and let my arm go limp if she bit me, and turn my head away and ignore her if she was pulling at my pant leg or shoelace. We gave her chew toys, Nylabones, a Kong ball (I like to freeze it with peanut butter inside), and even pieces of ice. I used to pet her while feeding her treats so that she was too distracted to start chewing on my hands. It took time, but this type of training proved to be extremely effective and resulted in a much gentler puppy! House training is another challenge, even more so when it is raining outside. Seven hates the rain so much that we got her a tiny raincoat for when she needs to go out during inclement weather. I took her for a walk one day to allow her to do her business, when she suddenly decided she did not want to walk home. I found myself walking down the side of the road holding a puppy in a raincoat, and an umbrella over both of us. I could not imagine what passersby must have been thinking! Anyone who has ever trained a hound knows how willful they can be. Training is a challenge, but it can be very rewarding if done properly. Hound breeds are extremely intelligent and can learn new things very quickly. At five months, Seven already had a decent repertoire of tricks memorized. She learned how to sit, shake hands, high five, and low crawl. If I told her to “twist” she would spin around in a circle. Our latest trick is my favorite—I point my finger at her and say “bang bang!” and she rolls onto her back with her paws in the air. At six months old, Seven has started baying and chasing squirrels. Her beagle side is definitely asserting itself. Our walks require a bit of patience since she wants to investigate everything along the way. She seems to enjoy tracking and sniffs the ground with her nose down, tail up. She began doing this while she was still at the shelter, but her senses seem to have developed more now. She is a hunting dog at heart, but such a loyal and wonderful companion. Seven has a ton of energy and we make sure she gets plenty of exercise to match it. She runs with larger dogs at the park and gets several walks a day. She seems to operate in short bursts—she will run and play for an hour, but then nap for the rest of the afternoon. We play fetch games with her squeaky ball and Alex throws Frisbees with her at the dog park. Once she has had her exercise, Seven loves to be held and prefers to use any nearby human as a pillow. She even sleeps in our bed at night.
For all the challenges of owning a puppy, the rewards are tenfold. We look forward to a lifetime of adventures with our sweet Seven of Nine! Editor's Note: Beagles are "cousins" to coonhounds and foxhounds and we thought our readers would enjoy reading this engaging first-person account and excellent photographs! Our organization does encourage adoption of hound mixes. by Emily S. Plishner Coyotes are becoming increasingly common throughout North America, and have been implicated in attacks on both pets and people. While a single coyote is unlikely to attack a dog as big as a coonhound or foxhound for food, they will attack for territorial reasons, or to protect a recent kill, or to protect their young. They will also run a hound off carrion or a treed coon. And hounds and coyotes are close enough kin to interbreed, so a hound or coyote bitch in heat can provoke aggressive behavior between males of either species vying for her attention. Coyote hunters often use foxhounds to trail coyotes, and sometimes use coonhounds as well. Some hounds will hunt coyotes instinctively, others fear them instinctively, but most coonhounds and foxhounds are afraid of coyotes only at night. One of my hounds isn’t the least bit afraid of coyotes and sings to them when he hears them at night to warn them off. My other hound will come running back to me if we are out coon hunting at night and he encounters a coyote--unless his larger, louder, and braver brother is there to protect him. While most coonhounds and foxhounds can take an individual coyote if it comes to an out-and-out fight, coyotes usually travel in small packs, and can be quite crafty about luring a hound into a situation where it will be outnumbered. And, coyotes in some parts of the continent are considerably larger than others--the coyotes in the northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada are much bigger than those out west, with scientists claiming they have some wolf DNA in the mix. Coon hunters frequently run into coyotes in the woods at night. The coyotes will sometimes come into coonhounds barking up a tree in order to steal their quarry, and can be quite aggressive about it. Coyotes are much bolder at night than during the day. At night, the best defense is light. If you have a flashlight, shine it right in the coyote's eyes. If you are at home, switch on all the lights in the yard if you hear coyotes yipping nearby. My hounds wear collars with bright LED lights at night. Each dog has a different color light on. That tends to keep the coyotes at a distance, and helps passing cars see them too. The LEDs cost around $20 each and are available at hunting supply stores. They slip right on the dog's existing collar. Most have settings for continuous or flashing lights. I usually keep them on flashing because the batteries last longer that way. Coyotes are much less brave during the day. If a coyote comes at you or your dog during the day, shout at it and throw the nearest large stick or rock toward it. In most cases, it will run off. If it doesn't run off, it is probably guarding its young (most common in early summer) or a large meal stashed nearby. Retreat slowly without looking away. Occasionally, a coyote will actually bite a hound. Be very careful about reaching in to intervene. Usually, your best bet is to grab a convenient branch as a weapon--one long enough to keep you out of biting range. Thrash at the coyote with the stick. With luck, the coyote will clamp onto the stick momentarily giving your dog a chance to get away. If you are carrying firearms, be very circumspect about firing into a fight--its very easy to hit the wrong animal. Coyote hunters with hounds prefer to avoid shooting at anything less than point blank.
