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Pacific Northwest bloodhound rescuers call themselves The Village, and we Villagers are delighted when bloodhounds for re-homing and adoption find their forever homes! Pacific Northwest hounds in need have found their champions in Deb Thomas-Blake, Harbor Rescue and Blake's Hound House, and Jewlz Lane, Loving Care Canine Services. In their work to rescue, foster, and re-home bloodhounds, they are the best. Deb and Jewlz, we salute you! Read on for a selected collection of heart-warming histories about bloodhounds in need and those who have found their forever homes. If you are moved by these stories and can assist our adoption activities in any way whatsoever, please contact us. IT TAKES A VILLAGE!
Deb Thomas-Blake and Friends |
SAMPSON
In December 2016, Sampson, a 6-7 year-old bloodhound, was surrendered to Deb Thomas-Blake of Harbor Rescue in Cosmopolis, WA. The photo at left was taken at Sampson's first visit to Deb's vet. Deb says, "Sam probably belonged to a coonhound hunter/pack out of Shelton, WA, was given to a man in Matlock who kept him for three months, then given to a young woman who did his dental and removed two lipomas before realizing she was in over her head three months later. Sam, at 84 lbs and emaciated, had been kept outside his whole life. He never had an accident in our house while we fostered and learned to use the doggy door within three days. Harbor Rescue is a small rescue, and we asked West Coast Bloodhound Rescue to step up. They did, in aces! They spent close to $1K diagnosing and treating Sampson's reflux issues, neutering and vaccinating after he recovered enough; our Bloodhound Village stepped forward and donated $300 for food and medical, another BH friend donated $100, and we spent $926 on his endoscopy, with John and Beth Evans Nicholson, his new family. donating beautiful fleece blankets they made AND $400 toward Sam's endoscopy!"
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February 13, 2017: Deb says, "What a day! Sampson went home to John and Beth Nicholson, we almost drowned him in tears, the Nicholson family was gracious and let me drag out saying goodbye, and Cindy Wolfrom kept me from crying too much on the way home. Of course it all started again when I opened a Valentine's Day card from Sampson! Thank you for loving this boy, John and Beth, he is so very special, and we know he is in the perfect home for him. Thank you."
Throughout December 2016, Sampson gained 15 pounds and learned the joys of being a house dog. Deb describes his past life: "Sampson's history is obviously awful, looking at his poor ear missing a big chunk and all the scars inside. But he is a gentle, happy soul who is just SO grateful to love and be loved. And it's okay because every time I think about his awful past, it brings tears of joy for his beautiful future."
In summer 2017, Sam was put to rest due to an inoperable mass that was pressing on his internal organs. John, Beth, and all of us in rescue mourn his passing but know that he was given a heavenly life with the Nicholsons. Deb Thomas-Blake has placed her trailing girl Cedar with the Nicholsons, and John and Cedar are continuing with the good trailing work that he and Sam began. 
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hooch
Hooch had spent most of his life tied to a tree when he was rescued by animal lovers Mike and Ronnie Johnson of Dufur, OR. Mike and Ronnie talked Hooch's owner into surrendering him, and Deb Thomas-Blake traveled to Oregon to get him. It was love at first sight when Hooch met Mike Moreshead of Sprague, WA, and, according to Diane DeWeese, Mike's wife, Hooch is learning "kitchen rules" as part of life on their 70=acre farm. Hooch is something of an escape artist and has been known to run circles around and through the barn, but Mike and Diane are patiently teaching him that there's no place like home.
dinah
Dinah is a Rhodesian Ridgeback/bloodhound mix who, in August 2014, came into long-term foster care with Jewlz Lane via the Oregon greyhound rescue group Homes for Hounds.
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In summer 2016, Dinah, now 7, found her forever home in British Columbia with Rose Yelland and her husband. As can be seen in this photo, being Dinah is a pretty great thing!
