Howllo Fellow Hound and Cesar Millan Lovers: Dawn has just woofed in with the report of Cesar’s visit to BaRNI at Daphneyland. Thanks you so much Dawn of the West and we look forward to many more updates. In the future, you can always use the search box and type in Cesar. All blog postings will pop up. So, here we go with a wonderful Blog posting from Dawni, the Basset Whisperer! Slurp

Why was Cesar at Daphneyland?

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Why does anyone come to Daphneyland? To get a basset fix of course.
Over 100 hounds, including Roxie’s Firecracker Pups were on site to meet and greet Cesar Millan as he and his wonderful staff worked on an educational video designed to aid in rescue and shelter adoptions. I can tell you it was a lot of work to get the hounds ready to meet Cesar, and an illness and shoot cancellation forced our volunteer team to bath all the hounds not once, but TWICE. To our bathing teams –
YOU ROCK!!

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Cleaning the facility was made a challenge by a plumbing problem and once again, our kennel team was beyond compare and rose to the occasion – In the forefront is of course Rita Dluzak, who has kept everyone working hard together as a team, and the hounds would be lost without their Aunti Rita – who hid every time a camera came into view.

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Remember, we filmed this around our regular routines with over 100 hounds, which includes new arrivals and adoptions daily. The team effort was something truly incredible to behold and all of our volunteers gave their all and it truly showed.
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Rescue Education is a difficult subject, made more difficult by various differences which happen in each rescue organization. We tried to keep the focus of the rescue education key to our sister rescue groups throughout the country and we promoted volunteerism, fostering along with adoptions. We hope this information makes it into the final edit.

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The way we were approached was that Cesar had a family that wanted to adopt a basset, and he would tour the ranch and chose the right one for the family. This is challenging in rescue, as of course we focus on adoptions, but commonly the rescue group and the potential adopters make the match and not a third party. The exposure for basset rescue nationwide compelled us to work out the details on this, and we were able to perform advance home check, vet check and to talk with the family and staff about any concerns we had. Cesar’s people are unbelievable and took each and every item we had and we got to work as a team in order to have this work. BaRNI (Basset Rescue Network) made it happen.

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I don’t know how the video will edit, so at this point I’d like to share a few memorable moments of the day’s taping.

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Cesar really wanted to walk with 100 hounds. Unfortunately the day got away from us and we never did get the chance to “Release the hounds”. Cesar is welcomed back should he wish to fulfill this desire.

The Greeting.
Cesar, -2- cameramen, sound man, assistant and the adoptive family all walked the driveway up to the kennel, most of us were waiting in the kennel area to watch the interaction at the gate. 40 hounds loose and free inside, about 8-10 folks outside. This entry is a big part of our screening criteria.
Cesar talked to the family briefly, and walked right in.
NOT ONE SINGLE HOUND WENT TO THE GATE UPON THE GROUPS ENTRY.
It was this moment that stunned me. An incredible experience, and one that had me taking a good hard second look at many things. In 6 years of pack living day in and day out, this had never happened.
I will admit to inquiring all of our stunned volunteers if they had perhaps tired out our hounds, they hadn’t.
The hounds rose up slowly and proceeded to follow him around the entire kennel yard. Only a few had to be “Wrangled” by staff the entire day, the hounds were phenomenal and it was that moment that made me realize I was being hyper critical and that I actually LIKE the aura of Cesar.
I am however reserving final judgement until we get to see the finished product.

A dear friend really wanted Yantzee to meet Cesar. We had selected a grouping of hounds that would fit into this family’s home and the pack included about 40 hounds in our main yard area. Yantzee although not a possible adoptive choice, was in the area. Yantzee completely off character for her was quiet and well behaved, until she decided she needed a bit more attention, and proceeded to approach a squatting Cesar and wipe her drooly jowls from knee up to opposing knee. Yantzee slimed Cesar, and he smiled.

Most of you are familiar with Hamilton who is one of Daphneyland’s Senior Sanctuary Hounds.
Hamilton went into an episode of bloat while taping, and Carol wrangled him into the grooming room to cool down, and Rita expressed him and got gas x down him. While taping the selected hound meeting our Daphneyland Kitty Sam, Hamilton chose to be at the feet of Cesar. Hamilton had a gas explosion which rattled the roof. Without missing a beat, the adoptive Dad said “Excuse Me” and claimed all of our hearts as he claimed the accidental disturbance of Hamilton’s.

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The Adopted Hound. I am going to save that story for a later time – it’s a fairy tale and it deserves more time than a brief paragraph.

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Cesar and Photos.
Although it is not typical, Cesar himself allowed volunteers to take photos with him, and these photos that Cat has been so great to post, were very impromptu. They make our hearts sing to see them, and of course the one of Cesar wearing and holding out Devon’s Dream Necklace is beyond words. Throughout the day, many volunteers were wearing the necklace – and hopefully they will show up on camera several times…..
Cesar himself after Devon made the presentation, put the necklace on, held it out, and then said “Devon, don’t you want a picture of this?”. Cesar promoting the Dream.

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There was not a dry eye in the house as cameras were yanked out from every pocket present.
For anyone that does not know the back story on the necklace, when Devon was selected for the Great American Dream Vote, her Mother and friends got together and made her a good luck charm – a crystal covered dog tag with her name and birth date which she wore on the show. The taping of that show left out a segment when Donny Osmond asked Devon about the necklace – Oh to get that piece of film!
Devon, in attempting to achieve her dream of the senior center, is now hand making the necklaces to benefit the Devon’s Dream Senior Center – and you too can share in the Dream –

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There is so much more to tell, the Hounds will be demanding breakfast all too soon thus I shall end here for tonight.

May hounds nationwide find peace, happiness and a Forever Home.

It was truly a very wonderful experience and is ongoing. More Later, Dawn of the West.

Thanks Dawni! We love you we cannot wait for another update. Please keep us posted.

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