
I had made arrangements to go to Pet Smart to adopt a lab puppy who was being surrendered by the owners. The owners must have had second thoughts about it as they never showed up. While I was there, I saw a lab mix dog I thought my husband might like but i was not sure, the rescue group asked me what I thought about possibly fostering the dog to see if he would be a good match for us. I decided I would give it a try but he ended up being adopted before I had finished getting all the stuff I needed to bring him home. I guess it was just not meant to be.
As i got ready to leave I heard the foster moms saying that one dog had to go back to the kennel because it didn’t have a foster home. They felt bad because the dog just got off a plane to New Jersey. It seemed so sad! I asked what kind of dog it was and they said - "oh wait you have to see it!" Well, into the store walked not a puppy, but a full grown black and tan coonhound! Not knowing what I was getting into, I took him home. Was my husband ever so suprised to see what was not a puppy get out of the car. I had heard of them before but knew nothing about coonhounds. That day I started my coonhound research. They had him listed as a plott hound, which he is definitely not. He is a black and tan coonhound, he is older, they say about 5, but I think he is more of about 7 or 8 years old.
We were only supposed to foster him for a week, but within that week my family and I fell in love with him and the coonhound breed! We have all been doing all the research we can. They called this one Zain, he didn’t listen, and he seemed to only want to sleep. While watching TV my husband said Duke and he picked up his head and came running over! We asked him, "is your name Duke?" he started wagging his whole body, from that point on he answered to Duke and was very happy we knew his name! He gained 7 lbs and started to actually play. He was on death row in West Virginia in a high kill shelter, he was a stray found just walking around. He came into my home and he never went to the bathroom inside. He has been the perfect southern gent.. I can not see my life ever again without a coonhound. I even love the way he smells!
Here in New Jersey, everyone thinks he is a rottie with long ears! They have no idea what they are missing in New Jersey. I would love to be a part of helping the people here learn more about coonhounds. Duke is the perfect spokes person for coonhounds! He is so docile.. he is good with kittens and children.
I have to protect him, you could do anything to this guy! I will make sure nothing but love is ever done for him!
Susan Staff & Duke