I remember the first time we laid our eyes on Sally. We were over our friend’s our house (Rich and Robyn Bryant) because Robyn told Rich that she went to the SPCA and adopted a dog. It was in the summertime, the weather was warm. We went over to meet the new addition to the Bryant’s household. At that time, Sally was about three years old and full of fire!! I played with her and she chased me around our friend’s above ground pool several times. She was a happy dog with her tongue hanging out and smiling all the time. A few years later, we heard the news that the Bryant’s decided to give Sally to a new home since their first-born son was young and Robyn was expecting twin boys. Robyn decided to give Sally to a friend she knew who lived on a farm. We were sad to hear that Sally was getting a new home but was comfort by the fact that Sally was going to a home with lots of places to do what she did best at that time, sniff!! I don’t know what happened when Sally was on the farm but the Bryant’s ended up getting her back after a few years had passed. Sally wasn’t the same fun loving, high spirited basset we all remembered. Sally had changed and not for the best. Rich had spoken to Paul about placing Sally in the rescue because Sally had developed aggression issues (especially with the kids) and Rich didn’t feel comfortable enough to keep her in the family anymore. The year was 2005, we lost Stocker a year earlier to cancer and we had adopted Alvin at Christmas time in 2002 from Tri-State. We went over the Bryant’s to pick up Sally to begin the process. I spoke to Paul and we decided to keep Sally as one of our own because we were both afraid that Sally would be put down because of her aggression issues, that she wouldn’t be “adoptable”. She definitely did change, as you couldn’t touch her when she was on her bed at night because she would growl and show her teeth. You couldn’t kiss her nose either as she would try to bite your head off. She definitely had trust issues too!! But she would give you a kiss but it was on her terms and she would always flop on her back for a belly rub but be assured she would have one eye on you the entire time. Sally listened well and we adjusted to her and she adjusted to us in time. We had a very unique understanding of each other. Sally was a great guard basset and she really turned into a loving dog. Eating and sleeping were her favorite things to do. She was definitely “The Queen” in our household and let Alvin; and the other foster bassets we had, know it every day. We had the opportunity to enjoy Sally for 7 years until about a month ago when she started having seizures. We didn’t know what was going on with her, but we knew it was her time because there was no more wagging tail when we came home and no more love in her eyes. She was 13 years old. It was like someone shut off the lights but she didn’t even realize that her lights were shut off. We will forever love our Growly Sally or Sally Ann as I use to call her and she will always have a special place in our hearts!! I know that she’s still trying to be “The Queen” at the Rainbow Bridge and she’s doing her best to boss all of the other puppies up there around - especially Alvin!!

Karen & Paul Curley

Sally came to us from her Foster Parents thru Adoption from TSBHR several years ago. We knew very little about her past other than she was taken from a shelter by her Foster Dad. From the very beginning it was obvious that she knew how to conserve her energy as on her very 1st walk she laid down whenever we stopped walking for a few minutes.

This was a trait that served her well as she struggled with Congestive Heart Failure over the past 18 months. She was a loving companion, an easy keeper and very good with our other dogs unless they attempted to share her food.

She never seemed overly concerned about following the other dogs on their walks but in fact she would head off in some unknown destination, given a free leash. A year ago we took her to our camp in Maine for a weeks vacation as we were concerned about her heart condition. This was a good decision as we got to spend some time with her alone. She slept in our bed and shared her life with us alone for one short week.

We often observed her body movements when she was sleeping, sometimes the tip of her tail would wag, if only we could share those Dreams, what would they reveal. The last several months have been gut wrenching, we would wake up in the night to see if her chest was rising and falling. The same observations are repeated numerous times each day. Her daily decline was obvious and every manner and of care taking is practiced. While in our hearts we know what is coming, we grasp at that faint hope that a miraculous cure will happen. At age 16 years of age with a heart that beat with waning strength. The unbearable hurt that wracks our bodies and souls as well as hers lead to the inevitable conclusion.

We will most likely try to fill the void by adopting another old basset knowing full well that history will repeat itself as it has far too many times over the past years. Sally is now with a host of our other pets at the Rainbow Bridge. We will be joining Sally in the lands of our Creator when our time on earth has been served. I sincerely hope that Sally will also have past caretakers that will share their love for her. Run Free Sweet Girl - We will miss you dearly.

Kate and Chuck

This past week we said goodbye to our beloved basset hound, Sammy, who brought an immeasurable amount of love and happiness to our family for almost 13 years. From the day she arrived to the day she left, her priorities remained the same; eating everything she could get her paws on and sleeping the days away beneath the sun. Although not rescued from Tristate, Sammy was a consistent attendee at the Basset Hound Olympics in Wantagh, NY.  Just 3 short months ago, she was awarded 3rd place in the Obstacle Course relay at 12 1/2 years of age, and even managed to snag the picture spot in the Newsday article covering the event!  The joy she brought to our home, family, neighbors and friends is irreplaceable, but something we will remember always. She was a constant companion to each of us, playing a specific role in everyone's life; from breakfast partner, to late night TV buddy and everything in between.  It is with heavy hearts that we report the loss of our favorite family member; all the while knowing she is with us always. We could not have asked for a better dog or a better 13 year journey with our SammyGirl! Now at rest and forever comfortable. We will love and miss you always, Monf!

Samantha
3/9/00 - 1/28/13

With love,
The LaRousse Family

I want to take a moment to thank Tri-State Basset for giving me the BEST little friend I ever had. When I got him 5 yrs ago never did I think he would have been so special to me. He helped us do EVERYTHING! Well today has been the worst day of my life. I found out he had a tumor that could not be operated on. I will miss you Sammy (aka Doodle). You are my special helper. I love you and hope you know it.

REST IN PEACE BUDDY.

Tim & Stacy Feltenberger

With heavy hearts Samson said, "It was his time to be free." He is now free of pain and full of love. We will surely miss this dear old boy with ears down to the ground, drool flowing freely from his mouth, the cute way he did his grandpa shake, and most of all the smile on his face and who could forget the howl with excitement. I hope he felt as much love as we felt. We were honored to have met Samson and we are honored to be the ones to have had him in the end.  6/26/15 - 7/3/15

Heidy Daniel