Coyotes usually travel in packs. They are smart enough to send out scouts. If you see one coyote, there are probably others nearby. Sometimes coyotes will lure a dog back to the pack and overwhelming force. Do NOT let your pet hound chase any coyote. Coyotes are tough! Coyotes tend to live in underground burrows, usually with multiple entrances and exits. There will often be bones scattered about outside the burrow left over from previous meals. Coyote dung looks like that of a medium-size dog, but is usually packed with fur remnants, typically cottontail rabbits or other small mammals. I’ve found coyote dens on a college campus and other places surprisingly near frequent human activity. Be alert for signs of coyotes in the area where you are walking. While coyotes generally view hounds as competitors or threats, be aware that much smaller dogs will be viewed as meals. If you also have small dogs in your home, make sure that they are indoors or well attended when outdoors if you have coyotes in your area. Even in urban areas, letting your small dog out for one last potty pass at night can be fatal, particularly if you live near one of the creek beds that coyotes use as nighttime highways. By Emily Plishner One type of flea comb Most pet hounds will not need flea medications. Hounds have short coats, and if they only pick up a few fleas, you can usually see them and pick them off by hand. However, most vets sell flea preventives, recommend them, and profit from selling them. In some warm climates, they may be necessary. Also, if you keep a large pack of hounds, don’t look each individual hound over frequently, bring them to places where a lot of dogs congregate like shows, dog parks, or veterinary offices, or live in a climate that doesn’t get below freezing often, you may find these prevention products are worthwhile, with caution. Also, hunting hounds that come in contact with freshly killed wildlife are very susceptible to fleas leaving kills that are beginning to cool off. Even though my two redbones do go to dog parks, field trials, etc., they rarely have fleas. If I notice them scratching, or I get a flea bite myself, the first thing I do is go over them with a flea comb. These are fine-toothed combs available at any pet supply store for a few bucks. Some are plastic, some metal. Fleas are most likely to congregate around the anus and genitals, under the collar, in folds of skin, and on the belly. Check the entire dog for fleas by running the comb through the fur. Disturbed fleas are apt to hop — sometimes several feet, so do this outside or in a confined area, like the bathroom. If you can handle the comb with a thumb free to trap the flea against the comb’s teeth, it is less likely to get away. Fleas have hard shells which make them difficult to kill. I crush them against a hard surface with the flat side of a fingernail or cut them with a knife against a hard surface. Some people just toss them into a bucket of sudsy water, then flush them down the toilet. Check the dog several days in a row, then check again two weeks later—flea eggs take about two weeks to hatch out. In addition to live fleas, the comb is apt to scrape loose flea droppings and flakes of dry dog skin. Flea droppings are brown or black, about the size of pepper flakes. There may be flea eggs mixed in with these, so makes sure you clean these off the floor and comb when done. Combing fleas from a hound The itchy reaction to flea bites is allergic, so if you are having trouble getting the irritated area around flea bites to heal, either on you or the dog, sometimes an antihistamine dose can jump start the process. Over-the-counter antihistamines such as Benadryl (generic name: diphenhydramine) are cheap and readily available at pharmacies for humans. The correct dose for dogs is twice the correct dose for humans. The capsules come in 25 mg. or 50 mg. doses. For dogs, 1 mg./lb. every four hours is the usual dose. Round up—if the dog weighs 60 lbs., its O.K. to give it 75 mg. of diphenhydramine. The only side effects are drowsiness and a slight increase in thirst. Some dogs are sensitive to flea preventives. Treeing Walkers and other hounds with large white patches and pink skin, pads, or noses tend to have more skin sensitivities to everything than those with darker coats and pads. Beyond fleas, other things that may cause rashes and irritations: road salt, general wear and tear from ice or rough surfaces such as concrete sidewalks, weeds, cleaning chemicals, fire retardants in bedding, pine needles, food allergies, etc. Any hound can have reactions