Check out some great alumni stories, Daphneyland updates and BHCSC Annual Picnic information!

Daphneyland has certainly been a happening place this year!  It seems like just yesterday it was January!  As 2016 has rolled along the hounds were offered many filming opportunities to enhance our education programs. We are happy to report that our Wrangling Team participated once again in The Hilaroo Foundation Youth Program, a reality show which will air in the fall wherein an adoption was generated. We just finished up filming with Save our Shelter which will air on the CW this fall!  Our hope in these projects is to bring rescue awareness to the public and that these projects will help all basset rescues everywhere!
 
Many people seem to believe that filming projects bring in funding.  This is not true. Rarely is a donation made for the hounds appearance and it always costs the organization money in the form of extra hands helping, transportation, grooming supplies etc.  So when you see Daphneyland hounds on TV, media or group activities please know we are participating in order to help bring awareness, but we do NOT get our expenses covered!  Far from it!  In most cases a filming project will bring additional work when it is aired in the form of phone calls, emails, social media and the inevitable owner surrenders that occur.  Why do we do it?  So that an increasing number of people will learn of basset rescue and hopefully consider donating, volunteering or adopting.  The hounds are indeed fortunate to receive so many opportunities and we always try to make it happen.  Sometimes when funds are seriously low, we have to decline.
 
This fall we will be highlighted on Save our Shelters.  The show airs on the CW every Saturday and helps to bring awareness to rescue.  This was a great opportunity for us to get some repair work done for the hounds, some improvements, and help educate viewing audiences about the difficulties surrounding the running of a rescue. Our show is scheduled to air during Senior Dog Awareness Month (October) and will have replays several times in the next year.  As our current population is 60% seniors ages 10 or over, we hope that families nationwide consider opening their homes to rescue dogs!
 
October also brings us our next fundraiser - The Basset Hound Picnic!  October 16, 2016 in Arcadia Park - hundreds of hounds will gather for fun, games, costume contests and just to delight in the love of the basset hound!  Daphneyland will run the raffle again this year, and we hope to have wonderful items, get to catch up with all our Alumni and smile the day away watching the hounds enjoying a good time in the park!  
Please plan on joining us for the picnic, get those costumes ready!  If you have items to donate for the raffle, we need all we can get!  Give us a call or drop us an email to let us know if you can help!  The Club always needs additional help in the form of volunteers, set up begins at 8 a.m. and tear down lasts until 4-5 pm, so helping hands are certainly needed!
 
Please consider a recurring donation to help us meet our monthly bills and keep Daphneyland up and running as a wonderful resource for our beloved hounds - those that are homeless and the hounds of tomorrow who will need our help as well!  Thank you to each and everyone that makes it possible to run the only rehabilitation center for basset hounds in the world!  14 years.  Many said i t could not be done, but each of you have helped make it happen!   Looking forward to cooler weather and lots of wagging tails!

Dawn

So ... how much does it cost to run Daphneyland for a month?

That is an excellent question?  The short answer is about $15,000 each month and some months it is really a struggle to meet this budget.  But let's break it down. 

DOG CARE EXPENSES - Dog food and supplements $1800, Dog cookies $400, routine veterinary costs $2500, cleaning supplies $200,  laundry supplies $100, fencing and run maintenance $100, shelter pull fees $200,  kennel personnel $4000 for a total of $9300 per month.
The law requires that there must be someone on the property at all times for the safety of the dogs.  One person cannot take care of 70 dogs, 24/7 alone, so we do have some paid part-time kennel techs that are paid minimum wage to help with the daily care and feeding of our dogs. We rely heavily on donations of products which help keep our supply expenses lower and our personnel expenses lower. We are frugal and nothing is wasted.  We rely on volunteers to help during the week to transport dogs and on the weekends to help with maintenance and larger projects such as fire abatement, bath days, and property maintenance.
 
FACILITY OPERATIONAL EXPENSES
- Just like everyone else, we have monthly expenses to keep the ranch up and running.  Our monthly mortgage payment is about $2500 (including insurance and taxes), electricity costs about $1200, natural gas $800, water $400, internet and phone systems $400, trash removal $100, vehicle insurance $200, gasoline for vehicles $300, banking fees $50, office supplies $50 for a total of about $6000 per month.