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sweet copper
Deb Thomas-Blake began fostering Sweet Copper in February 2016 when he was surrendered by on owner who kept him in the garage and allowed a young child to torment him. Throughout his prior difficulties, Copper never lost his sweet disposition. After four months and lots of veterinary care for injuries and medication for seizures, Copper found a family with a home on two acres in Olympia, WA. His new family is in love with him. Copper is shown here with his Great Dane brother, who makes Copper's 100 pounds look like 10 pounds.
stella
Stella, shown here celebrating her tenth birthday in 2015, crossed the Rainbow Bridge in late 2016. A long-term foster with Jewlz Lane, and the recipient of loving hospice care provided by Sean Hagel, Kendall Bauer-Hagel, and Dakota Hegal, Stella was part of a group of six bloodhounds who were re-homed in 2013 when their owner passed away unexpectedly. (Stories of pack-mates Gus, Dancer, and Duke are shown below.) As the grand matriarch of Jewlz's pack, Stella was never shy about restoring and keeping order in the dog ranks. She is pictured below right with Sid Harty and Duke during a visit in October 2014. Although they had been apart for a year, Stella and Duke recognized each other immediately and greeted each other like long-lost friends.
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SOZE
Search-and-rescue bloodhound Soze (pronounced So-zay) needed re-homing in late 2015 when her owner, suffering from terminal brain cancer, passed away. Emily Williams of South Central Bloodhound Rescue, Deb Thomas-Blake, and Lynn Harty collaborated on securing a new home for Soze with Chad Merrick and family of Marysville, WA. "I love my girls," says Chad.
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dancer
A member of Stella's pack, Susy the dancing bloodhound, shown here in 2013 suffering from cherry-eye, hypothyroidism, and obesity, didn't feel much like dancing. Fostered, nursed back to health, and renamed Dancer by Deb Thomas-Blake, she has found her forever home with Sid and Lynn Harty of Valleyford, WA.
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Shown here in regal splendor, Dancer. now slimmed down and restored to good health, has rejoined her pack-mates Gus and Duke, along with evil step-sister Sheba (a lab/whippet mix rescue girl) at the Harty House O'Hounds in Valleyford.
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clark of kent
In spring 2014, this bloodhound was either picked up as a stray or released by his former owners to an animal shelter in Kent, WA. Named Clark of Kent by Sheri Whetstine and fostered by Jewlz Lane, he was ready for re-homing in eastern Washington!
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It was love at first sight for Clark and Alex Devilbiss, an experienced bloodhound owner from Mica, WA. Alex makes sure to give Clark lots of exercise, as physical activity cuts down on Clark's tendency to bury items in the back yard when he is bored. A full-sized jar of mayonnaise has yet to be found. Although Clark crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 2018, we think think he would be well pleased with Steve, his successor, whose story can be found on the homepage.
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gus and duke
Stella's pack-mates Gus (left) and Duke (right) joined Sid and Lynn Harty's House O'Hounds in 2013. These are good boys, and they enjoy keeping a close eye on Sid's activities inside and outside the house. When not "on duty," the boys are happy to catch some shut-eye on the couch. Duke, the Hartys' senior statesman, turned 12 years young in September 2016. Dukieboy crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 2017, and the Hartys still miss him. Gus, however, is alive and well as of December 2018.
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BELLA
Meet the absolutely fabulous Miss Bella. This sweet natured, seven-year-old bloodhound has a heart as big as her ears and was looking for a forever home call her own. Bella is an absolute gem of a dog – super social, gentle and calm. She loves people, is perfect in the car, and has lived happily with other dogs and even horses and goats. She did admit to loving feathered friends a bit too much, so no chickens for this girl. Like many dogs who come into rescue, Bella had three homes that were lost through no fault of her own. Thanks to Amy Carey at Vashon Island Pet Protectors (VIPP), Bella found her forever home in 2018.
STEVE
In October 2018, PRBC members had the good fortune to meet Good Samaritan Josh Pfenning, who lives in the Tri-Cities. Josh, owner of five-year-old bloodhound Beaumont (at left), took in a stray bloodhound. Here is the dog’s story from Josh:
“[From his microchip] we were able to track down his owner, who didn’t want him back, he turned him loose over the weekend when he left for California. Thank goodness some friends of ours found him and called us knowing we already have a bloodhound.
