Meet Rosie, an integral member of the House o'Rapscallion. I rescued Rosie from a shelter in Delaware literally moments before she was to be euthanized; and let me tell you, the world is a better place with her in it because despite her handicap, she is a ray of sunshine to all who meet her.

 

When I first met Rosie I knew immediately she was blind and her eyes were diseased by glaucoma. Her eyes were so swollen and looked so painful that I cringed everytime she bumped into something. And then the tests came back positive for heartworms. It was also clear she'd been nursing puppies not too long before she ended up in the shelter. But despite the physical pain she felt because of her eyes, Rosie was bright and engaging to all she met. She was clearly happy to be alive and her little tail never once stopped wagging.

 

Well, BROOD got her heartworms all cleared up and her eyes have long been surgically removed by a procedure called a double enucliation, but she does not miss them one bit. Rosie now sees her world through her nose and what I like to call her "internal GPS system."  Whenever she's introduced to a new place, Rosie will systematically "map" her surroundings out and within hours can negotiate a new environment as easily as any seeing dog.  Rosie is now somewhere between 7 and 10 years of age and continues to charm all who meet her. If only I had a dollar for everytime someone has offered to adopt her. So, if you're really interested in getting a basset, please consider adopting a homeless hound from one of the nation's many basset rescue organizations.

 

Glaucoma is a hereditary disease that can be found frequently in basset hounds. Reputable breeders take the condition seriously and put great emphasis on pedigree information as well as having their breeding stock frequently evaluated. (More to come on Glaucoma and living with a blind dog -- I just have to collect my thoughts and do some more research.)