Can I get bassets that aren't spayed or neutered? I'd really like to have one litter of puppies.

Bluegrass Basset Rescue came into being due to the high number of bassets who were abandoned or surrendered, left with no place to go and no one to love and take care of them. Each year in the state of Kentucky alone, thousands of animals are euthanized due to a lack of homes for them. It is BBR's belief that responsible pet ownership means controlling the numbers of animals out there in an effort to eliminate the need for such drastic measures.

While you may have a litter of puppies with the good intentions of finding warm, loving homes for them, you can't guarantee that everyone you give a puppy to will be as nuturing as you.

BBR stands behind their policy of putting only spayed and neutered bassets up for adoption. As long as there are homeless and abused hounds to be rescued, the policy will remain in place.

How much is the adoption fee?

Puppies less than 12 months - $200
Dogs 1 year to 7 years - $150
7-10 years - $100
Seniors over 10 - dependent upon the situation
two bassets as a pair - $275.

To be honest, the adoption fee seldom covers what the rescue actually has in the dog. Many times these dogs are sick, injured, abused, or starved when they end up at the rescue. Although a healthy dog generally costs $125 to vet at minimum, more medically challenged dogs can cost well over $1000. Even a minimal amount for one of these hounds can be almost $200 when taking into consideration all aspects of caring for a surrendered or abandoned hound.

All of the money from an adoption goes to pay for shots, vet care, heartworm treatment, and general maintenance of the bassets in foster care with Bluegrass Basset Rescue.

How often do you get puppies?

Puppies are few and far between here at the rescue. Most of the hounds we get are a year or older. We don't know when we'll get a puppy in or what sort of condition it will be in.

If I'm approved to adopt, what can I expect of my basset when he/she first gets to me?

Normally, there's a settling in period when some behaviors may be a little different from what you would expect. At times, there are a few accidents, even though the hound is housetrained. The dog may pace, acting extremely nervous for a while. There may be a few days when no matter what you do, the only thing they'll eat are treats.

Just be patient and be consistent. It's always wise to limit roaming area those first few days while your hound is adjusting. Ask the foster parent if they've been crate training. Normally, the answer will be yes. Crating for those first few days may be a definite plus, especially if that's what the hound is used to. It prevents roaming and getting into trouble. It will also limit the number of accidents in the house.

As for food, normally, the dog will eat once he/she gets settled and feels comfortable. Remember that typically these hounds have been through quite a bit of trauma, whether it's from being a stray trying to survive on its own, being picked up and placed in a shelter, or being surrendered by his/her family. Their foster home has been a sheltering environment and it takes time for them to understand that your home is their new home.

The best thing to help your basset feel at ease? Your patience, your understanding, and tons and tons of your love. The end product will be a hound who loves you and gives you years of enjoyment, cuddles, kisses, and snuggles.

Okay, I've filled out the application. Now what?

Well, the process works like this: First, your application will be reviewed by the BBR president and/or adoption co-ordinator. Then, you'll get a phone call from someone, just to go over some details or get to know a little more about you so they can make sure they're clear on what it is you're looking for in a basset. Some suggestions may be made about other dogs that might better fit your household. However, if you have a dog that you want to try, you'll definitely get an opportunity to meet that dog. Then your references will be checked, both personal and veterinary.

After all of those things have been cleared, a home visit will be arranged. At this time, the BBR representative will spend some time with you and the basset, helping you understand the ins and outs of "being owned by a basset." It's a time for you to ask questions and see if things are going to work out for all parties involved.

If that particular basset isn't turning out to be the perfect match for your household, then the BBR representative will help you go through the available bassets to see if there's a hound who might make a better fit with your lifestyle and vice versa.

Please keep in mind that sometimes, the basset you think is the perfect match doesn't turn out that way when you meet. Just be patient. There are so many hounds that need homes it's almost a definite that there's one out there just waiting for you to open your heart to him or her.

What must potential adopters have before being able to adopt?

Ideally, we like to see that the following criteria are met before we adopt out a basset hound.

1) fenced yard (we encourage walking and disallow chaining our dogs up all day.)

2) an entire family willing and able to adopt (so if a spouse isn't really on board to adopt, this could cause problems.)

3) experience with the breed (Bassets can be stubborn and hard to train, making them less than ideal family members for someone with certain expectations.)

4) willingness to accept that the basset one finds perfect for him/her may not be the one that can be adopted---not because there's anything lacking with the adopter, but because the basset has certain needs that must be met (i.e., may dislike other dogs, small children, etc....)

5) enough time to spend with the new family member. A single person who travels a lot and has to kennel/board the basset often might not present the best home for one of our hounds. Bassets are social dogs and crave human company. While we also do not discriminate on the basis of jobs, certain occupations come with special circumstances that need to be considered (i.e., military families.)

While items 2 & 4 aren't generally negotiable, having a fenced yard isn't possible in certain living situations---like condominiums---and thus each case is given its own considerations. Some of our bassets have issues with escaping and would actually do better in homes where they are strictly walked and NOT put into a yard. And just because you haven't been owned by a basset before doesn't mean you wouldn't make an excellent "foodslave" to one of our bassets as a first dog.