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If you read the Missouri 8 rescue story, then you already know a little about Daisy. She's 7 years old, and was breeding stock for a commercial kennel in Missouri, always penned, never loved for being herself, just one of 10 producers. But the bloodhound world stepped in with donations and volunteers who saved Daisy (and seven others) from that life when she was auctioned on March 23, 1996.Daisy was fostered by Lowell and Paula Travis of Pontoon Beach, Illinois. The following was written by Paula.
Although we had agreed that we would be willing to foster a bloodhound, it wasn't until the notice regarding the Osceola, MO puppy mill auction came across the Internet to the Bloodhound Bunch's lists that we had our first opportunity to actually be foster parents. When we learned that Paul Fornili was driving out from Virginia to bid on the dogs with money collected by Northeast Bloodhound Rescue from all over the world, we quickly decided that we wanted to be part of this rescue effort.
I immediately called Paul to inform him that we wanted to foster one of the hounds and offered our spare bedroom for his use as he traveled through to the auction site in southern Missouri. We felt giving bed and breakfast to Paul was the very least we could do. On the day of the auction we waited anxiously, along with the entire Bloodhound Bunch, for word of Paul's success. Then we waited some more until Paul returned to St. Louis with four of the eight dogs that he had rescued.
When he arrived at Hether Gardner's house, Lowell, Clifford, Hether and I were waiting. It didn't take long for me to decide that Daisy was the girl for us.
Our greatest fear was that a dog who had spent her entire life in a pen would not be housebroken, would be destructive or would not get along with our 2 year old bloodhound, Casey. Every fear was unfounded. Daisy never had an accident in our home, never destroyed anything except for a straw laundry hamper (she had a real thing about raiding laundry hampers and baskets) and she and Casey were soon the best of buddies.
At first Daisy didn't know what "come" meant; she didn't know what toys were for' she didn't know how to play doggy games. Casey was a great help in the play teaching department. I took over the loving department. Although she was very sweet and loving with me, smiling at me every morning with her tail wagging, she seemed frightened of Lowell. They got along, but Daisy was reluctant to come to him.
We had her for about a month before sending her tearfully to Seattle to her new mom, Jill Lausen. Jill was heartbroken when three days after her arrival in Seattle, Daisy slipped out the front door and was gone.
Jill, with the advice and support of the Bloodhound Bunch, searched day and night for ten days. She had contacted all the American Bloodhound Club members in the Seattle area to be on the lookout for Daisy. One of the ABC members, Noel Stockwell, called her friend, Gretchen, who owns a Great Dane and lives a few miles from Jill. On the tenth day after Daisy disappeared, Noel was walking her Dane and Daisy approached the dog. Noel was able with treats to lead Daisy into her yard. It was a jubilant Jill who picked up Daisy a short time later.
Daisy has been back with Jill for about a month now. Jill tells me she is doing great. Jill takes her several times a week to a park with an enclosed dog socialization area where she romps and plays with other dogs. She is slowly overcoming her fear of household noises. She is still not bonding with Jill's boyfriend, Mark, although she seems to feel safe around him if Jill is in the room. Jill and I believe that she has been mistreated by men. Hopefully, with time, she will overcome this fear also.
Jill can't believe that this energetic, healthy dog is actually 7 years old. She is playful and loving and gentle. Jill couldn't be happier. She knows that it will take time for Daisy to overcome all her fears, but she is making progress every day. Jill hopes someday to see her as just a dog, not as a rescued dog. Jill loves Daisy and Daisy is learning to love and trust Jill more every day. That's the way love is....it grows.
Paula
LTravis104@aol.com