He is a very sweet boy, 6 years old, seems in good health and has been well cared for up until recently. What we know is the guy who dumped him adopted him from a shelter back on September 4th. I’m not able to keep him (we’re calling him Winslow) long-term as I’m in the process of moving and two bloodhounds are too much to manage. I’m hoping we can find a new forever home for this sweet boy and wondering if you might be able to help?”
Fast forward to a new forever home for Winslow with Alex Devilbiss, owner of the late, great Clark of Kent (see above for Clark's story). Alex found that his new housemate was unresponsive to the name Winslow, so Alex, ever creative, began saying every name that came into his head to the dog. What name did the dog respond to? Steve! We are so pleased to tell you that Steve has settled right in with Alex. And huge kudos go to Josh Pfenning for helping out this boy in need.
“[From his microchip] we were able to track down his owner, who didn’t want him back, he turned him loose over the weekend when he left for California. Thank goodness some friends of ours found him and called us knowing we already have a bloodhound.
He is a very sweet boy, 6 years old, seems in good health and has been well cared for up until recently. What we know is the guy who dumped him adopted him from a shelter back on September 4th. I’m not able to keep him (we’re calling him Winslow) long-term as I’m in the process of moving and two bloodhounds are too much to manage. I’m hoping we can find a new forever home for this sweet boy and wondering if you might be able to help?”
Fast forward to a new forever home for Winslow with Alex Devilbiss, owner of the late, great Clark of Kent (see above for Clark's story). Alex found that his new housemate was unresponsive to the name Winslow, so Alex, ever creative, began saying every name that came into his head to the dog. What name did the dog respond to? Steve! We are so pleased to tell you that Steve has settled right in with Alex. And huge kudos go to Josh Pfenning for helping out this boy in need.
FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE RIVER UPDATE FROM JENNY JULIAN
Happy Adoption Blue River! You found as loving a set of parents as we all have wanted for you. Thank you Erin O'Kane and John Holder for giving this boy the forever love and care that he has always deserved.
Very special thanks to: Val of Second Chance Companions.
To Madii Mullican and Melanie Belisle who always do the right thing for dogs even when it's far less than easy!
To Lynn Harty for your ongoing Blue River communication, support and wisdom over many months!
To Jim Jones, for all of your support, kindness, great help and for meeting up and giving us your thoughts on Blue.
Thank you to Pam Herranz for accepting Blue River into West Coast Bloodhound Rescue, Inc. Thank you Michele Swartz, for your great advice and to Deb Thomas-Blake for your help.
Thank you Barbara Rubenstein Acee and Kimber Hysell for being his home finding and supportive and loving aunties the whole time we've known this boy.
And thank you to Dave Zentzis, for always supporting my sometimes other planetary fostering ideas , for keeping our home and Blue River sane by taking him on endless marathon walks, chasing him all over Thousand Acres, and tiring him out with backyard play sessions.
Only because of the efforts of each of you, Blue River is finally a boy with a fantastic forever family. It takes a village.
Very special thanks to: Val of Second Chance Companions.
To Madii Mullican and Melanie Belisle who always do the right thing for dogs even when it's far less than easy!
To Lynn Harty for your ongoing Blue River communication, support and wisdom over many months!
To Jim Jones, for all of your support, kindness, great help and for meeting up and giving us your thoughts on Blue.
Thank you to Pam Herranz for accepting Blue River into West Coast Bloodhound Rescue, Inc. Thank you Michele Swartz, for your great advice and to Deb Thomas-Blake for your help.
Thank you Barbara Rubenstein Acee and Kimber Hysell for being his home finding and supportive and loving aunties the whole time we've known this boy.
And thank you to Dave Zentzis, for always supporting my sometimes other planetary fostering ideas , for keeping our home and Blue River sane by taking him on endless marathon walks, chasing him all over Thousand Acres, and tiring him out with backyard play sessions.
Only because of the efforts of each of you, Blue River is finally a boy with a fantastic forever family. It takes a village.