WHAT ABOUT VOLUNTEERS AND DONATIONS?  We love our volunteers and appreciate every single donation of product, blankets, toys and other goods we receive.  All of those things help us keep our expenses lower.  However, we also need regular and reliable sources of cash donations to take  care of the items that require cash.  Unfortunately, the bank, utility companies, Costco, gas station, and veterinarian don't accept dog kisses and wagging tails as payment. 

THE REALITY  - Daphneyland is home to a daily rotating population of 70 hounds. Annually this means 22,000+ bassets are taken care of. Although we are not a shelter, if we compare ourselves to a classic shelter, you would discover the budgets to run these are in excess of $2,000,000.00 yearly.  No tax dollars fund us, nor are there any regular grants awarded to us - every penny comes from basset lovers across the land.  

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
It seems over-whelming and almost impossible to do ... and it would be if we had to do it alone.  But each of you can help us.  We have a mailing list of several thousand people and Facebook "likes" of over 5000 people.  If everyone who receives this mailer, reads our Constant Contact email, or "Likes" us on Facebook would commit and send a monthly donation of at least $10 ... just think how easy making our budget would be!  We can make it easy for you to do this through recurring donations set up through PayPal, your bank, or credit card.  

Can we count on you to join our team and sign up to be a monthly donor?  You can do it through PayPal, your bank, or a credit card.  If you need help, our Treasurer ca n assist you.

 


 

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW ... 
AT THE RAINBOW BRIDGE
Daisy May of Santa Maria 
ATB 7-29-16

We first met her via email almost a year ago on 7/31/15 when her elderly family was in crisis (Alzheimers) and she needed to come into rescue. Daisy of Santa Maria, who had the same family her whole life. She came in with mammary tumors, lack of vet care and your basic neglected dog. She bloomed here at Daphneyland, getting her nutrition straightened out, wormed, free of parasites... The tumors we went after and she had a boob job, however it had already metastasized.  

Daisy of SM had some good times here at Daphneyland, yet became grumpier and grumpier until this last week the stress of smoke, fire, copters, sirens really took its toll on her very advanced cancer issues. Today she had a bath, she had loving, and then we took her for a ride to sniff the park and enjoy a cheeseburger and a chocolate motherlode cake. She sniffed the cake, woofed the burger then slowly engulfed every morsel of that chocolaty goodness. A final walk before the vet appointment and holding her and singing to her, she took that last grand step to the rainbow bridge. 

Free of pain, able to romp to her hearts delight - I wonder if her human knew her when she arrived. The tears fall softly for an old girl who learned to live life well at the end. Thank you for letting us love you, baby girl - a year was just not enough.  We will see each other again.


Gertie - Cookie Monster 
of Daphneyland - ATB

Gertie - a senior gal that was having a hard time in her foster home with Golden Empire Basset Rescue, came into Daphneyland to work on some issues.  She took up residence in our grooming room and spent her days woofing up a storm.  Learning specifically that Mama Dawn makes calls at night when time allows, she would wait until she heard talking and then bark repeatedly.  This ensured her extra cookies at night as the only way to hear a phone call was to have her chewing.  This girl knew how to train us!
 
Chronic dental problems typically are either inherited or a direct result of antibiotics in puppyhood, a standard in puppymill situations.  We see some pretty bad teeth here in Rescue!  Gertie had to have 13 teeth pulled upon arrival here, and then another 11 pulled within the first 6 months.  Her kisses would melt your eyelashes.  We all knew to take a deep breath before kissing up with our Gertie.
 
During the month of July, we had many routine upsets, beginning with our massive intakes during the month, participation in The Hilaroo Foundation Youth Camp, complicated by the Sand Fire and smoke, additional stress by volunteers are regulars and then immediately into our filming with Save our Shelters and construction/renovation schedule changes.  

During this time frame Gertie went into a bloat episode.  Rushing her off to our local vet, existing tumors on her anal gland had suddenly grown enormously and her age complicated what could be done and she left us, cradled in Mama Dawn's arms as she was sung to the bridge.  The tears flowed as our schedules went into overdrive to help all the hounds with the renovation project.

Our Gertie.  When seniors come into rescue, we always hope there will be that forever home, yet we know we will most likely be their forever family.  The toll is hard, for we come to love each senior as our very own, and many times after a special senior passes we continue to look for them - it's never easy.

