English Coonhound

Born deep in the heart of West Virginia, Susie was a dog who would not hunt; but something about her mitigated this usually fatal failure in her nature, and spared her from being shot. Instead, she was taken by her disappointed owner to the small and rather beleaguered local Animal Control facility.

Although Suzie was one of a multitude of hounds who were similarly "flawed," there was something about her love of life, and the extraordinary vitality of her spirit that went straight to the heart of the Tucker County Animal Control Officer. In fact, for several months, the Warden stashed Suzie in a variety of places to prevent her from being "fingered" for outstaying her days in county care. Suzie moved about uncomplainingly as her caregiver sought a rescue that would welcome an adolescent coonhound with a joyful outlook and an irrepressible exuberance.

Suzie Q left the mountains of West Virginia and came to the suburbs of Maryland. She travelled bravely and unquestioningly. And once in our care, we realized that what is so special about Suzie is the fact that all the aspects of her houndly being that did not make her a great hunter, focused instead on making her just a great dog.

Suzie is still as country as the day she was born. As open and outgoing as Minnie Pearl, she has a whooping croon of greeting that first startles, and then charms every person she meets with its herald of unabashed love.She is incorrigibly affectionate, and literally dances for joy when she sees anyone she recognizes. Her happy insistence on seeing all her friends every day borders on a being Susie's mission; she once took up a position on the front porch of a home that neighbors her caregiver's house, and voiced with all her might through their door in hopes that they would come out and visit for a spell.

Suzie has overwhelmed some of her prospective adopters with her enthusiastic admiration, much of which is intensified by the fact that she is an adolescent. But for a hound lover who wants a dog who will hail every person and every dog with friendship, and who will tend those relationships with dedication, Susie's your girl.

Suzie is small for a coonhound - lanky, strong and sleek. Her head is flanked by excellently long ears, and her brown eyes regard the world with a direct and frank expression. She has embraced the concept of Doggy Day Care as an interesting and remarkable opportunity for her style of country diplomacy. She plays wildly in this setting, as indeed she is intended to do, and her happiness at being given a daily work-out is also a marvelous sight to behold; as she tumbles and leaps about with her suburban partners, you can envisage the beautiful red and white hound from the mountains scrambling up and down rocky slopes and thrashing through brush.

Suzie now scrambles into a station wagon on her way home, and she gratefully twirls and circles in a lovely dog bed instead of wild grasses. She is house-trained, and happy to walk on leash. Her beautiful throaty warble, so pleasing to a hound lover's ear, now voices only when it is appropriate - in warning, or jubilee greeting.

Suzie is still the lovely, graceful creature whose rebel yell might have pierced a winter night on the scent of a coon. But her searching ways now seek companionship, and yes, an occasional shoe - and her friendship is a rare and special currency because it is offered without condition and with all her heart.