Bucksnort’s Story

In 1998 I was diagnosed at the age of 33 with Breast Cancer. It was a long couple of years trying to keep my family of three young children together while undergoing surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and recovery. But, we all made it!

June 8, 1999 dawned warm and beautiful! In the afternoon my husband arrived home from running errands with something stuffed under his shirt. “Our family has faced a mountain in the last year. We climbed it – we conquered it – and are stronger for it! This is for you…a gift to symbolize that ‘WE’ made it. Every time you see him thing of our family’s success!”

I was then presented with a bundle of fuzzy love that we immediately named “Bucksnort!” This was a term of endearment my husband used with our children when they were younger…and the sounds this little wiggly pup was making seemed to make the name even more appropriate!

Puppy Bucksnort

Over the years Bucksnort added so much love and laughter to our family! He was the favorite of the neighborhood! Although his house training skills left something to be desired, he was perfect in every other way! He grew into a beautiful boy topping out at a perfect 64 pounds!

Bucksnort became the inspiration for this web site. As time went on I became involved with Basset Buddies Rescue, Inc. Another gift Bucksnort gave us….because it was something we, as a family, enjoyed doing together! I also realized that there were so many things I had not known abut owning a Basset and as I accumulated information I thought I would help others! BuckBasset.com was born!

Bucksnort had always been a very healthy hound. We were very blessed! He had the occasional ear infection and even blew the ACL in his back leg (which healed naturally with a little extra TLC from us and a lot of support from our vet) not to forget those famous “basset lumps” (fatty cysts or lipomas). But, for the most part he was AOK! Bucksnort was our constant companion going on outings, doing transports for BBR and exploring dog parks and our neighborhood!

One day in October 2008 we noticed he wasn’t as interested in eating like usual and was a little slower. We monitored him closely and saw he was interacting with us and drinking well. He was still going outside to play a bit and had no “potty” issues. 2 days later, on October 23, I awoke to find him looking at me with very sad eyes. His belly was very distended. My husband took him to the vet at noon that day while I was at work. At 12:30 I received a call from our very favorite vet. Expecting to hear that he was constipated or had bloat I was left in shock after hearing the words “he has Hemangiosarcoma, and there isn’t anything we can do. You need to come home from work and love him while you can.”

Nothing prepared me for those words. Just 1 month prior to this he had a dental done with a complete blood panel and nothing out of the ordinary was seen. How could this be? Apparently this is a very fast growing cancer as it feeds on the blood supply of the spleen and heart. The x-ray taken of Bucksnort showed there was a large mass encompassing his spleen and infiltrating his abdomen. Because of its location and they way it grew it didn’t physically present until too late. His breathing was becoming labored just within the time I left for work and the time I came home. We knew he would only get worse. As a family we spent the rest of the afternoon holding Bucksnort and loving him. The tears flowed from all of us….teen age son included.

At 4:00 PM on October 23, 2008, Bucksnort went to the bridge in the loving arms of the man who had brought him home to our family. Not a day goes by that we don’t think of our Buck. The difference is that now I do not always cry tears of sadness but instead shed tears of joy knowing how special it was that we were allowed to have him in our lives for almost 10 years!

Bucksnort Bocephus Ritchie
Born: April 16, 1999
Joined our family: June 8, 1999
At the Bridge: October 23, 2008

“It is with a heavy heart that I have to pass on the news that Bucksnort went to the bridge on October 23, 2008. He was diagnosed with a cancer that enveloped his spleen – and there was nothing that could be done. Bucksnort was my life. He was truly a once in a lifetime hound that I had the honor of being owned by. For almost 10 years he added love to our family. I’m sorry you were in pain, Buck. I’m sorry I didn’t see this coming. Know I sent you to the bridge with nothing but love in my heart.

Forever in my heart will you be….never to be forgotten. I love you, Buck!”
- Posted on BuckBasset.com 10/23/08

Please take a moment to visit Bucksnort’s family at the MnHoundage page on BuckBasset.