A story of Albert and Einstein

In November of 2007, we started looking for "the perfect dog" to complete our little family.  I found BROOD (basset rescue of old dominion) on petfinder.com and emailed the coordinator with our specifics.

She soon placed us with Albert, a sweet 9 year old full of energy, and several weeks later we made the drive up north to get him. We'd never owned a basset before, so we had some adjusting to do!  To say that Albert was king of the castle is an understatement.  He was a calm, steady, affectionate, rambunctious-for-his-age gentleman, and my son fell in love with him.  Almost two months later, a couple of days after a routine vet check-up, Albert didn't want to go for a walk.  I encouraged him to come and showed him the leash.  He tried to get up, but fell back on his back legs.

By the time we made it to the vet's office, Albert had lost control of his back legs and his bladder, and was turning cold and drooling overtime.  He was in a lot of pain; which the vet said was a ruptured disc.  Our boy went to the Rainbow Bridge that night.  I left a hysterical message for the BROOD coordinator, and received many beautiful and touching condolences via email from other BROOD members.

Not sure we were ready for another dog, but really missing our pal, I tentatively started looking on the BROOD site.  I was told about a dog who wasn't on the site, owner surrender, between 7-10 years old, being fostered in Maryland.  We were assured that he'd do great in an apartment, and we made plans to drive up to get Baxster.  His elderly owner had died and left him to someone who was going to euthanize this sweet boy, but instead surrendered him to a vet --who luckily knew of BROOD.

Upon seeing the 80 pound hunk of love that we promptly renamed Einstein (in honor of Albert), and realizing that he was only 18 months old, complete with soft tufty puppy fur, I knew we would have many happy years ahead as a family.  Look at that face!  How can you resist?  Einstein is a very un-basset; he's not a drooler or a barker, and he comes when I call.  I don't think he knows his basset rights!  He's got me totally spoiled for another dog, and lets our son wallow all over him.

Please give back to this wonderful organization by sponsoring Einstein at the Ramble in May of 2008.  BROOD takes dogs that would otherwise be euthanized, rehabilitates and pays for all of their care, and then carefully places them in the perfect home.  What more could you ask from an organization than to devote countless hours of time and energy, and money that will never even come close to being recouped, all for the love of dogs?