My 2nd Slog entry – Hound Date 3-21-04
Howllo Fellow Basset Hound and Slog Lovers….
A Slog is my spiral ring notebook log about getting my new puppy, aka Emma!
This second slog entry is about a question I sent to BoBac Bassets about potentially buying 2 puppies from Emma’s litter. I am a 2 hound person and I was just thinking that it could be cool to raise 2 puppies from the same litter together. My Mom and I were going to be driving all the way to TX and we were kicking around the idea. So, I shot off Richard an e-mail with my question. I don’t have that e-mail but I do have Richard’s response. You can click on the image for more detail.
So, I forgot that idea! No problem. I was going to have 2 hounds in my life but I was in no hurry to figure it out. I was concentrating on the pup. You can see by the date of the e-mail, Emma was to arrive into this world in exactly 30 days.
So a few days went by and I received a phone call from Sharon. We chatted about Dawn, Emma’s Mommy for a bit and then she told me that she was looking to place Chaps into a new home and would I be interested in him? I was kind of in shock because I had told Sharon that the only requirement I had for a puppy or hound living with us, was that it be a girl. Grandma and I did not want a boy. Boys have cooties! hehehe.
Really, we did not want a boy. I reminded her of that and she said she forgot but she would hold on to Chaps until I thought about it.
Think about it? I was pretty adamant when we talked in the beginning. So we hung up and I jumped on their website. I remembered his name. He is still on their home page. Here is a screen capture I just did…..
That is our Mayor on the bottom right….
I don’t know what happened the night I looked at this. It was love at first sight and I burst out crying. I felt so sorry for him but I had no idea why. He just looked so proud and I know he had worked so hard for the breeder. Here he was showcased on the home page and still is and now they were willing to give him up. It just broke my heart.
So I called Grandma and Grandpa and asked them to come down for a glass of wine to discuss the potential new family member…
When I explained the situation Grandma said, “but Chaps is a boy??????” Then, Grandpa said, “What’s wrong with a boy?” Right then and there I saw that look in Grandpa’s eyes and I said, “He is now our boy!” He was promptly named Chaps Wayne after my Dad. I called Sharon right back and told her we wanted him! I told her we would love a few pictures so we could moon over him and a few days later I got these. I cannot tell you howl many times I kissed that chop on this picture!
This picture did us in!
I printed them out and carried them with me everywhere like a proud Mommy!
We were now the family of a bouncing baby boy hound! We were so excited! Grandpa was beyond excited. One of my favorite memories is Grandpa taking Chaps out for a walk the next morning after we got home. I heard him telling him, “Come on boy, let’s get away from all of these women for a bit!” And off they went……
It’s funny howl one Slog entry can take the mind so far. Aren’t you glad you asked Kerry? OneMom asked the question about getting Chaps after viewing the picture of me with all of the puppies! LOL
More Slog memories later…..Love, Cat, Chaps Wayne, and Emma!
Comments(19)
I’m so glad Kerry asked the question! I had wondered the same thing about how and when you got Chaps but never thought to ask.
I have to say that that picture would have done it in for me too. I’m sooooo glad that you decided to take him. You are the very best basset Mommy in the world! And besides, there wouldn’t be a basset hound town without CHAPS!
OH MY – I read the letter from Richard and Sharon and looked at the date and time it was written – March 21, 2004 at 9:37a.m. Unbelievable as it may seem that is Paige’s birthday and at 9:37 she was about 1 hour old. We were at the hospital holding our 4th grand daughter. Wasn’t life great that day – who knew it would end the way it did. Anyway I am so glad that you got Chaps and Emma – they are really sweet.
OMD Judy! That is so special to me. Life was so great that day. Our Paige was one hour old. That is so very special to me. So very special. Sigh…Crying…….
Oh Judy…what a coincidence. I think of you and your family often.
