When travelling to judge a national bird dog championship, I saw a sign for the coondog cemetery and I just had to see it! As luck would have it, I got an afternoon off from judging and had some free time to travel to Colbert County, Alabama to the Key Underwood Coondog Cemetary.

Over Labor Day every year, there is a large celebration and bluegrass music festival at the cemetery. I can only imagine how much fun that is! The day I visited was a dreary February day in Alabama. You could hear the rustling of critters in the woods, but no hound song or music in the hills. Yet, the beauty and love exhibited in that memorial showed loud and clear.

We won't find our family pets in the Key Underwood Coondog Cemetary. Dogs must be coondogs (no other breeds allowed) and must be hunting dogs true to their heritage. Yet, every one of the nearly 200 dogs in the cemetery is loved and honored as much or more than any dog you can imagine.

If you want to see artwork, gaze carefully at Troop's memorial. It has a tree and two treeing hounds on it.

Many of the other headstones also have beautiful images of hounds. You can feel the love oozing from even the most simple wooden crosses with hand etched words.

What brought tears to my eyes were the orange hunting collars and tags hanging from the dog's cross. So many people find comfort in holding on to their dogs' collars and their ID tags or licenses long after they are gone. A collar is a very personal item specific to that one special dog.

Stopping by the Key Underwood Coondog Cemetary for a moment of peace in the woods on the mountain top in rural Colbert County, Alabama was well worth it. It was a touching reminder of how important my beloved coonhounds are to their owners, no matter where or what walk of life they come.

I will forever picture those collars resting gently atop gravestones and crosses.

Go to www.coondogcemetary.com if you'd like to see some of the pictures and information about this touching ritual.

By Mary Beth Hall

We are very excited to launch a new poster on Coonhound Companions!  (See our Posters & More page.) The new "Soulmates" poster focuses on the incredible bond between hounds and their owners.   As soon as I saw the pictures on the poster, it brought back memories of my soulmate who died just a few years ago.

Montgomery (left), my black and tan, was truly my once in a lifetime dog, yet I didn't know it till he was gone.  He was never the star, never at the forefront, and never my first pick to take anywhere or do anything.  He was my soulmate.  I talk to his grave, cry when I hear his recordings, and miss him every day.  When I brought him home as a clutzy pup, he didn't cling to me or follow me around.  He sat in the adjoining room and stared at me.  Yet, he grew in to my steady eddie, my rock, my buddy. 

The Weimaraners always stole the show.  Their ribbon box was overflowing.  But, when called upon, Montgomery would put on a solid performance, especially if it was necessary and not superfluous.

The Labs were the party all the time dogs out in the yard.  Yet, Montgomery ruled the yard.  With a glance, he could keep order in the pack and make sure all was okay.

I wonder that hounds don't get passed over at shelters because they don't automatically leap in to your arms and hand over their heart.  Just like my young pup staring at me and evaluating me, I think they hold off for a bit, but oh, when they give in and lean softly against you and gaze deeply in to your eyes with those beautiful hound eyes, its all over! When they decide that you are their "people," they will be your faithful defender, your soulmate, your best buddy, and hands down the best dog you've ever owned.  They will steal your heart and wrap you around their little toe without you ever realizing it.   

They won't necessarily put on a big show or do a victory dance the day they steal your heart.  It'll just simply happen.  You'll see a certain wiseness in their steady gaze.  

Hounds do put on shows, but not over the deep, intense bond they'll share with you.  They aren't the ones bringing big bouquets of flowers and screaming "I love you" a hundred times a day.  They are the steady, reliable beloved companions for us every day of their lives.  The goofy shows they will do for everyone when they feel like pulling a joke or being silly.  A hound in his element can make even the most dour laugh!

I think I need to go give the love of my life a hug.  The big goofy spotted thing has been waiting gently at my side for his turn for attention!

~Mary Beth Hall