By Leslie Lindsay

I really don’t want to wear out this topic, but I think I am on the verge of doing just that.  I love basset hounds.  I love them as much as I love salted carmel mochas from Starbucks, rainy days, and writing.  I love them as much as I love reading and eating carb-laden treats like pumkin bread.  And I love them as much as I love Colbie Caliet and romatic comedies.  I. Love. Basset.  Hounds! 

Sigh…

It’s been a long time coming.  I fell in love with the low-slung, droopy-eared breed when I was about 8 or 10…my grandmother (who recently passed away) sort of introduced me to them by way of her Beagle, “Lil’ Son” (a.k.a Sparky).  Sure, I liked Sparky, but what I liked even more was the basset hound I spied on the calendar at the dollar store at the mall when I was with grandma, “Oh, that looks like Sparky, only with longer ears!”  She set me straight–or long and floppy–and told me it was a basset hound.

Since then, it’s been love. 

For awhile I was thinking I’d get a puppy.  That was the plan, anyway.  We’d get a basset pup come spring of 2012, complete with ears long enough to trip over.  But the more I think about it and the more I hear others warn me what a handful a young puppy can be, well…I’ve been considering a rescue dog instead.  So, I was on www.petfinder.com earlier today and lo  (which is exactly what they are) and behold, I undercovered about 50 million bassets that need homes.  Oh, my!!  Could I adopt them all?!

So, here’s what I want:

A female basset about 3-4 years old, tri-color (but brown ears, very picky about those ears).  A full basset, too–no mixes.   A little girl who is good with human girls…easy-going, good on a leash, follows me around and warms my feet as I write.  She should be even-tempered because I would like her to be a therapy dog.  Stubby legs and a happy disposition is a must.

Here’s my favorite video from the AKC.  I guarentee it will make you giggle!

http://www.akc.org/breeds/basset_hound/video.cfm)

• If you are looking for a rescue dog in the SW ‘burbs of Chicago, check out Help Save Pets, www.helpsavepets.org
• Guardian Angel Basset Recue http://www.bassetrescue.org/

And that is what is in my brain today, Thursday September 29th 2011.