to flea preventives, which are usually nerve toxins. Most hounds are able to tolerate the amount of nerve toxin needed to bump off fleas, but a dog with organ damage or an otherwise compromised immune system may be less tolerant. For topical applications, reactions may include fur loss and redness in the area of application. Humans can have reactions to topical flea meds on dogs as well, so think twice before using these on hounds that will be in contact with small children, pregnant women, the elderly, and humans with compromised immune systems. Products that are ingested by the dog may be a better choice in such homes. More severe cases of bad reactions to flea prevention meds or flea remedies (powders, dips, spays, oral medications) can result in symptoms of liver or nerve damage, including shaking or palsies, obsessive licking or scratching, severe lethargy, and sudden weight loss. Any dog showing those symptoms should be taken to the vet immediately. If the flea product was topical, the dog should be wiped off with a damp cloth as soon as the bad reaction is noticed. Hounds sensitive to flea preparations can often use herbal flea collars available at health food stores. Many, but not all, of these are based on the herb pennyroyal, a member of the mint family. These are only somewhat effective, and make the dog smell like toothpaste. However, pennyroyal can be a heart stimulant, so don’t use one of these on a dog with heart issues or a dog that is hyperactive to begin with. Other essential oils used in herbal flea collars include citrus oils, cedar oil, lavender oil, and eucalyptus oil. You can find recipes for homemade herbal flea collars online. Ingested flea meds and poor quality food can also cause skin irritations. The most common food allergy in dogs is corn, which is used as a filler in most of the cheaper brands of dog food. All dog food sold in the U.S. is labeled with the ingredients in order of importance. If corn is among the first few ingredients listed, you may be better off switching to a different brand. The first few ingredients listed should all be animal-based — meat and meat by-products. Often times there are locally produced brands that are fairly cheap and use minimal corn and other grains. Itchy Walker Hound (Mira Images) The white furred/pink skinned hounds tend to be more sensitive to cleaning chemicals, fragrances, and dry skin from excessive bathing. Any of those could trigger a skin problem. If the dog is showing symptoms, check its environment for potential irritants and give the dog one wipe down with a damp cloth to remove the potential contact-irritant, then give it some time to recover. You don't want to be switching foods constantly because you'll never figure out what food is the issue unless you are very systematic about it. Change one thing at a time at several week intervals. On the whole, coonhounds and foxhounds are pretty healthy and can tolerate most foods pretty well, but all the commercial foods are full of foreign-made nutritional supplements that vary in quality over time. A high quality food can have a bad batch and a cheap food can be just fine--but none of them remain consistently formulated. Disclaimer: The publisher is not a veterinarian, and these are based on her own experiences By Beth Gyorgy I am the very proud owner of two foxhounds, Corporal and Walden, and I help rescue foxhounds from shelters around the South. I rode with a mounted foxhunt in Virginia for eight years. Six of the hunt’s litters were born at my place. I adopted one of the hunt’s retiring hounds, Corporal. My other foxhound, Walden, was the runt from one of their litters, and never hunted. If you are considering adopting a foxhound, you will probably want to know about the breed, and also about some quirks specific to hounds that have hunted. Not all hunting foxhounds hunt foxes with a mounted hunt—some are used for hunting foxes on foot, or coyotes, or, where it’s allowed, deer. What I have to say about hunting hounds comes from my experience hunting on horseback following a pack of formally trained hounds in the traditional organized sport you’ve seen pictures of. Hounds can be wonderful companions, very affectionate and amusing. They are particularly emotional—it’s easy to hurt their feelings. Many are opinionated. They may be couch potatoes for extended periods of time, punctuated by bursts of energy. Until taught otherwise, they are natural counter surfers. I’ve been around when some miscreants “hunted” down a hunt’s Christmas feast and wiped it out! Others I know ate entire lasagna