The Rainbow Bridge

I was not lucky enough to have STEVEN as a puppy ,but was blessed to have 11 years with him. Steven came to Tristate Basset Rescue as a stray around the age of 2. I think the love affair with my sister and he started on the ride home from New Jersey to Long Island. Steven was just like a child, and went to Aunt Ronnie, who of course always said, YES! There were times I would have to tell her, No. My sister lives downstairs from me and that was Steven’s mancave, paradise, eden, off limits to the other hounds in the house. When they came down he let them know, it was “get your biscuit and scram”. My sister was a pile of mush when it came to Steven, he pawed the door until she caved to let him in, so he could get up on that king sized bed, meant only for her and him. Even in his later years, when arthritis started settling in, you were not stopping him from going downstairs, he whined and whined until he broke you. Steven’s favorite time of year was winter; he made more snow angels than you could imagine. He loved to face the wind and let those massive ears fly in the breeze. Steven enjoyed playing with each hound that came into our home, but it was always known he was King and they did not forget that. When he ran is was like he was doing the bunny hop. He loved people,and belly rubs were always welcomed with his big hairy belly. He would drink his water and always go straight to the edges of my bed to wipe his face. I could go on and on, like everyone, all of us proud of our furkids.

Steven runs with our Fred, Columbo, Buster T Frecklefeet, Miss Shelby from Alabama and all of the beloved Bassets and wannabes that have left us too soon.

Cathy Larsen

This past week we said goodbye to our beloved basset hound, Sammy, who brought an immeasurable amount of love and happiness to our family for almost 13 years. From the day she arrived to the day she left, her priorities remained the same; eating everything she could get her paws on and sleeping the days away beneath the sun. Although not rescued from Tristate, Sammy was a consistent attendee at the Basset Hound Olympics in Wantagh, NY. Just 3 short months ago, she was awarded 3rd place in the Obstacle Course relay at 12 1/2 years of age, and even managed to snag the picture spot in the Newsday article covering the event! The joy she brought to our home, family, neighbors, and friends is irreplaceable, but something we will remember always. She was a constant companion to each of us, playing a specific role in everyone’s life; from breakfast partner to late-night TV buddy and everything in between. It is with heavy hearts that we report the loss of our favorite family member; all the while knowing she is with us always. We could not have asked for a better dog or a better 13-year journey with our SammyGirl! Now at rest and forever comfortable. We will love and miss you always, Monf!

Samantha
3/9/00 – 1/28/13

With love,
The LaRousse Family

It is with an extremely sad heart that I share with you that Shelby crossed the Rainbow Bridge. She had not been feeling well the last several days and I was waiting for the Vet to open this morning so I could take her in to see Dr. John. Shelby licked John when he said good-bye to her and left for work. A few minutes later I went to check on her, and she was gone. She was in her favorite spot under our kitchen table.

We took in Shelby as a foster dog on my birthday last year (July 7). We finalized her adoption in December. This is the hard part about adopting senior dogs. We don’t get to love on them for very long, but for the final year of her life, Shelby knew she was loved and that she finally had a home where she belonged.

My heart is so broken right now. The Lang family side of the Rainbow Bridge is getting too crowded. Thank you to everyone at TBSR who played a part in bringing Shelby into our lives. She was truly special and will be so very missed.

Sara

My sweet Elvis (known as Penny at the time of her adoption in 2002) was laid to rest a few weeks ago. She was a tough little girl and fought a good fight, but I finally had to make the difficult decision to end her suffering from heart failure. My sons (5 and 3) stood with me, and we all told her how much we loved her as she peacefully went to sleep. We brought her home and had a small funeral for her. Although we pass by her grave every time we walk Reba (known as Brownie at the time of her adoption in 2006), I like to imagine her running and playing with all of her old friends again. Until we meet again, Elvis… The boys and I love you and miss you. <3

My sweet, sweet girl Winnie crossed the rainbow bridge on Tuesday night. I rescued her in 2001. We attend the Boardwaddle for many years and I thank your organization for that and all you do. There is definitely a void in the home now and I’m hoping time will heal. She is running around up there now with her Weim brother Smokey who passed a few years ago. Winnie had an angelic disposition and the whole family loved her very much. Rest well sweetie. Xo.

