Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Featured Rescue - Dixie the Bluetick Coonhound

I've always had a soft spot for Blueticks and Redbones ... I blame this on being forced to read "Where the Red Fern Grows" when I was in school. It was a great book, but a heartbreaker for the dog-lover. I also had a friend whose father hunted - he always had 4 Redbones on hand (this may have also contributed). Generally, 3 were trained at all times and the fourth was his up and coming pup. The dogs were rotated on the hunting trips so that one always stayed home with the wife and kids.
One of the things I don't like about hunting is the dogs and the way they are treated (the above example was an exception to this generalization - there are always exceptions). If the dog doesn't work out on the hunt, many are left behind to fend for themselves. Little to no veterinary care is given to these dogs unless they prove themselves. Even then, they are often seen as a simple commodity to be bought and sold and not as a valued member of the hunt to be cared for. Hundreds of hounds go through rescues in prime hunting areas and it bothers me to no end. Some are shot at the end of the trip when they don't work out, but it is cheaper to just leave the dog behind.
This is Dixie. She is estimated to be 3 years old and is a gentle giant. Hounds often don't make it out of County Pounds ... there are simply so many that euthanasia is often the only choice. Lucky for Dixie, she is at Heart of the Catskills Humane Society. See her Petfinder ad here.
I know of at least one Canine Control in Ontario that uses the old "Take-Em-Out-The-Back-Door-And-Put-A-Bullet-To-'Em" method ... it's cheaper and quicker than euthanasia. One foster I know pulls them out of there when she has space/time. The unfortunate side is that nearly all of the hounds she pulls out have no experience inside a house, aren't housetrained and have NO manners.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

I am working w/and adopting out more and more Coonhounds of late. I am also fostering for American Black & Tan Coonhound Rescue. My favs are indeed the blue ticks and the b&t's. I am less and less judgmental of those who humanely self euthanise their dogs than those, certainly, who leave them in the woods; I have had several hounds found starving and lost w/hunting collars on; Scout even had a tracking collar! They don't do well in a pound. Scout wasn't even used to a pack which meant I crated him for a month or so, taking him out to hand walk. We got a lot of basic training done in that time. The boy sits like a champ! However, his nickname is Sir Barksalot - HA. Scout is an English (red tick) Coonhound. This girl is too far for me to help but I have 2 requests for blue ticks in my inbox right now plus am taking in a second B&T for ABTCR. Thanks for sharing the listings. My current TWC girl, Sassie, has been adopted and will be going to her home the first week of February - her family gave her up after 4 years cause they were moving. She cried at the door as she watched her potential adopters leave, esp the 4 y/o girl; unbeknownst to her, they have adopted her :)!! This dog is a FAMILY dog.

Cyndi and Stumpy said...

The hounds, wonderful dogs! Not so easy to place, though. Good luck, Dixie!

Where the Red Fern Grow is right up there with Old yeller and Albert Payson Terhune's collies!

Dog_geek said...

Where the Red Fern Grown - one of my favorites. I can't even walk past that book wihtout bursting into tears, though - it's a conditioned response!

Quilt Works said...

I've never seen a coonhoud before - what a beautiful dog! Love the coloring! YOu are a wonderful person saving these beautiful creaturs!


I stopped by with a tag, hope you will stop by too, Quiltworks

Unknown said...

She is so adorable! I am sure she will find a loving home very soon. :-)

*Amber* aka Suzy SINsation said...

Great feature - beautiful girl.

Its ME said...

freedom is never free right?

Anonymous said...

Great Storie!!! Im a dog lover too i do anything to have lots of dogs lol I have bluetick and saint bernard mixed she is so loving and loves kids !!!! and beagle she is a good girl lol sometimes!!!