that had been grabbed off the kitchen counter. They are also very hardy. I have had vets tell me that hounds can physically withstand medical conditions that would kill another breed of dog. If hunting hounds are scared or unruly it is not because they have hunted. While a few hunting hounds are poorly socialized and may have been ignored or mistreated, most individual hunters and the majority of mounted foxhunts’ huntsmen love their hounds and take excellent care of them. The hunters and huntsmen who abuse their hounds are in the distinct minority. In my experience of mounted hunts’ foxhounds, the dogs are personable and extremely well trained. And here in the mountains of rural Virginia I personally know several individual hunters who hunt several hounds, including foxhounds. Their dogs are in beautiful shape and very friendly. Foxhounds are very attuned to people, as anyone who has worked and/or hunted with a foxhunting pack knows. The leader of the pack is the huntsman, who leads the hounds while out hunting and who gives the hounds their orders and provides discipline and direction using a series of voice commands and calls on the hunting horn. Even the poorly socialized hounds that occasionally make their way into pet homes can usually be trained, with enough patience and discipline, and blossom as pets. Rescues and shelters will already have begun this process of socialization but it still requires fine-tuning when the dogs are adopted and enter a home. When meeting a hound with an unknown temperament for the first time, be patient. The hound will usually take some time learning to trust you. Just in case it has had an abusive past, don’t make any fast, threatening movements; don’t make any attempt to pat or touch the hound’s head or otherwise move at them from above. Some hounds are “head-shy,” meaning they aren’t used to being patted on the head, either because they were abused or it’s just a new experience. Squat down and let the hound approach you, avoid eye contact initially, and stick your hand out for the hound to sniff. Be extra-gentle and considerate of the hound. Observe how it reacts carefully, and try to understand why he or she is reacting the way it is and what experiences may have caused this. Foxhounds should have exercise as often as possible. I run with my two foxhounds every day. I call them my pace cars and they are quite beautiful when they run. They also get exercise on our small farm. Exercise is very important for these dogs, who often run long distances while hunting—in my hunt hound’s case, 30 or more miles every day he hunted. As far as retired hunting foxhounds go, I cannot stress it enough: Hounds must have respect for their owner (pack leader). Just like a child, they will not obey rules if they are not provided with discipline and structure. This takes consistency, of course, and sometimes some guts. With my retired hunting foxhound, a male who weighs 90 pounds, I had a confrontation early on. He tested my resolve. In response, I got him down on his side and sat on him. I stayed alert for any attempt to bite and removed the threat, closing his mouth tightly, and continued sitting on him until he gave in. Now he knows There are certainly other ways to reinforce rules, which any knowledgeable shelter director or good dog trainer would know, but this was the method I used. I had seen the director of the shelter I volunteer at use it and it worked for her. To make sure that he remembers that I am boss, I have him wait for about 30 seconds every night before I allow him to go up the stairs to his crate for the night. I convey the message with a foxhunting voice command, “Get behind,” then I say “okay” and up he goes. In foxhunting, this is one of the voice commands that the huntsman uses to teach the hound that the huntsman is the leader. Neither of my foxhounds has ever threatened to bite—though they have growled a few times—nor have I ever known of any foxhounds actually biting someone. The director of the animal shelter where I volunteer has advised me not to reprimand any dog for growling, because a growling dog is warning you before biting, and you don’t want it to skip that step when it is scared or displeased. THESE ARE SOME OF THE MALE FOXHOUNDS from a pack of about 40 hounds hunted by the central Virginia foxhunt from which Corporal retired (he’s the third hound from the left in the front). Each kennel run (there are four) has a bench which provides a resting area up off the kennel floor. After a hunt the hounds pile on top of one another on the bench and fall sound asleep.
