One Very Special Basset Hound

[Dean Wickwire]

Many of you never saw him, but those that did still remember him. At first look, he was an average type red and white hound, he never won a hunt or even a cast, but if you watched him, he had some problems just getting around without running into things. Completely blind, FC Wickwire's Elmer Phudd could not even see light or dark. He accepted his handicap and did the best he could. He was the first blind basset to become an AKC Field Champion. Some people who handled him for me never noticed that he was blind.
I found a copy of an article I wrote for the Rabbit Hunter and have posted it below.

[fblockston]

Dean, I remember old PHUDD, And indeed he was a special hound..To the doubting Thomas' of the world I did see and it was a sight to Behold!!! The only thing is I always felt his biggest handicap was Dean!!LOL

[Betty Gibbs]

Hey we cant forget ole Hope now, I havent been on here for a very long time but when i did come on here i seen this, and had to write about her, I always heard about Rod and always wanted to meet him and when my husband went to Michigan to work at the Nuclear plant, well I thought that this would be a wonderful time to meet him and wanted a pup out of his stock, well we went to see his kennel there was this bassethound that was loving all over me through the kennel and rod said that she wasnt a good trial dog anymore and that she wanst what I would want, well the story is long but ill keep it short but rod and I worked out a deal on her and she went home with me the next 2 days, well she slept in the bed with my kids and would not let my husband around me ot the kids, she was VERY protective of us, she would bite anyone coming around us, well we meaning the kids and i was tired of the old yankeeville of michigan and we took hope home and gary stayed there working, weh gary came home we wanted to see what she would do so we took her out with our beagles and she wouldnt do a thing and i got really discouraged we took her out several more time and noticed she wouldnt go anyplace that I wasnt there, she ended up makingme so very proud when it was snowing and she took a rabbit right across an open pond that he beagles lost the scent, my head swelled up so big I was floating and gary laughed, the make this short and sweet Hope went in to the reproucers hall of fame a month after she dies of lymphoma, i have that plaque hanging on my wall to this day, she went in the hall of fame in 06, we cried when she passed, thats beautiful dog lived for me i believe, at least thats what our vet said, and I know she loved me because she never left my side, not only was she a great bassethound that loved the hunt with her best friend our old snoopy beagle dog now deseased, I know she loved me, and she was my best hunting buddy and I loved her more than my ex mother in law, she had heard me cry so many times and it was like she understood me, and my feelings and she would put her head on my shoulder, yes Im being sentimental but I could write about her forever because I have so many memories of her not just being a bassethound but my buddy, and I still miss her so so much, thanks for letting me ramble on about her, we all have those great memories, Thanks Rod, for giving me thoses years with her, IN MEMORY OF RODERICK'S HI HOPE

[Eric Figg]

Great story Betty. you should post it in it's on link with a picture of her. If you cant do the picture send it to me and I will do it for you.
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A bad day with your dog is better than a good day at work!

Eric

[Betty Gibbs]

thanks Eric not sure how to do all that so if you have an address i can send you a pic or 2 of Hope