Posted on 11/20/2013 10:10:17 PM PST by Usagi_yo
I rescued a basset hound late one Sunday afternoon (2 1/2 weeks ago). He was in the middle of a busy road and cars where honking and driving around him. I pulled over to the side and got out to get him. He almost jumped in my arms when I got close. When I opened the passenger door, he went in without hesitating. He's a beautiful dog, probably young adult (but I'll find out tomorrow from the vet), pure bred.
Now the questions ....
The dog nick name 'stinky' registering as Ulysses. Despite that I've nick named him stinky he doesn't smell, he was very very cleaned and very very well groomed and was wearing a knit sweater. His ears were spotless inside and out and he had no eye gunk, his nails are trimmed. No fleas no ticks and NO TAG.
My sisters say he's abandoned. Being that well groomed with no tags and wearing a sweater. Plus he won't leave my side. I've been to every Vet, Pet store and Grooming places. Nobody knows who's dog it is. I've also walked him on a leash around the area I found him (mixed residential & light industrial). He doesn't lead me to any particular house or area. I've also been to the county animal shelter and checked for chips ... none. I left my name and #, but nobody has called in 2.5 weeks. I don't do flyers because of some previous problems from doing that, but I do check for 'lost dog' flyers but haven't seen one for him.
So, I'm going to keep him. Tomorrow we go to the vet to get checked out, and then chipped. He's adorable and his personality is like he was made for me. He's smart, knows that food comes out of the fridge and even knows that food comes in the driver side window at Duncan Donuts. He won't go out or in a door unless I do, knows all the tricks for leaving them behind and will have none of it, and he wakes me up in the morning by dragging my clothes and sometimes shoes into bed with me, and starts biting me for fleas (hard to describe, it's more nibble nibble nibble), like eating an ear of corn, up and down my arms and legs.
I guess I'm bragging on such a good dog I found, my question to you is:
Do you think he was abandoned?
That’s a Basset/Beagle mix. Double trouble.
But if he’s chosen you, and nobody tries to put up ads to reclaim him, after you put up ‘found dog’ ads, then he’s yours, but you must understand hounds don’t ‘bond’.
They run and chase per their breeding over centuries. You never see Bassets in ancient paintings laying on the floor around the hearth, because they only lay around the fire until it’s time to chase that fox, cat, lynx.
The picture of cute!!
had a basset once...great dog......but oily hound smell is not washed away.....get a fence and never let out unless on leash...they will hunt....enjoy
I had a basset hound named Biscuit. I loved that dog. He had two different color eyes. I had to hold his ears up when he ate so they would stay clean. Hounds do tend to stray because they are scent dogs.
Beautiful pup!
Bassets and beagles... they always have that
“Say WHAT???” look on their face!
Hilarious!
Two things to add: see if there’s a local Basset rescue league in your area and give them a call. They may have been contacted by the original owner.
Second, someone mentioned checking newspaper classifieds, but also check out some of the Internet lost dog sites. Findtoto is one, but there are others. Google to find them, especially ones that may be in the area.
I know the lost dog thing from both sides of the equation. Had a Lab St Bernard mix as a kid who broke a leash being walked as a thunderstorm rolled in. Three days of agony and heartbreak until we found her, courtesy of the person whose yard she had wandered and collapsed into muddy and exhausted, some 15 miles away.
My current dog is a Beagle who was picked up off the street in Charlottesville muddy and starving, by a Beagle rescue league. Wonderful family dog, probably the sweetest and most tolerant disposition of all the other dogs (Labs and Lab mixes) that have blessed my life. She was clearly someone elses dog first, but whether she was abandoned or simply went off on a scent we’ll never know. What I do know is that in the five years or so we’ve had her she’s managed to get loose three times, taking off single mindedly after scents and a real pain to run down. She can move a heck of a lot faster on her four little legs than I can on my longer two.
