Who should have to lose their home at 7 years old?  Zoey was very surprised when she lost the only home she knew and left with a stranger, her foster mom, in the Walmart parking lot.  Zoey was panicked and tried to run after the vehicle driving away, bringing her foster mom to her knees as she tried to hold onto the leash of this 67# red and white basset beauty.
Zoey was relinquished by her family when she was diagnosed with glaucoma in her right eye.  She had already lost her sight, and the bulging eye was painful.  Her family said it was not possible to pay for medical treatment.  They said they could not deal with a pet with health issues and if she couldn't go to rescue they had chosen to euthanize her. 
Zoey was soon spayed and updated on vaccines and thankfully tested negative for heartworm disease.  Her sagging underside clearly shows she had a few litters. 
After a week in her new foster home, Zoey seemed withdrawn, confused, and hadn't made friends with the other bassets in the home.  A week before Christmas, Zoey had surgery to remove her diseased and painful eye.  She came home the following day, and acted more content that she had since her arrival in foster care.  She started perking up, and seemed to be interested in making friends with the other bassets, and was bonding to her foster mom.  When she went for her stitch removal, it was noticeable to the entire staff that Zoey had a spring in her step and her tail was happily wagging.  The vet was certain some of her stress had been taken away with the removed painful eye.  He said it would be similar to having a continuous sinus headache.  The vet also took the pressure in her remaining eye because it would regularly be monitored if any change would occur.  It is not unusual for glaucoma to attack the other eye.  Zoey's pressure was a healthy 19.
Zoey was having fun by this time.  She was enjoying playing with the other dogs, running with a toy in her mouth, and being a part of the pack on our walks.  New Year's Eve, friends came over, and Zoey won the hearts of everyone, and enjoyed the celebration.  New Years Day morning, as Zoey awoke snuggled next to her foster mom, she seemed restless and her eye was irritated.  Her third eyelid had come over her eye. Hoping just for some irritation from a piece of dirt or something, her eye was flushed, but there was no change.  With only having one eye, it was decided to have it checked out immediately.  We made a trip to the emergency vet, and the results were devastating.  Glaucoma had invaded Zoey's remaining eye, and her pressure was 79. The vision was gone, and Zoey was blind.   An effort was made to aggressively treat with eye drops and medicine and IV meds.  The purpose was to deflate the eye, which reduces the pressure, which helps with the pain. Eye removal would still be necessary, but we were hoping to wait for Zoey's vet to return the next day from vacation to perform the surgery.  After several hours, the pressure would not decrease, Zoey was on a morphine drip to help with the pain, and was taken to surgery at 4 a.m.  Ten hours later, Zoey was released to go home.  I, her foster mom was devastated for this dog who had gone through so much in 1 month's time, and was wandering how this sweet soul was going to make one more adjustment.
Zoey is amazing!  Within 3 days after surgery, Zoey was going in and out of the doggy door herself!  She was going up and down the ramp of the bed, and up and down the stairs to the couch.  Within a week, she was going up and down the basement steps if she thought mom needed help changing the laundry.  Every day Zoey has amazed me.  These dogs do not have self pity, they deal with what they are given and make the best of it.
Zoey is going to remain with her foster family, or I should say her forever family.  We feel  since she knows the layout of the home, and has been through many adjustments, and is content and happy, and has bonded with her family and the other bassets, she deserves to relax and not have to make any new changes to her life.
Zoey's medical bills accumulated very quickly, and with her 2nd eye removal done at an emergency clinic, the rescue would graciously accept donations to help have funds available to rescue more bassets.  Ohio Basset Rescue has the reputation of one of the few rescues who takes the senior bassets, the sick bassets, and the less adoptable bassets.  Please consider donating to help us in the effort to continue to save many deserving bassets.  

Update 06/22/2011

Zoey went in for a routine removal of a mamory tumor last week. Less than 1 week out of surgery she had to go back in again for 2 emergency bloat surgeries to try to save her stomach lining. With a very heavy heart Maribeth her foster mom had to make a tough decision. Here are her words:

"It seems to be a very bad dream, but my beautiful Zoey left for the Rainbow Bridge on Tuesday, June 21.  I thought she would be with me for many years to come, as it seemed her life was just beginning.  She just had surgery to remove a cyst from her eye cavity, and the same time a tumor on her mammory that I was so relieved and thankful was not cancer.  Zoey's recovery was uneventful.  She was already standing over her best basset friend Wheezer barking at him and tugging at his ears to play.  I was very content to have her back home after spending the night at the vet.  She always, always slept with me, and my foot rested on the wavy fur of her back.  It was hard for anyone to believe she had no eyes.  Zoey rooted through the toy box for her favorite toys, ran like the wind through the house clearing the doggy door never missing the chance to run with the other bassets to make certain whoever was walking or riding down the road knew that they couldn't sneak by our house without the bassets being on patrol.  She sailed out the doggy door to meet me at the gate whenever I came home from anywhere.  My husband said Zoey could hear my Durango coming down the road before anyone could see or hear it. 
Friday, June 17th, Zoey started vomiting. Concerned, I called my vet's emergency number and we were at the vet before office hours with a diagnosis of bloat.  Zoey had surgery shortly after, her stomach was twisted.  All the bassets I have fostered and owned, this was my first experience with bloat.  Zoey was recovering, but another surgery my 8:00 p.m. that same evening because of a concern that the blood vessels to the stomach were not working because of the stomach had been tightly twisted.  I was able to scrub in for the surgery and be with Zoey and see with my eyes that the stomach looked better and circulation from the blood vessels was working.  A stomach tube allowed meds to be administered to coat the stomach.  I learned that when this happens the stomach lining is destroyed and the new flesh is raw and needs to heal.  I visited with Zoey several times a day and she seemed strong, blood work was good, and it looked liked we were moving in the right direction.  Just curling up with her on her comforter or sitting outside for awhile in the sunshine seemed to make us both content.  Tuesday she just wasn't feeling well. She had a fever, was passing fresh blood, and something was wrong.  My vet prepared me for what was probably happening, and after spending time with her, and telling her how much I loved her a million times,  a final exploratory surgery confirmed no amount of surgery or money could fix what was happening.  With me holding her paw the entire time of this final surgery, she was set free. Believe me, many tears by the entire staff were shed, and disbelief that this had happened to Zoey who had overcome so much.  It just wasn't fair.  It still seems unbelievable to me.  I cry so much, I should be dehydrated.  I hope I have the privilege to have her watching over me with her beautiful new eyes, and healthy body.  Perhaps Zoey was an angel that I was allowed to borrow for a short time.  She was the greatest comfort of all to me during my mom's recent illness.  Zoey brought immense joy to everyone, and maybe her work on earth was complete.  Run free my sweet Zo Zo Zoella girl, I love you more than words can say, and when we meet again, my heart can heal." 
Donations to help pay Zoey's vet bills are graciously accepted and appreciated so that we may have funds to rescue bassets in need and show them the love that I am certain Zoey felt.  Many thanks, Maribeth

We will forever love you and never forget you dear Zoey... Love All Your Friends at OBR.

Please feel free to email Zoey's mom, Maribeth, at adoptobr@yahoo.com