We love you Gertie - and know that you are talking up a storm while you train those new slaves at the rainbow bridge to keep the cookies coming.
ALUMNI UPDATES
Once upon a time by 
Julie Carmichael



Once upon a time there was a princess named Bella.  She was my daughter and beloved in our kingdom of two.  We lived together for 11 wonderful years, through thick and thin, always by each other's side.  During the years, another sweet princess came to our castle to love and be loved.  Our home was complete with Sophie.

When the tragic time came for Bella to go to the Bridge, I thought I would die.  Of course I knew the day would come, but I could never truly imagine the pain and loss I would feel.   Throughout the week before Bella passed, Dawn had been instrumental in referring me to Drs. Hah and Kim, offering new dietary options and treatments and talking me through panic and heartbreak that I had never known. 

 When I finally gathered myself enough to leave my house, I knew I needed to see the sweet soul who helped me so much.  We had talked on the phone many times over the years, but had never met.  I needed to see the doggies and heal my broken heart.  I went to the place that would become my happy place...Daphneyland. 

So many dogs were out to meet Sophie and me. I was overwhelmed.  I saw Dawn and hugged her and cried.  We talked for a long while. Being with her and around all the doggies, I smiled for the first time since Bella became ill.   It was on that day that I met my new little love...my Droopy.  I noticed his beauty and sweet nature immediately.  He must have known I needed love because he stayed close to me the whole afternoon.  I asked Dawn about him and she told me his story of rehabilitation and rescue from Arizona.  He had been near death but with many months of good care and proper nutrition and love, he got better.  God's timing is perfect.  He needed a home and I had an opening.  It was that simple.  Dawn told me that I could take him home that day, if I wanted.  I wasn't ready.  But I didn't stop thinking about him.

We came back a few weeks later to foster (fail) who would be the new man in my life.  I needed him as much as he needed me.  Sophie and I opened our hearts and home to a boy who is as precious and sweet as life itself.  He rescued me and gave me a new hope and reason to love another dog and gave Sophie back a friend she had lost.  

Before our picture was taken on the sofa in Dawn's office, and as he laid across my lap, he turned to me and licked my cheek.  The look in his eyes said, "Thank you for my new home and your love."  I will never forget it.  His gentle spirit and love for me reminds me that even a tragedy can be a beautiful blessing.  The boy whose belly crawl stole my heart, who waits by the door as I leave and is there when I return, who sleeps by my side each night, is a companion to Sophie, and the prince of the castle, is home forevermore. 

Alumni Update on Baxter by Favel Jens


Baxter is now a Northern California dog and is enjoying the new smells and adventures of the greater Sacramento area. His favorite things are walks, running with huskies at the dog park, chasing squirrels (or rabbits or lizards) and dinner time. He still doesn't trust balloons or large balls but he recently captured one that floated into the backyard and gave it "what for". He's not a fan of long car rides otherwise we would consider driving down for the Daphneyland Hoedown. Baxter will soon be celebrating his 5th birthday with his "twin" brother on May 1st. (Since they are both rescues we just made up the date.) His goal for his fifth year is to both start a blog or an instagram account and share with others his zest for life.

Viva Las Vegas                          by Megan Drozd




It all started on a day just like any other in July. A Mama and a Daddy came to Daphneyland and pulled up... In the gate they came and we jumped all around them... This time was different, this time it was our turn.





I, Daisy Mae formerly known as Red Daisy spent many a days lounging around the grounds at Daphneyland. Till Mama Dawn brought me on this day to see some people. They smelled ok, and I offered my belly to the man. The woman told me I could pick out a friend to take home with me. I went and picked out Noodles. He was a handsome fella but he was more like my brother then anything. He'd been at the rescue a long time so I picked him. 

Mama and Daddy as we would come to call them, gave us the home that Mama Dawn and Uncle Ben always said that we would have. Couches and beds and our very own yard to protect and play in. Not to mention food, and Cookies. Anyone who knows Noodles knows that the way to his heart is through cookies. He had a special bond with the ladies at Daphneyland; they cried when he left. All they ever wanted was for him to have a home. Now we both do, and we are making the most of it. 

