Luis of Daphneyland. Feral hounds steal the heart.

When a rescue group gets hit with a large intake from a puppy mill situation, there are no magic guidelines on the issues you will see.  Such an intake happened a few years back for our sister rescue Golden Gate Basset Rescue.  They did a remarkable job with the intake of 61 "bassets" all in one day! I do believe it is still the single largest intake of basset hounds in the country to date.

As these hounds came in, several were terrified.  Living their lives with limited human interaction, lack of vet care and proper socialization, many of thee hounds were what we in rescue consider to be "Feral".  Daphneyland agreed to help with the 10 worst cases to alleviate the burden of "feral" hounds in a foster based group.

Luis was one of the first to come down South to Daphneyland. Arriving with a companion whom has long since been adopted, Luis clearly was a mix despite supposed AKC registration.  This puppy mill kennel was also breeding King Charles Spaniels and Luis clearly had some genetics that tied him to both breeds.  That does not make us love him any less.

Luis was fearful of humans.  Complete terror.  It took some time before he began to trust us, and we worked night and day, talking to him, underhanded treating and petting.  Gentle leash walks and the tincture of familiarity and time.  Singing the song "Louie-Louie" became his theme, and he knew it was for him.  Luis became responsive to me within a short period of time, yet his fear of men continued.  Bruce worked with him while up at Daphneyland on weekends, and slowly Luis came around.  Our first breakthrough happened about a year ago, Luis suddenly had a large mass on his abdomen which required emergency surgery.  We thought we were loosing him then, yet we were able through a series of operations to handle the horrible abdomen and get healthy tissue back.  During that time we had baths and rinses and lots of hands on touching - all the while singing gently to this boy.

The daily improvement with Luis was amazing.  Each day he would come running to my voice, he sought me out in the pack, and would give gentle kisses - as long as no one else was around.  Strangers entering the yard had him LEAP into my lap quivering in fear.  Yet he sought me out - his protector.

2 weeks ago Luis began picking at his food.  Tempting his appetite and putting him on meds, he just was going downhill, so we decided to move him to my home and see if that had any impact.  Luis cuddled up on my bed - watching TV for all he was worth.  At night he snuggled in between warm bodies and sought out kisses and cuddles.  Tears fell as we all realized the final breakthrough with Luis happened.
At the end of his life.

This morning I sang amidst a million tears, as the final vet determination was called...... terminal cancer.  His pain had begun yesterday and the miracles for Luis were at an end.  I nodded, and kissed him singing in his ear all the while.

It is so hard to say goodbye when we all wanted happily ever after.
Luis had a home.  It was my home. He slept in bed with snuggles and kisses. He will be loved forever.
Some will say Luis had his happily ever after - he found the courage to overcome his fear of humans and trust before he left this world.  Luis arrived at Daphneyland as a feral.

Luis left this world well loved, seeking human touch and getting kisses.
May his journey never end, and may the lessons he taught us along the way be ones that help many more hounds.

Golden Gate's Luis of Daphneyland.
ATB 10-9-13