A word on hunting commands for foxhounds. The huntsman of the hunt that I rode with gave commands in a gruff, strong voice. He sometimes gave them rather arbitrarily just to reinforce discipline and the pecking order of the pack. The actual words used vary among huntsmen, but the ones our huntsman used include: Leave it. This tells the hound to stop investigating whatever he is interested in at the moment, usually something he is sniffing or trying to pick up with his mouth. Get behind. (Given while pushing your body toward the hound.) This tells the hound to step back (from the gate, stairs, door, etc.), and let the huntsman lead the way. Hold back. This tells the hound to stop, or wait for the huntsman to catch up when the dog is out front. Kennel up. This tells the hound to get in its crate, a vehicle, or other enclosed space. Foxhounds do well with another dog/pack member who will show the hound the ropes in his or her new home and provide a good role model. As puppies, hounds are taught how to hunt with the pack by being coupled (their collars are connected with a link between them) to a more experienced hound. New hound owners can take advantage of this. The new foxhound in the family will quite naturally follow the cues from the dogs currently in the household. Unfortunately, the foxhound will be just as eager to imitate the existing pack’s bad habits as their good habits, so watch closely and intervene before the foxhound mimics your long-time dogs’ annoying quirks! If your new foxhound is not yet house trained, a long-time resident can make that task almost automatic. I don’t even remember house-training either of my foxhounds. They each joined our existing pack and learned very quickly. They are naturally clean in their home environment and this helps in their training. My retired hunting foxhound was almost instantaneously crate-trained, too. Like so many dogs, he loves the close, cozy, safe environment of a crate. Fences are a necessity. Most hounds will leave any non-fenced area, wandering off, chasing a deer, or picking up another line of scent that extends out beyond the yard. I have an invisible fence which both of my hounds respect. I do check on them often, even with them behind this fence. I don’t want one of them stolen by a deer hunter, especially during hunting season. And I never leave them in the fenced area all day while I am occupied inside, which is a recipe for disaster. Also, invisible fences don’t keep out wild animals or neighbors’ pets. I also will not let my retired foxhound run loose, for his own safety. I would worry about him getting hit on the road, lost, or shot. We live in a rural area where it is legal to shoot any dog molesting livestock. And there’s always the chance that some no-good could take a shot illegally Leashes are a must. If my retired foxhound gets on a line of scent while we’re running I stop running immediately. He’s quite large so I have had instances where I have had to let go of the leash because I am going to have a crash or I’ve already tumbled to the ground. I’ve learned to hold on tight, walk, and sometimes a command in a gruff, loud voice will slow the hound down or break him or her off the scent. My foxhound responds to the words, “leave it,” because if he started chasing deer out hunting that’s what he heard. And it works! Speaking of leashes, a really handy training technique using one is called “umbilical cord” training. A new foxhound owner brings the hound home and keeps the leash on the hound and hooked to the owner himself or herself or, at a minimum within grabbing range. This should be done for a week or so. It allows the owner to correct the hound immediately when the hound does something wrong. And a word on cats. It has been my experience and that of our county shelter director that not all hounds will chase and/or harm or kill cats. Here, again, the owner must be the boss. The owner needs to show the hound that the cat belongs to the owner; the cat is the owner’s “possession.” The leash worn by the hound for a while after it’s been brought to its new home (and when it is first introduced to the cat) can be grabbed quickly and used to “check” him or her (a sudden, short tug, not dragging the dog away from the cat). Voice is very important here—gruff, loud, insistent. For a good while, watch the situation until you trust there is a decent chance that a relative peace between the animals exists. My foxhounds are the pride and joy of my life. I fell in love with the breed when I was foxhunting and continue to rescue foxhounds from kill shelters in the South and to find homes for foxhounds retiring from my previous foxhunt. Adopting a foxhound has been one of my life’s most rewarding experiences. No doubt it could be the same for anyone adopting one of these wonderful creatures. ________________________________________________________