Family walks, meeting other members of our extended family. Singing and dancing whenever Mama feels like it which is all the time. Listening to all kinds of music, truck rides, most of all hugs and kisses. Tons and Tons of hugs and kisses. 

Noodles T. Justice as he goes by now, spends his days lounging on couches and doggie beds, and galloping through his backyard with complete basset pleasure. Daisy Mae as I go by now, well in true Las Vegas fashion I have taken up table dancing. My Daddy says I'm to young but you never know we all have dreams. We get to sleep in bed with our parents every night. Mama and Daddy make sure we are always happy, we even have our very own wading pool, with supervision of course. 

No matter what we know that Daphneyland gave us our second chance. It's up to us now to be amazing basset-tors of such an amazing place. We love everyone there more than we will ever be able to say. Don't forget us, we will always be here and always be true Daphneyland Alumni's. We have our very own Facebook Page if you want to follow our adventures. It's Angel Brandy and the Wonder Hounds - Daisy Mae & Noodles T. Justice. 


Ain't Life Great!                     by Jackie Flores




A year ago my father's basset hound went to the bridge. It was a very sad day, especially for my dad who loves his bassets more than most anything. Well a week later, my 77 year old dad tells me that we need to get him another basset. I understood his need but I was primary care giver and wasn't sure what would be best.

I contacted Dawn at Daphneyland and sent her the following message: "a little old man with a lot of love to give is looking for a little old basset, not too fast and very cuddly". Dawn, of course, had 3. I went and met them all and Winston was determined that he was going home with me. So away we went. It was love at first sight for both of them.

When my dad got sick, everyone knew he had to get better for Winston. In rehab Winston visited often. And now my dad is home and they are both happy to eat, take naps, cuddle and hang out. 

Thank you Daphneyland and Dawn for finding the perfect hound for my dad. 

A Week in the Line of Fire                     
by Dawn Smith
 
Wednesday July 28, 2016 - The Emotional Post.  (For those who tell me I wear my heart on my sleeve, skip this one for sure!)
 


Update Last week we had the great honor to work with The Hilaroo Foundation and bring 13 hounds offsite to work with at risk youth. The last day of camp when all hounds were loaded and we were saying goodbye - Colleen Lange leaned over and said "There is report of a fire on the 14 at Sand Canyon & Soledad - we need to get past it.   We said our very fast go odbyes and began the trek back to Daphneyland. 
 
This began the crisis we know as "The Sand Fire".   We also had a new hound arrive this day, transported in by Kevin Gailey - who also got hung up in the fire traffic of multiple fires.   The next few days are a blur.
 
By Sunday the world fell apart when winds began whipping the fire into a frenzy. The Gonzalez Family new to the area called in - they were being evacuated.  Horses, Goats, Pigs, Dogs and a cat on top of 10 humans. When fire is burning this close, we cannot loose a driver on the property, yet Katie Miller jumped to the task and headed over. Cheryl & Ron White were in the area and landed to help offload arriving farm animals as we prepped evac trailer and calmed the hounds. Ron joked that he can now cross "Hog Wrangling" off his bucket list!   As everyone got situated, a neighbor to this family was in crisis - the Sand Fire Community page  was a life saver and this family and animals were evac'd in record time.
 
As we rode out the next two days, we worked hard on "Building  Memories" for the kids displaced, keeping animals safe and calm, and watching the burning on high alert in the event we might have to move. Sandi Wittenberg ran the communication lines and emergency lists with amazing skill.  Although containment is reported at 40%, we are not  quite at the end, yet clear skies and lifting of most evac orders has our hearts lighter today. New hounds needing our help are incoming and coffers are very low.  Monetary donations will help us get back on track 
and are needed to help with spay/neuter and vet issues.
 
Then we found out that we were chosen for the Save Our Shelter show  with Rocky Canaka.  Everyone has had a hand on getting us thru this. 
 
Our Team is INCREDIBLE and huge, it spans the globe. The hands that worked so hard: Sandi, Ben, Rita, Janis, Katie, Aiyanna, Falisa, Siena, Bruce, Judy, Erica, Tyler, Jasmine, Yvonne, Jazmin, Rudy, David, Cheryl, Ron, Sheilah, Nancy, Linda, Michelle, Kevin - and so many others. Thank you.

SOME WAYS YOU CAN HELP!


