LOWDOWN Winter 2012 page 2
The Editor’s Bark
. . . . woof! woof!
Hi, everyone,
Welcome to this, issue number 10 of Lowdown - a bumper forty-eight pages!
Issue number ten! Would you believe it?
For over five years - man and boy - I have had the honour of editing our little magazine. It has been a real pleasure to have been able to reflect the tremendous revival of the South East Branch and record the successful walks and other events that, I am sure, have become important dates in all our diaries.
We have witnessed record numbers of enthusiastic members and hounds attending our ‘meets’, and from the feedback we receive we are aware how much they are anticipated and enjoyed.
In this anniversary edition I would like to take the opportunity to pay special tribute to my fellow committee members who work tirelessly to make membership of our Branch so very enjoyable. Selflessly, they devote so much of their time and energy to ensuring Basset Hound ownership is enjoyed by everyone to the maximum.
I know that he will hate me mentioning this, but I must highlight the notable achievement our truly brilliant Chairman, Brian Malin. His organisational skills and sound judgement in directing the Branch is tempered by good humour. He has steadily led the Branch (which only a few years ago very nearly disbanded) to the healthy position that it now enjoys.
On behalf of all members I say a very big thank you, Mr Chairman. Our hounds salute you!
A tenth issue anniversary seems a natural occasion to look back and review what has happened to the breed and the Branch over the past few years.
The breed has been through a very difficult time. Perceived by some to be not ‘fit for purpose’ - tell that to the thirty or more hounds that happily crash across the countryside on our monthly walks!
- Basset Hound entries at dog shows have significantly dropped since Crufts 2012.
The unfair scrutiny by governing bodies and certain animal rights organisations - which should be supporting the diversity of our canine breeds - has persuaded a few of our very best breeders to throw in the towel.
I know that some of us feel that there has been a lack of an articulate and persuasive defence mounted on behalf of our beloved breed. It is laudable that Canine Alliance has been established to support those breeds which have been singled out for unfair treatment (see Lowdown issue 9), but our dear hounds deserve their own distinctive case to be effectively championed. Surely, we owe them this much.
My personal opinion is that all the Basset Hound clubs in the UK could have done much more to counter these attacks and present the positive side of this great hound. It is not a good policy to keep one’s head down in the vain hope all this will just go away.
The breed needs an eloquent voice speaking on its behalf. There is a public relations battle going on here - and those on the side of the hounds should engage with it. Sadly, there seems to be no-one with the communication skills and media understanding to undertake this role. Perhaps some of the cash reserves that these clubs have could be used to get professional advice on how to persuasively fight our corner.
The Basset Hound as we know it is at risk - we must fight to protect it!
On a happier note, and despite all this, we in the Branch continue to celebrate and enjoy our hounds. Anyone who attends any of the Branch’s events will appreciate how much our hounds enjoy meeting their own kind. We witness friendships and alliances being formed and pecking-orders established. New hounds quickly join in the fun and games and tap into those atavistic impulses that make the Basset Hound a pack animal. All this is a pleasure to witness, for this alone I think it makes Branch membership worthwhile.
Of course, it is also fun for us humans to ‘pack’ with fellow owners. The Branch ’meets’ are a perfect opportunity to exchange information, ideas, and stories about our canine charges. I think is a ‘win-win’ situation for all concerned. So, with this in mind, please resolve to continue to support us with your continuing membership of the South East Branch - our subs remain unchanged this year.
Well, the summer seemed to be over before delivering too many sunny, warm days. Even so, I hope you managed to get away with your hounds. Frankie and I had a few forays in the caravan. Pablo and Nico now treat the ’van as a second home. They have each established their favourite positions and on occasions we have to ‘negotiate’ sharing the seating with them.
Pablo especially loves the vantage position this provides and ever the enthusiastic watchdog alerts us of every passing canine.
Our Dorset trip was very enjoyable - good weather and some memorable walks around the Isle of Purbeck.
A late autumn break to Canterbury took in Whitstable (great native oysters) and Margate (mostly to see the new Turner Gallery). It was so late in the season that we had the vast Margate beach to ourselves. The ‘boys’ really enjoyed the chance to play and chase each other across the sands. Nowadays dogs are prohibited from so many beaches for great chunks of the year, it was lovely to give them the opportunity to have a paddle in the sea and track the marine scents.
Now that the winter evenings are closing in, these trips already seem a long way off - but at least we can make plans for next year’s adventures.
I think you will enjoy reading Derek’s account of the Harris’ caravanning trip to the West Country with Hope and baby Dill.
Sally King has written an important piece that reminds us of the horrors of our hounds getting bloat.
This year’s Branch Fun Day was very successful; and it was a real pleasure for me to relive the day when reviewing the photographs that Derek and I had taken. Check out these in the report of the event in News Hound.
Russell Owen, a relatively new member, attended the Remembrance Service held at the Animals in War monument in London and placed a poppy on behalf of the Branch. He has written a lovely piece about this on page 31.
Sadly, some lovely hounds have left us this year; among them two regular ‘walkers’, dear Bessie and Barney. Tributes to them appear in this issue. Our thoughts go out to all members who have lost beloved companions over the last twelve months.
Drawings courtesy of Sheila Williams©2013
Finally, it is my pleasure, on behalf of all the Branch committee, to wish you and your families all the compliments of the Festive Season. Have a really great time and I look forward to meeting up with you again in 2013!
