Hank
Hank was our first Basset and found us through the GGBR. We adopted him through the pound in Emeryville, CA. Boy it was rough going in the beginning as Hank, then a one year old, butted heads with me over some rules to live by in our family. We won't mention what it was out of respect…and it was so long ago. But we pulled out of it and made a family with my wife Norie. > > We figure Hank was around 1 years young when he adopted us, so that means we spent the next 11.5 years together. Hank never saw the inside of a kennel. Which means I haven't been anywhere farther than I can drive or that doesn't allow dogs/pets for vacation. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. It just means that we spent all of our time together as a family and never parted. > > Hank began each day getting out our bed…usually between us, under the covers, on one of our pillows. Right side up, diagonal, or upside down, you never knew what end you were going to see when you opened your eyes in the morning. But one of us was usually spooning and cuddling him as he purred and pushed into it. When he was done with the necessary, he would get a cookie and hop onto the couch for a nap while we tried to wake up with some coffee. Around 8:00am, Hank would get his breakfast. I won't get into specifics right here, but his meals were hand prepared by me and tailored after what a wolf might eat. Hank would have a similar meal, but always different in the evening. Between meals, each day was different. There would be walks, treats, trips, time at home, some work, drives, naps, playing, friends houses, and on and on. And more of the same after dinner and between crawling into bed with us at the end of the day. This was one of his favorite times. We'd go outside for our last "potty" and then go inside to the kitchen for a treat…usually a piece of meat. Then he'd run off to bed, either jump up when he was younger or look to me for help when he was older. As soon as his feet hit the sheets, he would turn and look up with the most anticipation in his eyes for that one last little bit of food…which of course I had in my hands or mouth and ready for him. Then it was head on the pillow, covers, and spooning with Norie as the lights went off. He loved ending the day as much as he loved starting the day…always looking for the next adventure. > > We adopted Walter through the LVBR when Hank was around 4 years old. Walter passed a little over 2 years ago. I'm so glad that Hank got to spend about 6 years of his life having a brother…another dog in the family. Having two really brings personality traits out of each dog that you would never see just having one in the house. Walter has been waiting at the bridge for you Hank... > > I'm proud to say that Hank always ate the best, had the most attention and love, never wanted for anything that couldn't be given, always had something to look forward to with each new day, had the best care and husbandry, the best medical attention, and his best interests at the heart of every decision I've ever made during his whole life. He has been with us since we got married 12 years ago and has been our child plain and simple. > > I'm so thankful for GGBR and the work that is done there for these dogs. We found Hank and Hank found us through the rescue. I can't even imagine how different our lives would have been without GGBR and Hank…and I don't want to. We had some great times and met a lot of friends being members these past 12 years…and we plan to continue through the rest of our lives. > > Thanks, > Joe and Norie.

Henry
Henry was a stray in a Sacramento Shelter. Believed to be maybe 9 or 10 years old, and with some type of urinary infection or problem going on. Dr Mark Madden and his wife Fran decided to go and see him and Mark immediately decided he was coming home with them. They would try and find out what was going on and fix him. If all was well, he would become available for adoption, and if all was not well, he would leave for the Bridge in loving arms. His urinary problem turned out to be prostate cancer. Fairly rare in neutered dogs, but Henry had it. His prognosis was anything from a few weeks to a year. Mark and Fran decided to foster him and deal with whatever his illness brought to them. With some drugs to keep him painfree and relieve some of his symptoms, Henry spent several weeks at the Madden's Mt Aukum home, in the foothills, where he spent his days pottering about their fenced acres, sniffing the irises and hanging out with their other senior hounds and the chickens. Over the weekend of May 17, Henry became much more uncomfortable and he was released from his pain on Monday, May 19, 2008 and is now enjoying the limitless buffet at the Rainbow Bridge, painfree and happy.