by Gates Murchie This past October, we visited our son, Colin, and his family (Molly and Miles) in the Washington, D.C. area. Our grandson’s first birthday provided the opportunity, and off we went. Though we usually impose on them in their house, this trip was different. Molly’s parents drove up from Texas for the party and had dibs on the spare bedroom. Up until now, our Black and Tan, Easy, stayed with friends when we traveled. This time, we grabbed the chance to expand Easy’s horizons to include hotel life in the “big city.” Step 1: find a “pet-friendly” hotel. Google provided a list of options and I began the search. As it turns out, it isn’t as easy as I thought. Although a number of hotel chains say they are “pet friendly”, it doesn’t necessarily mean “pet welcoming.” Many limit the pet size to 50 pounds or less (that would not be Easy!). Others impose significant fees for bringing your loved one on a per-stay or per day basis. It seemed we were destined to be 20+ miles away from the family and residing in a “third tier” establishment at “first tier” rates. That is until my son mentioned the Kimpton Hotels. I looked and we were in the 3-4 star hotel category. Gloom filled the air. Then I found the Kimpton Helix hotel. A few short blocks from Dupont Circle (pix can be downloaded here) and 200 yards from Logan Circle, the 3-star hotel was in the middle of shops, attractions and dining and a mere 5 miles from my son’s house. The gloom thickened as I imagined the cost. I called anyway and the cheerful reservation person quickly ascertained my eligibility for discounts, offering a rate competitive with the pet-loaded rates at the other hotels. OK, now what can go wrong? Oh, yeah, the dog. I asked about bringing Easy. She said, “How big is he?” Expecting a fee adder, I sighed and said, “About 75-80 pounds.” Her response, “Oh, he’ll need a big bed. Does he want his own bowls?” What? He’s welcome! You’ll provide a bed and bowls? What’s his favorite treat? You’ve never taken reservations for a coonhound before and you’re excited! Free wine every evening? Okay, we’ll be there. So now, the trip begins in earnest. Easy is in the back of the Subaroooooo and we are off. Only, he thinks we are going to nearby Otsiningo Park to tree squirrels and begins baying as we leave the driveway. Thirty miles later, he realizes his error and we now know why they have hound boxes in THE BACK of pickup trucks. The next 3 hours go by uneventfully and we pause at a Pennsylvania rest stop for a picnic lunch. Not just A rest stop, but THE BEST rest stop EVER. Why, you ask? Because the rest stop attendants have been feeding the squirrels around the trees in the dog walking area!!!! Hooray!!!!! Anyway, this recreational interlude gets even better when a second hound shows up to join the chorus. Back in the car and time for a nap. Frankie and EasyFrankie is my son’s rescue dog and he is a North American LBD (Little Brown Dog). They proceed to light up the neighborhood with barking and bawling as they chase squirrels in the yard and on a walk. City squirrels are a little too sassy for Easy and he quickly teaches them that running 3 feet up a tree is not far enough to avoid a near-death experience at the mouth of a coonhound. This lesson would be repeated numerous times during our visit, in the yards parks, streets, and outdoor cafes of the D.C. area. Now, it is late and time for the hotel…we arrive, 15 hours into our day and looking a bit bedraggled. We are met with an on-going full-blown party and a moment of wondering, “What happens next?” A hearty greeting and a pat for Easy and now, we face navigating the crowd and ….. an elevator. Luckily, for the uninitiated, a B&T coonhound looks enough like a Rottweiler that navigating the crowd quickly resolves itself. This would also prove true when walking the city streets. People respect your personal space when part of it is occupied by a serious dog. Back to the elevator. Easy does not like new surfaces or wiggly floors. The vet’s moving table and scale are not popular places. Anyway, the elevator opens and two people get in, not realizing we are getting on, too. They look nervous and Easy freezes. Undeterred, I tug and Candy scoops and he is in. This was his one and only problem with the elevator. All further trips went without a hitch, although I can only imagine what went through his mind. “OK. There was this party and these people and we got into the little room and then the door closed and then it opened and they were gone and then we went to bed and got into the little room and the door closed and it opened and different people were there.” (I imagine Easy thinks in run-on sentences.) A quick call and Easy’s very comfy bed and bowls show up at the (very nice) room and our first night begins. No issues except that he stares at the dog in the floor to ceiling mirrors and tries to look behind them. The next morning at 7, it is time for the a.m. walk. We travel up to Logan Circle and quickly accomplish the mission… and discover that the circle and its trees are loaded with squirrels in desperate need of a fitness program. The new regime is announced with great gusto and much fanfare. Unfortunately, the ceremonies serve to wake those unfortunates who spend the night sleeping at the circle. There is much grumbling and rustling of plastic. I feel bad about this and resolve to avoid repeating it the next day, if possible. Their lives are difficult enough (pic can be downloaded here). Breakfast outdoors at Caribou Coffee is another new experience for Mr. E. Coonhound. Still exhibiting exemplary behavior, he sits under the table and examines the passing parade with great interest. Different smells from different cultures, different vehicles and different foods all provide the same amusement as a morning paper … Until he discovers pigeons. They act like squirrels, make squirrel noises, flutter about and are annoying. A surprise bawl sets things aright and gives the other patrons something to remember. The rest of the visit is equally wonderful, the birthday party a great success and the return trip satisfying. Easy took many more elevator rides, met many more people and showed us that he is a traveler of great sophistication. And that you can’t take the country out of the dog. "Easy's dreams after his visit to the nation's capital swells his head." That's one funny looking raccoon! |
The Coonie Team
Marybeth Brown Archives
April 2021
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