The first Duffy Dog of the Week goes to Duke!

Duke with a favorite toy

Good ‘Ol Duke was found wandering the streets of Burbank California, probably sick of the television industry. He’s deaf and sometimes people without the appropriate level of patience will say he has “issues.”

Well, those people are assholes.

Shelly and Don were out in California visiting Daphneyland, that incredibly wonderful rescue ranch. The Basset Rescue Network got him there and he even got adopted out one time but got returned. He’d been at the ranch about a year when Shelly and Don came.

It wasn’t that long since they had lost Doc, one of their hounds. They were heart broken.

(Okay, if you’re not a dog person, you won’t get this part.)

Duke knew they were heart broken and he had something up his sleeve to soothe it a little bit. He attached himself to the couple for their six hour visit. He knew Don would need to be seriously lobbied and he took care of that.

When Shelly and Don left. Duke, of all the hounds at Daphneyland, followed them with his eyes. Shelly and Don looked right back.

It was a long ride back to Cheektowagwa. There was lots of time to think. There was lots of time for Doc to get in touch.

Just chillin'

So when they got home phone calls were made and logistics were worked out.

And Duke got an American Airlines ride to Buffalo. I’m guessing he didn’t travel alone. I think Doc was booked on the same flight.

Today, Duke travels the country with Shelly and Don to basset events. If he’s around you’ll know. His graceful baritone shakes the country side where ever he goes. (Click on the short video below to get a tiny sample.)

Resting after a busy day

Duke, influencing the selection process