Sponsor a Basset Run
Would you like to make an impact this year? We have 44 dog runs that need sponsoring. For $100 per month, you can help us care for the dogs in your kennel. After three months of continuous sponsorship, we'll even put your name on the kennel plaque. For a donation of $1,200, we'll automatically put your name on a kennel.

Host a Fundraiser
This fall, one of our angels opened her home for a benefit for Daphneyland. We enjoyed a lovely evening complete with live music, great food and a silent auction and did a lot of good. In addition to benefits like this, there are a number of ways you can use your talents to help the hounds:
* Hold a benefit yard sale
* Donate an item for the silent auction / opportunity drawing
* Work with a local restaurant to host a fundraiser

Volunteer in person or by long distance
We have many needs for volunteers! You can volunteer at Daphneyland in the kennel and spend time with the dogs too! We also need help with some areas that can be accomplished long distance.
* Newsletter editor
* Volunteer Coordinator
* Event Coordinator
* Adoption follow-up

Coordinator
* Grant Writer
* Assistant Shelter Coordinator
* Publicity Coordinator

Become a Recurring Monthly Donor
Daphneyland survives on donations. Recurring monthly donations to the general fund allow us to plan, provide for the dogs, pay staff, and pay utilities. Recurring monthly donations to our Hound Housing fund allow us to pay the mortgage, taxes and insurance on the property. Please consider making a recurring monthly donation to our general fund and out Hound Housing fund. For more information and to sign up, email our treasurer at bassethoundsrule@shaw.ca 


Daphneyland Everyday Needs List
* Kirkland (Costco) Dog Biscuits
* Bleach
* Clear fragrance-free, allergy-free 
laundry detergent 
* Oxyclean
* Simple Green
* 33 gallon THICK Black Garbage bags with drawstrings
* Ziplock Bags - Quart, Gallon, 2 Gallon
* Canned chicken breast
* Liverwurst (pate' for pills)
* Vitamin C
* Cranberry Capsules
* Arth-9 (available on the internet)
* Gold Bond Powder
* Polysporin Ointment
* Melatonin Liquid - 3 mg
* 2% or less Saline solution
* Rubbing alcohol
* Boric Acid
* 24 oz String Mop Heads
* 75' Garden Hoses (heavy duty)
* Kuranda Dog Beds
* Kennel Decking
* Six new golf-cart batteries
* Office supplies: letter size file folder, legal envelopes, stamps, copy paper
* Heavy duty washer & dryer
* 8 x-pens

CURRENT NEEDS - URGENT!!!
Dog-loos
Kuranda beds
Kennel decking
Sand bags
Shovels
Rakes
Wheel barrel


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2015 - 2016 BOARD OF DIRECTORS                        
President: Dawn Smith                            
Vice President: Gloria Tannehill-Carlsen   
Secretary: Sandi Wittenberg
Treasurer: Lynn McCarthy                         
Board Member/Webmaster: J. D. Carpenter                    
Board Member: Marin Hart
Board Member: Judy Brubaker                                        
Board Member: Kim Kuwahara      


                             ADVISORS                           
Shelter Coordinators: Jasmine Beavers
Assistant Shelter Coordinator: Erica Weiss

 Veterinarian: Dr. Young Kim, DVM and staff at,
Canoga Park, CA - Roswinn Pet Hospital

Veterinarian: Dr. Reid Loken, DVM and staff at 
Acton, CA - Acton Veterinary Clinic


Thank you to Kim and Keith Kuwahara, owners of Blueprint Service Company in Bakersfield, CA for donating the printing of this newsletter



Here are some tangible ways your donations are used:
$ 6 = 5 gallons of bleach
$ 12 = A Box of Biscuits
$ 50 = A Veterinary Exam
$ 100 = Run Sponsorship
$ 150 = A Neuter
$ 200 = A Spay
$ 2,000 = Food for a Month
$ 2,500 = Mortgage Payment for a Month
$15,000 = Monthly Expenses

BaRNI at Daphneyland
6221 Shannon Valley Road, Acton, CA 93510
Phone: 661-269-2682
Email: basset911@aol.com
www.Daphneyland.com

BaRNI at Daphneyland is a 501 (c) (3) Organization.
Tax ID # 20-3737011

   
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