Lauren R. Reo

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the loss of our sweet Maggie on September 4, 2015. We adopted Maggie and her brother, Max in April 2013. They were two peas in a pod, one never far from the other. Maggie loved laying in the sunshine, bones and toys (taking every opportunity to “borrow” them from her brother), and fiercely protected the house and yard from rogue bunnies, mailmen, and dangerous neighborhood children. Her tail spun in circles and wagged constantly whenever someone she loved would walk into the room. She was so smart and brave. I will forever miss her soft doggie kisses when I come home from work; the joy I would feel in watching her leap through snow drifts and sprint through the backyard into my arms; the look my husband and I would exchange at seeing her little head peeking out the window…the thousands of little things you know about your dog that no one else knows. The silly names you call her, the snuggles on the couch. Life isn’t fair, Maggie Moo, that you were so young and we had so little time. I take small comfort in knowing we loved you more than anything and that we will continue to spoil your brother for all the days we are lucky enough to have him.

Jennifer Cordes and Michael Haag

With heavy hearts, Samson said, “It was his time to be free.” He is now free of pain and full of love. We will surely miss this dear old boy with ears down to the ground, drool flowing freely from his mouth, the cute way he did his grandpa shake, and most of all the smile on his face, and who could forget the howl with excitement. I hope he felt as much love as we felt. We were honored to have met Samson and we are honored to be the ones to have had him in the end. 6/26/15 – 7/3/15

Heidy Daniel

It is with sadness in my heart that on June 10, 2017, my beloved Bridgett passed over the Rainbow Bridge. Thank you to Lisa Packer for guiding me towards her and on 3/17/13 who knew that I would take a 3-hour ride one way to pick up a Senior girl. Thank you to Sue Crane for being her foster mom. I believe she was one of the “Hattiesburg Seven” and would now be the one and only Sussex NJ girl. For the next 3 years, she filled the empty nest with so much love and laughs and made the best snuggle buddy for the grandchildren. In the last year, she battled many health issues and never ever lost her loving personality with anyone, she must have really had that heart of Gold. As I continue on back to the Empty nest I would like to thank everyone at Tri-State Basset for all you do for these dogs.

My beloved Hannah Banana crossed the rainbow bridge at 8:40 a.m. on July 20, 2017. She was my first little girl, my fur baby. We loved you Hannah and had a wonderful 12 years together. Until we meet again girl ❤
Noreen Matias
Hackettstown, NJ

Sally came to us from her Foster Parents thru Adoption from TSBHR several years ago. We knew very little about her past other than she was taken from a shelter by her Foster Dad. From the very beginning it was obvious that she knew how to conserve her energy as on her very 1st walk she laid down whenever we stopped walking for a few minutes.

This was a trait that served her well as she struggled with Congestive Heart Failure over the past 18 months. She was a loving companion, an easy keeper, and very good with our other dogs unless they attempted to share her food.

She never seemed overly concerned about following the other dogs on their walks but in fact, she would head off to some unknown destination, given a free leash. A year ago we took her to our camp in Maine for a week’s vacation as we were concerned about her heart condition. This was a good decision as we got to spend some time with her alone. She slept in our bed and shared her life with us alone for one short week.

We often observed her body movements when she was sleeping, sometimes the tip of her tail would wag, if only we could share those Dreams, what would they reveal? The last several months have been gut-wrenching, we would wake up in the night to see if her chest was rising and falling. The same observations are repeated numerous times each day. Her daily decline was obvious and every manner of caretaking is practiced. While in our hearts we know what is coming, we grasp at that faint hope that a miraculous cure will happen. At age 16 years of age with a heart that beat with waning strength. The unbearable hurt that wracks our bodies and souls as well as hers lead to the inevitable conclusion.

We will most likely try to fill the void by adopting another old basset knowing full well that history will repeat itself as it has far too many times over the past years. Sally is now with a host of our other pets at the Rainbow Bridge. We will be joining Sally in the lands of our Creator when our time on earth has been served. I sincerely hope that Sally will also have past caretakers that will share their love for her. Run Free Sweet Girl – We will miss you dearly.

Kate and Chuck