Thanks Cat and Cindy for your kind words. Our family will never be the same after losing this adorable little girl. We just try to make it through one day at a time. Paige lives forever in my heart.
Cat – I am very glad I asked the question! I remembered there was something really cool about how the Mayor got to BHT! I can’t imagine it any other way. We love Chaps and Emma! We love Cat and Grandma!
Paige lives in my heart as well. I find peace in her Mom’s blog. Her words touch my heart beyond belief.
I am so glad you got Chaps. I know what you mean about him looking so proud and working so hard for them. As far as litter mates not being a good idea….. I disagree. We got Zip and Zap together, and they get along famously. Zip is the mischievious one, and Zap is the bossy one, but I don’t see any of that other stuff going on. How full of wonder some days of our lives are! I hope we can always appreciate the riches in each day.
Debbie – I totally disagreed with Sharon. I agree with you.
Well, this is just my thoughts. She was ready to get rid of Chaps because he was all used up and another was coming to take his place. She knew you loved your dogs, it was the perfect home and you have a big heart. She knew if she asked you to take him that you would.
Cindy – I knew what she was doing. I found out later that she already had all of the pups sold. Breeders that over breed are always are looking for homes for their x-show dogs and the perfect way to place them is in the home of puppy buyers. In many cases a family would come for a puppy and would leave with an x-show dog instead.
I know for a fact Sharon does not mean what she says because she called me a few months after we got home and asked me if I wanted Emma’s sister, Dawn Jr. Turns out Dawn Jr., whom Sharon kept for the show ring, did not like the show ring or was not getting enough points, I never knew what to believe. So, in just 2 short months it is OK by her for litter mates to be together?
Dawn Jr. is now Bella and lives in WA state.
I love my Slog!
Cat
Also, Chaps is not on the homepage of BoBac Bassets he is on the Champion page. They have not updated their website in years.
I wish I could have two Bassets, but my condo association only permits one pet per unit. When I was looking to get a Basset, I thought a puppy might be too much for me as a first dog, and since I live alone it wouldn’t be a good idea to leave a puppy alone for so long during the day since I work.
People told me rescue dogs have behavioral problems, but since I have Slinky I no longer believe that. Slinky was the best dog I could have ever adopted. Slinky is quiet, which is so important since I live in a condo, Slinky is social and very friendly — everyone likes her, and she was housebroken — it only took her a little more than a week to get into a routine.
Slinky is the best gift I ever gave myself.
And Slinky is lucky to have you Maureen! There are a lot of positives to rescuing. One being that the dog is already vetted and you will know their issues because the foster families evaluate the hounds. A good foster family will only release their dogs to a home that they know the dogs personality fits in. I’m sooooo glad that you and Slinky found each other.
I agree with Maureen. Rescue dogs are so special. Since moving to Wisconsin 18 years this December we have adopted 4 from BBR. Each and everyone has been a gift from God. There is nothing like coming home to a wonderful friend:)
Even though Chaps was technically not a rescue, I feel I rescued him from a pretty hard life.
This is funny, when my nephew was about 9 years old he told me that Emma was like a rich kid that has only known the good life and Chaps is like a orphan that will be forever grateful. I know it sounds sad but I was laughing so hard.
Picture Emma with a silver spoon in her mouth! hehehehe
Yes, you did save Chaps Cat. Heck, you saved them both! I don’t blame you after having rescues and falling in love with the basset breed to want to buy from a reputable breeder. I did the same thing. You did your homework and it’s way too sad that you learned later on that things weren’t exactly as they were being advertised.
And you’ve saved more bassets than any of us could have adopted while you’ve had Chaps and Emma. I just love Chaps and Emma and hope that I can meet them in person some day.
just wonderful. what a fantastic post, cat. thank you so much for sharing these memories.
bruce and gretchen
Bruce and Gretchen the memories have been so much fun to look at again. Thanks for enjoying them with me! Hope you guys are having a nice summer!
Cat, Chaps and Emma