Enjoy your wonderful hounds!
editor@bassethoundowners.org.uk
Hi, everyone,
Welcome to this, issue number 10 of Lowdown - a bumper forty-eight pages!
Issue number ten! Would you believe it?
For over five years - man and boy - I have had the honour of editing our little magazine. It has been a real pleasure to have been able to reflect the tremendous revival of the South East Branch and record the successful walks and other events that, I am sure, have become important dates in all our diaries.
We have witnessed record numbers of enthusiastic members and hounds attending our ‘meets’, and from the feedback we receive we are aware how much they are anticipated and enjoyed.
In this anniversary edition I would like to take the opportunity to pay special tribute to my fellow committee members who work tirelessly to make membership of our Branch so very enjoyable. Selflessly, they devote so much of their time and energy to ensuring Basset Hound ownership is enjoyed by everyone to the maximum.
I know that he will hate me mentioning this, but I must highlight the notable achievement our truly brilliant Chairman, Brian Malin. His organisational skills and sound judgement in directing the Branch is tempered by good humour. He has steadily led the Branch (which only a few years ago very nearly disbanded) to the healthy position that it now enjoys.
On behalf of all members I say a very big thank you, Mr Chairman. Our hounds salute you!
A tenth issue anniversary seems a natural occasion to look back and review what has happened to the breed and the Branch over the past few years.
The breed has been through a very difficult time. Perceived by some to be not ‘fit for purpose’ - tell that to the thirty or more hounds that happily crash across the countryside on our monthly walks!
- Basset Hound entries at dog shows have significantly dropped since Crufts 2012.
The unfair scrutiny by governing bodies and certain animal rights organisations - which should be supporting the diversity of our canine breeds - has persuaded a few of our very best breeders to throw in the towel.
I know that some of us feel that there has been a lack of an articulate and persuasive defence mounted on behalf of our beloved breed. It is laudable that Canine Alliance has been established to support those breeds which have been singled out for unfair treatment (see Lowdown issue 9), but our dear hounds deserve their own distinctive case to be effectively championed. Surely, we owe them this much.
My personal opinion is that all the Basset Hound clubs in the UK could have done much more to counter these attacks and present the positive side of this great hound. It is not a good policy to keep one’s head down in the vain hope all this will just go away.
The breed needs an eloquent voice speaking on its behalf. There is a public relations battle going on here - and those on the side of the hounds should engage with it. Sadly, there seems to be no-one with the communication skills and media understanding to undertake this role. Perhaps some of the cash reserves that these clubs have could be used to get professional advice on how to persuasively fight our corner.
The Basset Hound as we know it is at risk - we must fight to protect it!
On a happier note, and despite all this, we in the Branch continue to celebrate and enjoy our hounds. Anyone who attends any of the Branch’s events will appreciate how much our hounds enjoy meeting their own kind. We witness friendships and alliances being formed and pecking-orders established. New hounds quickly join in the fun and games and tap into those atavistic impulses that make the Basset Hound a pack animal. All this is a pleasure to witness, for this alone I think it makes Branch membership worthwhile.
Of course, it is also fun for us humans to ‘pack’ with fellow owners. The Branch ’meets’ are a perfect opportunity to exchange information, ideas, and stories about our canine charges. I think is a ‘win-win’ situation for all concerned. So, with this in mind, please resolve to continue to support us with your continuing membership of the South East Branch - our subs remain unchanged this year.
Well, the summer seemed to be over before delivering too many sunny, warm days. Even so, I hope you managed to get away with your hounds. Frankie and I had a few forays in the caravan. Pablo and Nico now treat the ’van as a second home. They have each established their favourite positions and on occasions we have to ‘negotiate’ sharing the seating with them.
Pablo especially loves the vantage position this provides and ever the enthusiastic watchdog alerts us of every passing canine.
Our Dorset trip was very enjoyable - good weather and some memorable walks around the Isle of Purbeck.
A late autumn break to Canterbury took in Whitstable (great native oysters) and Margate (mostly to see the new Turner Gallery). It was so late in the season that we had the vast Margate beach to ourselves. The ‘boys’ really enjoyed the chance to play and chase each other across the sands. Nowadays dogs are prohibited from so many beaches for great chunks of the year, it was lovely to give them the opportunity to have a paddle in the sea and track the marine scents.
Now that the winter evenings are closing in, these trips already seem a long way off - but at least we can make plans for next year’s adventures.
I think you will enjoy reading Derek’s account of the Harris’ caravanning trip to the West Country with Hope and baby Dill.
Sally King has written an important piece that reminds us of the horrors of our hounds getting bloat.
This year’s Branch Fun Day was very successful; and it was a real pleasure for me to relive the day when reviewing the photographs that Derek and I had taken. Check out these in the report of the event in News Hound.
Russell Owen, a relatively new member, attended the Remembrance Service held at the Animals in War monument in London and placed a poppy on behalf of the Branch. He has written a lovely piece about this on page 31.
Sadly, some lovely hounds have left us this year; among them two regular ‘walkers’, dear Bessie and Barney. Tributes to them appear in this issue. Our thoughts go out to all members who have lost beloved companions over the last twelve months.
Drawings courtesy of Sheila Williams©2013
Finally, it is my pleasure, on behalf of all the Branch committee, to wish you and your families all the compliments of the Festive Season. Have a really great time and I look forward to meeting up with you again in 2013!
Enjoy your wonderful hounds!
editor@bassethoundowners.org.uk