Bessie found out soon that her new mom's purse was filled with goodies (till Bessie helped herself to them:) Bessie is off to a wonderful new life, & although I will miss her sweet face & disposition I couldn't wish for a better forever home for Bess. Bessie is a special girl who touched alot of hearts, we were blessed to have fostered this girl with such spirit. Thank you to everyone who help with Bessies care & bills... She was so worth it.

 Barbara, Bessie's & Sue are on their way back to Sunny California, please keep them in your prayers for a safe trip home.
  

Bessie's story

This is the sweet old girl we just picked up from Shannon  Herron of the Humane Society
of Greater Akron OH. Shannon worked hard to see that Bessie got a chance at the good life. Connie our Transport coordinator and I met Shannon on 1-30-09 to take her in to our program. This old girl won Shannon's heart and today stole ours. I've been told she has caught the attention and hearts of many who heard about her plight  on the Daily Drool Digest . I'm going to post more info about her here on our web site for those of you who have asked about her. She is emaciated, but full of spirit. This evening after a  warm meal, a bath and good massage she is sleeping under blankets on the couch with my husband Skip.
    

Bessie's 1st Days in her new foster home...   Bessie updates 

She is very very skinny, how she survived till Shannon found her I can't imagine!

Photo's just can't show  that she is noting but skin & bones. The bumps you see on her back is her spine. You can feel every rib and bone in her body! She weights in at just a bit over 30 pounds... she should be at least 55 pounds.

 Amazingly even these photo's don't show how really thin she is! We have had emaciated Bassets come to us before (Bones for example)

But I have never come across one I can truly say has no fat & her muscle mass is barely covers her bones. After Bessie's Bath, which she was so good for, her beautiful coat is so soft & fluffy.

She was very oily, & her breath... well... the smell from her teeth, filled Connie's car on the way home to an amazingly deadly level that made breathing in something we weren't sure was worth it:) Maybe that was why we had a "incident" with a snow drift that involved shovels, nice people & a rug under the tires to get us out only 2 miles from my house... must have been the lack of breathable air, our eyes watering and the anti-lock brakes that locked up. I wonder if the insurance company covers that?

This is what her mouth looks like...  you don't want to make her pant...

Soon as we get some weight on the girl she's getting a dental cleaning. (now cleaned much better)

Bessie is now power napping on a soft bed with a blanket weighting for her 4th meal of the day. She is so very sweet & loving I adore her. She is doing pretty well with making it outside to potty most of the time. she is wobbly from lack of muscle strength but wants to be with us where ever we go in the house. She has climbed the stairs...SLOWLY... but she makes it. (Or Skip carries her)We have been trained Well by a lot of previous Senior Hounds.

 A NOTE FROM THE OTHER DIGRUNTLED DROOPY SENIORS:

TANKARD & TROOPER

Ya know WE have been with our foster Mom for over a year now... we are not complaining about having to share her AGAIN...

But would like to mention that WE didn't receive all the attention that this new hussy... ok... lady Basset is receiving. We were skinny too...OK that was quite a while ago... but it seems like yesterday to us & WE were COVERED in ticks & we NEVER EVER had our very own

home WE had to work hunting in the field for a living... & live in a big kennel outside for 9 years of our lives. We are 10 years old now & Tank had worse teeth (& now a whole lot less teeth that Mom Brushes) & I only have one good eye...

 So what about us??? Not that were complanin'

TROOP & TANK (complaining)

I told you she'd Take over!! Thats one of the GOOD Beds!