Maybe it’s the droopy eyes. Or the ears down to there. Or the mournful expression that says, “Here I am. Now love me.” But Basset Hounds – from the French “bas,” as in “low” – have always had their place in the cash-register hearts of New York and L.A. Elvis Presley sang “Hound Dog” to a Bassett Hound named Sherlock when he introduced the song on “The Steve Allen Show” in 1956. Bassets have been the sidekicks of TV detective Columbo, Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane on “The Dukes of Hazzard,” the Maytag Repairman and even Lassie. A Bassett named Jason is the face of Hush Puppies.
We at WAG have a soft spot in our hearts for Cleo, the wisecracking Basset played by Bernadette and voiced by Mary Jane Croft on the 1950s series “The People’s Choice.” Some of us even had stuffed versions of Cleo to play with in our kiddie years.
In that venerable tradition, we give you Bass, a 5-year-old who’s had a tough time, having been left at a high-kill shelter. Fortunately, one of the SPCA’s rescue friends got him out just in the nick of time. Since then he’s been fostered and is now up for adoption.
The SPCA says Bass is “an amazing dog,” a total goofball who’s great with other animals and kids. Though quite energetic, Bass likes his quiet family time, too, and nothing more than a good belly rub. In other words, he’s a lot more than a hound dog.
To meet Bass, visit the SPCA of Westchester at 590 N. State Road in Briarcliff Manor. Please note: The SPCA does not accept deposits, make appointments or reserve animals for adoption even if it has spoken about a particular dog or cat with you. It’s always first-come, first-served among applicants, pending approval. The SPCA is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays. To learn more, call (914) 941-2896 or visit spca914.org. n
