I adopted Flash 3 years ago at one of the Tri State Basset adoptions in Quakertown. I knew she was the one as soon as we walked in the door. She came over and immediately rolled over for belly rubs. When we took her home, she found the sofa and became one of the family. We took walks twice a day and in the afternoon she would greet the kids coming home from school. I called them her "posse". She came to know all the dogs and cats in the neighborhood. She was very social and treated everyone like her best friend. I was devastated to find lumps on her neck in August. They turned out to be lymphoma. She was gone in 3 weeks. She was only 9. We had too short of time together but I will always remember the days with Flash.

Janice Wilensky

We adopted Alex along with Jessica from the Tri-State Basset rescue in 2004. Until coming to live with us, he and Jessica lived with a very nice family who took really great care of them but just couldn't keep them anymore. And John and I were lucky enough to be able to continue that great care for the rest of Alex's days. Alex turned thirteen in October and had many adventures along the way; the last adventure being our move to New York City. I initially thought this would be a very hard transition for Alex, but it wasn't at all. I guess you could chalk that up to one of the benefits of dementia. I am certain, in fact, that the move to NYC actually extended Alex's life because it removed all of those pesky stairs from his environment. But in the end our time together was too short. The last days of Alex's life were full of (extra) hugs, kisses, snacks, tasty meals, and (very slow and meandering) walks where Alex led the way. Last night John cooked him a steak and rice dinner fit for a king and this morning Alex had steak and eggs with a side of chicken jerky for breakfast. He was a wonderful dog and I will miss him so very, very much.

The Laskas Family

We adopted our dear, sweet Molly from Tri-State in 2004, just a few months after buying our first home. The day that I met her at the shelter, I fell in love with her. She nuzzled up to me immediately and lifted her beefy little paw so I could rub her belly. Her favorite activities included eating, sleeping, snuggling, eating, going for walks, going for sniffs, eating, and getting lots of pets. After nearly 8 years filled with love, snuggles and belly rubs, Molly left us on Christmas Day after some respiratory distress. She was the sweetest dog and we miss her and her Basset ways already.

Lori Litchman and Dave Tavani

On October 19, 2011 I lost my best friend Kuffs. He died from cancer and felt no pain when he left this world. I had him for nine years and he truly was everything to me. I work for the NYCPD and got him right after the Trade Center. He was named after the movie with Christian Slater. The name seemed perfect for a cop's dog. It was a time in my life where a void needed to be filled and he did that with fine style. Kuffs slept in bed with me every night of his life. In nine years I can not remember him ever growling at anything. He was treated as though he was my child. Kuffs brought such love into my life by just being there when I needed him. Always full of energy all he wanted was to be with me, he truly was daddy's boy. We were with each other till the end and all that knew him loved him. His passing left a neighborhood in such depression. Those who knew him loved him immediately. I like to think he lived a charmed life, he was never really discipled because he didn't need to be. He was stubborn just like his owner. Not a mean bone in his body towards any one or any animal. He found something new in everyday he lived. Kuffs lived a wonderful life, never sick and got anything he wanted. Till the very end all he wanted was to come home and be with me. I can never repay him for the joy that he gave me in my life. I have been through some hard times in my career in the NYPD, but this has been the hardest time in my life without him. Its hard to believe that there is something after all this, especially with what I have seen, but if there is I hope to meet him there. Kuffs where ever you are daddy loves you and misses you very much.

Peter Mc Carthy

Sugar passed on Saturday, January 28th, 2012, after a battle with lymphoma. Sugar, as her name implied, was a sweet dog always with a smile on her face and a wag in her tail. She greeted everyone as a friend. She especially enjoyed the company of small children. She would engage them in social settings and wanted to be in the middle of their party no matter what they were doing. She allowed them to do whatever they wanted with her, pulling her ears, tail etc. She never uttered a disapproving sound or an unaccepting response. Rabbits were her favorite animal to “hound”, though she did capture an occassional mouse and a squirrel on one occasion. She was a consumate camper and loved spending long lazy hours in the tall grass of summer. Of course, the food around the camp fire was another one of her favorites! No couch was out of her domain and she spent many a long day resting her weary bones. Sugar’s career as a “show” dog was highlighted by winning best costume at the BoardWaddle once and runner–up twice. The Tri-State Basset Rescue transport person picked her up from a shelter in Toms River, where she was slated to be euthanized. We got her that Sunday at the McDonald’s parking lot, with the understanding that they really knew nothing about her and we could return her if she did not work out. Well, she got out of the car rolled over on her back and requested what later became known as her signature belly rub request. Six wonderful years later, she has gone to rest. She willed be missed.

The Hanlon family