Frequently Asked Questions



What is Arizona Basset Hound Rescue?
We are a basset hound rescue organization located in the metro Phoenix area of Arizona. Through our network of volunteers, we are able to provide adoptions to the entire state. Rescue means finding new homes for homeless dogs. Rescued bassets are from pounds/shelters, strays whose owners cannot be found, and those given up directly by owners who no longer want them for various reasons. Volunteers pick up the dogs, take them to the vet as needed for spaying, neutering, or any other necessary care, serve as foster homes, and help in locating permanent homes for the dogs. The dogs are fostered at least two weeks or more in order for the rescue to discover any problems the dogs might have, and to get an understanding of the dogs' personalities.
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What kind of Bassets are available?
Arizona Basset Hound Rescue does not routinely have puppies available for adoption. The main reason is because many people buy basset hound puppies on impulse and then give them up to rescue or dump them at shelters when they are no longer young; customarily when they are between 1 and 2 years old. We usually have many older bassets, ranging from 2 years old on up. Some of the sweetest and most well-behaved hounds have been 5 years old and up. If you would like to open up your home to a basset hound and would also like to help rescue a dog and give it a second chance, please consider adopting a dog through AZBHR. Note: All dogs available through AZBHR are spayed or neutered - No Exceptions!
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Where can I go to see all the dogs?
All the dogs are in foster homes located throughout Arizona. The best place to see ALL the dogs is right here.  We regularly update all the dogs in our system with biographies and pictures.  If you're interested in a specific dog, you can click on the contact info to find out more about that dog. You can see the Dogs Available by clicking on the Dogs link at the top of the page.
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I have very young children, is a Basset good with kids?
If your family has small children (under the age of ten), please think carefully before making the decision to adopt a dog.  Adopting a dog into a home with small children will take extra effort and training by all family members to be successful. Please make sure you are willing to take the extra time, effort, and sometimes money for training classes that it will take to integrate a dog into your family. Please read about AZBHR's policies regarding children under five.  We recommend Childproofing Your Dog by Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson as a good book to read before making any decisions.
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I would like to adopt one of the dogs listed as "Coming Soon".  Why can't I adopt it now?
When we rescue a dog, it most likely needed to be "rescued", due to health, behavioral, or environmental issues.  All rescued dogs spend the the first two weeks in their foster home in an extensive Evaluation Period.  During this time we not only nurse them back to health if needed, but we also try to find out as much about the dogs personality, likes and dislike, and behavioral traits.  We try to find out if they like other animals, if they're good with children, or any other traits that may require special attention.  This helps us to ensure we find the right home for the dog.  As soon as AZBHR deems the dog healthy and/or at the end of the two week evaluation period, the dog is considered "available". To find out more about a specific dog, send an e-mail to the contact listed for that dog, or to info@azbassetrescue.com.
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What do I need to do to adopt a dog from AZBHR?
The very first thing you must do is fill out and submit an Adoption Application, available for download on the Adoption Page (click the Adopt link at the top of the page). We do have some important criteria that must be met by the adoptive home including a fenced yard, an indoor sleeping/living area, and compatibility with all household members and pets. We ensure this compatibility through an application and a home visit. The home visit is not to check for housekeeping, but to enable rescue members to talk with the potential adoptive family about their particular situation, and to ensure that the home is compatible with the lifestyle of one of our basset hounds.
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How much does it cost to adopt a dog from AZBHR?
AZBHR charges a donation for each basset.  This fee helps us pay for veterinary care to bring the bassets to adoptable status. All bassets are spayed or neutered, current on shots, and have been checked for health problems.  The amount of the donation varies based on the age of the dog and other circumstances.  Please review our Adoption Fees for more information.

AZBHR will accept personal checks for payment with a valid Arizona Driver's License, and a $25.00 service charge will be applied if your check is returned for insufficient funds.
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Is there Financial Assistance available to help me care for my pet?
The Arizona Basset Hound Rescue does not offer financial assistance to help cover the costs associated with caring for adopted animals.  However, there are a number of organizations that do specialize in offering pet care financial assistance.  A listing is available on the Links page above, or by clicking here.
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I found a Basset running loose. What should I do with it?
You should immediately take it to the local animal shelter!  It's owners will never know to look for it at your home.  If you had a lost dog, you probably would hope someone would turn it in to the local shelter, too.  AZBHR has a very good relationship with all the shelters, so if the dog's owners do not claim it, or if it's too sick to be adopted and/or is in danger of being put down, the shelter will contact us to come "rescue" the dog.  It's very helpful if you can list yourself as the finder/adopter, get a kennel number and the dog ID, then call us with that information so we can monitor the dog's progress.
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I need to give up my dog. Will AZBHR take my dog?
If the dog is not in immediate danger, we cannot "rescue" the dog.  If you need to place your dog in a new home, please read this EXTREMELY helpful article, How to Find a New Home for your Basset Hound.
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I'm moving and I can't take my dog with me.  What should I do?
The first thing you should do is read this informative article, I'm Moving but I can't take my dog.  It offers a lot of helpful tips on what options you have to keep or place your dog.
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My Basset just won't behave!  What can I do?
Sometimes a little training is all a dog needs to make a great pet!  Many times bassets are out of control because their owners did not correct bad behavior when the bassets were puppies. What is cute in a little puppy is not always acceptable in an adult dog.  If you are having behavior problems with your dog, chances are that they can be corrected with some proper training and you should consider hiring a professional trainer.  We have a number of trainers listed on our Links page. Most trainers can provide one-on-one training for general and specific problems, and they also have regularly scheduled group obedience classes at several locations.
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My Basset has severe "Separation Anxiety". What can I do?
The best thing you can do is to hire a professional trainer to help you and your dog both get along when you're apart.  But we do have a great article that can help, too.  Click Here to download this article (MS Word format).
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How can I volunteer to be a part of AZBHR?
Being an all volunteer organization, we can always use more people to help!  Please click the Volunteer link at the top of the page for more information on how you can help save a Basset in need!
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