We have a fenced in quarter acre back yard, but have chipmunks, squirrels, cats, racoons, possums and even a rather exhuberant high jumping deer that make it through, or over, the perimeter. Everytime she goes out it’s a half hour rapidly running around with her nose to the ground oblivious to everthing else around her. So it wouldn’t surprise me if she did run off from a caring owner and made it too far away to be found. But we know the rescue league did good due diligence in trying to find them before giving her to us, and we’re very glad and fortunate to have her.
bttt
The owner, for whatever reason, has not responded to your attempts to find him. It would be likely that, had you brought the dog to the shelter, it would have been euthanized.
Whether deliberate or not, the owner has abandoned the dog allowing you to take ownership of it. I would think that, assuming the previous owner was a dog lover, he would have preferred somebody took it in if he wasn’t able to find it.
Yes, you should take steps to ensure it can’t wonder and always keep it on a leash.
Cute doggie!! The only thing I have to add is that I’ve been told that bassets are big diggers (though yours does look more like a basset-beagle mix). Might want to check that out. If so, your sturdy fence will need to go *down* into the ground as well as reaching skyward. Mr. Basset might have escaped from his original owner by going *under* the fence.
I rescued a Basset Hound, and I miss him to this day. They got on a scent and follow it wherever it leads, and then forget how to get back home.
They may not look it, but they are fast when they want to be.
I would be heartbroken if mine had gotten out of the yard and never came home, and he tried, oh how he tried.
Mine was named Basil, Kin of the Couch. Good luck!
Sounds like he came from heaven! Stop looking and keep him.
I took in a Walker Hound under very similar circumstances. She really, really didn’t want to get out of the car, panic stricken. Didn’t let me out of her sight for weeks, didn’t want to get back into a car for months but loves to go now. Does he do this?
Somebody doted on that dog, loved him dearly, and if he was abandoned it was a very painful thing. Stupid, though with all the no-kill shelters and animal fostering groups around.
I’d say keep looking for a while, guard your heart in case you do encounter his original owner. If you don’t, you’ve done a good deed and already have been rewarded with what sounds like a fantastic companion.
We are on our third bassett, all great dogs with differing personalities, but all loves.
They do tend to be a little stubborn.
Keep food deep back on the counters- despite the little legs, it is amazing how far they can stretch their bodies like an accordian and reach items on the counter. I had just walked in from work one day when I heard the wife scream-and the dog blowing down the hall (they can run fast). He had stolen about a quarter lb piece of chicken, not cooked yet, off the butcher block. He ran it like a bat of hell under our bed- where he knows if he lies right in the center, we can’t reach him. Luckily the chicken was boneless. They smell everything food- my current guy can find the wrapped meat in a bag when we get back from the supermarket.
Take good care of their ears, and give a lot of bellyrubs.
He does sound lost, rather than abandoned, but you’ve done right thing in checking for a chip, leaving your info at the pound, etc..
That he was wearing a sweater and is so friendly probably means he’s been well-cared for, which helps to make him a good pet for where serendipity seems to have taken him—to your household!
We had a basset hound in my early years, and she couldn’t have been more tolerant of us small children—she actually loved the attention.
I have a basset. He’s almost 12. When he gets out, my boys and I have had the honor of chasing him all over the surrounding neighborhoods. He’s like houdini and once he smells something, he’s gone. He probably wasn’t abandoned, there’s just no telling how far from home he really is. They are sweet, stubborn dogs. Great with kids.
I agree with others who urge you to keep looking for the owner. What if a small child is crying herself to sleep every night?
Try Craigslist. There are forums there for lost and found pets. When I lost my dog, I posted it on Craigslist and got a good tip from someone who saw him.
Long story short - A week later I found Shadow. He had been picked up by Animal Control.
He is part Golden, Border Collie, and some sort of Hound. When I walk in the door or squeeze a squeak toy he goes to howling- a lot like a Basset Hound, in fact.
Well, just a follow up after the Vet.
He’s not part Beagle, he’s 100% basset hound. 2.5 years old and great shape and condition.
You done good.
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