Once upon a time someplace in Iowa a little basset puppy was born. She grew to be a beauty with silken soft ears and melt-your-heart brown eyes. Little is known about her early life, other than she had had a litter of puppies. One day she was found wandering alongside a road, not looking for Prince Charming, but for a fairytale ending; a loving home where she could live happily ever after.
Her dreams almost came true when a good Samaritan stopped to rescue her. She was taken to a shelter where she was adopted. Her luck did not last, her new owner was working overtime and turned her back. This time she was placed with in a foster home through Hound’s Haven Basset Rescue. This well behaved, although shy, puppy was given the name Betsy. She waited not knowing what would come next. The foster "Mom" wanted to keep this princess-in-waiting, but already had too many dogs.
Miles away, the Pritchetts, a Mayfield Heights couple, had lost their second basset to cancer. They had looked at local basset rescue groups, but they could not find the right match. One day Denise Pritchett was surfing the net and went to Petfinders.com. She saw Betsy and fell in love at first sight.
Distance was an obstacle, but after the Pritchetts went through the adoption screening process and explained how much they wanted her – all that was left was to get Betsy from De Moines to Mayfield Heights.
Like the magic pumpkin carriage whisking Cinderella to the castle, Krystal McClain of Hound’s Haven Basset Rescue made all the arrangements for Betsy’s ride. Eleven volunteers each driving one to two hours legs, brought Betsy to the Pritchetts' doorstep before the clock struck midnight. Martha Chandler, from Martha’s Mutt Movers, drove the last leg and witnessed the happy ending.
Betsy is finally living "happily ever after" thanks to many volunteers and her new family: Ray, Denise and Charlie Pritchett.
If you are considering a long term commitment check out petfinders.com or your local adoption/foster groups like pawsohio.org. On the other hand if you already have your hands (and house) full, or can just spare a few hours volunteer why not drive? Transport trains come through the Hillcrest area with regularity. Contact Martha Chandler at marthasmuttmovers@fastmail to be added to the list.