To The Rescue Groups Help Dogs Find Homes And Veterinary Care

Kloe’s somber face and odd sausage physique have captured hearts and thinned out wallets from Spokane to Pasco.

This low-riding hound has a rare bone growth disorder. Her first family surrendered her after discovering her illness. Her second set of owners tried to arrange proper veterinary care but gave up when vet bills mounted.

Finally, a concerned employee of the Pasco Humane Society contacted Pat Benstine of Basset Rescue in Spokane. One of a growing number of canine rescuers, Benstine steps in when hope seems lost.

These rescue groups, often only one- or two-member efforts, organize themselves around caring for their favorite breed. Rescuers in the Inland Northwest take in bulldogs, golden retrievers and several other purebreds.

Benstine immediately made the trip to Pasco, where the velvet-eared Kloe worked her magic. “She could win the saddest-look contest. Even when she’s happy, she has the saddest look on her face,” Benstine says.

Kloe’s illness has caused one bone in her right front leg to stop growing, while another has grown too long. The ulna, her shorter bone, keeps popping out of its socket. She limps, and the disorder may cause her to go lame. Veterinarians have attempted to lengthen the ulna through surgery.

Kloe is just one of a long list of abandoned bassets that now have a second chance at life because of Benstine. Last year she landed new homes for 74 fortunate hounds. So far this year she has placed 35.

Basset Rescue charges a nominal fee of $85 for adopting the purebred dogs. When bassets leave Benstine’s care, they are licensed, vaccinated and spayed or neutered. She also throws in a collar and leash to start the adoption off right.

Because there are so many expenses, saving bassets fills the soul yet drains the pocketbook. About once a year Benstine rescues a hard-luck case needing so much veterinary care that she has to help pay the bill.

“Dauber was an $800 surgery on his front legs. Jessie had female problems. She was 300-and-something. I rescued an old guy, and we ended up doing a lot of dental. He was $500,” recalls Benstine.

Still, she wouldn’t dream of giving up on her stout-legged buddies. Making sure they’re well cared for is Benstine’s way of giving back.

“I’ve had bassets for 35 years. I’ve had people tell me that their spirit uplifts,” she says. “They have given me joy and laughter and companionship.”

Part of the bassets’ charm is their “What’s in it for me?” attitude. Often the dogs seem to forget their own names - until they sense a bite of chicken or piece of biscuit might be headed their way.

“They know exactly what they can get away with,” she says.

Nonetheless, pet rescue can be discouraging. Resources are limited, and there’s a never-ending flow of needy pets.

Benstine renews her strength by connecting with people from other rescue groups. Although the breeds they represent are different, these rescuers share a passion for animals. from other rescue groups. Although the breeds they represent are different, these rescuers share a passion for animals.

Several groups joined together and formed a “pet railroad,” which transports dogs of various breeds across the region. Members post their travel schedules on the Internet and offer to shuttle a small, medium or large dog.

Sparky is placed into a kennel and presto! A terrier from Tacoma begins a new life in Spokane.

Members also alternate shelter runs and report if they find another group’s breed.

Recently, Benstine received a call from a fellow rescuer who was worried about a dog in Colville, Wash., that was scheduled to be euthanized.

Unfortunately the caller couldn’t leave work long enough to make the trip to pick up the dog. So the basset lady drove to Colville and rescued the Doberman.

Bev Hall of Bulldog Rescue considers herself lucky that her breed has a local and national association.

“Bulldog people worldwide are a very close-knit group,” she says.

When a dog in Michigan needed $2,000 worth of surgery, bulldog clubs across the nation sent donations.

Hall has volunteers who serve as temporary caretakers for the bulldogs. Recently a foster family took in a dog needing time-consuming medical attention.

Benstine says rescue groups couldn’t function without the generous support of area veterinarians, who donate professional services and give discounts.

As for Kloe, her last surgery failed to adequately lengthen her bone; it still routinely slips out of the socket.

The basset’s best hope is an innovative surgery called high ulnar osteotomy, says Russ Howard, veterinarian at Animal Pain Management Center.

The surgery involves inserting pins through the bone. Rings hold the pins in place. The setup is attached to a small crank, which is turned daily to stretch the bone.

Benstine is trying to enlist the help of Washington State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, which teaches the procedure.

“In veterinary medicine it’s very new,” Howard says. “There are only two or three hospitals in the country doing it.”

Although Howard is optimistic that Kloe will benefit from the surgery, he worries about the arthritic elbow she developed as a result of the disorder.

Still, several families are eager to adopt Kloe. After the basset has her surgery, Benstine will do her usual trial placement.

“If she gets along with the people, cats, dogs and whatever, and the people want to keep her, then we’ll permanently place her,” Benstine says.

Kloe’s new family must live in a one-story home, because climbing steps is too hard on her fragile joints.

She’ll no doubt stretch out her legs, don her beguiling woeful expression and gracefully win over the household.

This sidebar appeared with the story: FAST FACTS How to help

Kloe’s surgery-related expenses are estimated to run about $1,000. If you’d like to help Kloe, send checks to the Kloe Fund at Spokane Federal Credit Union at 1212 W. Francis, Spokane, WA 99205.

If you’d like to adopt one of the following purebreds, call: basset hound, 466-1538; Australian shepherd, (208) 772-2989; bulldog, 926-5079; Doberman pinscher, 325-0261; dachshund, 838-4916; golden retriever, 443-1133; or corgi, 328-8420.