Kirby
Kirby was already an adult (estimated to be 3-5 years old) when he arrived at a Sacramento shelter as an emaciated stray in 1996. He was rescued by a Rio Linda couple who fostered him for two years before Mark and I adopted him in 1998. If you do the math, that made Kirby at least 16 years old when he left us in August, 2010. Kirby participated in parades and fun field trials, met people at rescue/information booths and home visits, and attended many parties and costume events. His debut at a Basset Club costume party in 1999 as a Tomato Hornworm is legendary! He reigned as King at the 2010 Waddle in Novato. His favorite activity was hunting and digging for gophers. For us, Kirby was "the start of it all"; he was our first basset hound and our first rescue, and he inspired us to help other lost or abandoned basset hounds to find loving homes. Over the years, Kirby shared his home with 6 other basset housemates, (outliving five of them), and with countless foster dogs. Kirby’s gone to join Gus, his wingman; Gus didn’t have to wait long for him. He’ll also rejoin his best girl, Lulu, as well as Bubba, Nancy and Ralph. It’s hard to imagine our home and our lives without him. Fran and Mark Madden, and Jackie, August 18, 2010.