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Hernando Today

Basically Basset

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By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: February 15, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - Burt Wood fell in love with basset hounds several years ago.

The long-eared, droopy-eyed, short-legged dogs are a popular choice among dog owners.

It didn't take Wood long to discover that on his own.

"My daughter brought one home and that was it," he said. "We all fell in love with bassets."

The Sweetheart Waddle is held every year in February at Florida Classic Park. The proceeds go toward the Suncoast Basset Rescue, which fosters the dogs and pays for their medical bills until they are adopted by a suitable owner.

"During an economic downturn, you'll often see people surrendering their dogs," said Ken Breslauer, a spokesman for the rescue. "People get divorced or they're in a bad financial situation. Sometimes, it's the classic case of someone who can't handle a basset hound when it grows up."

Bassets are considered by some to be stubborn, disobedient or even stupid. They have a loud howl and tend to follow their acute sense of smell.

Tony Doddroe, a long-time basset owner, said the breed is widely misunderstood.

"A lot of people think they're unintelligible dogs, but just the opposite is true," he said. "They are bred to be in front of the hunter. They were bred to think independently ... Some people can't handle them and that's why we have this rescue."

Doddroe, who traveled from Bradenton to attend Saturday's waddle, brought his 10-year-old basset - an 80 pounder named Lester.

Among the hundreds of basset enthusiasts Saturday was Hernando County Commissioner Dave Russell. He and his wife own two bassets - including one he adopted after noticed it roaming an empty parking lot following the Founder's Day Parade in 2003.

The dog appeared to have been abandoned, possibly following one of the major hurricanes that year, Russell said.

"He was a few days from dead," he recalled. "He was eating some of the candy after the parade. I fed him a Vienna sausage."

That night, he could hardly sleep. The next morning he returned to Howell Avenue and found the dog again. Following a search for the owner and a check up by a veterinarian, Russell adopted the dog and named him Buford.

He and his wife added another basset to the family soon thereafter. They named him Scooter.

It is typical for basset owners to collect two or more. They are social animals and like to be in groups.

"They're like Lays potato chips. You can't have just one," said Kitty Workman, the adoption coordinator with the rescue.

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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