FLORENCE – Basset hounds gained fame as the advertising icon for Hush Puppies shoes. Their soulful eyes, droopy ears and long faces and low slung bodies make them appear sad. This was certainly the case for nearly 64 basset hounds that have been rescued this year by Pinal County Animal Care and Control.

“I’d like to think that their sad little faces mask their delight at being rescued from their previous conditions,” said Animal Care Director Ruth Stalter.

Stalter’s team of Animal Care and Control officers rescued more than 28 dogs from a property earlier this year. The owner voluntarily surrendered the animals to officers who were responding to a citizen complaint of barking and too many dogs on one property. At that time, the owner assured officers that she could manage her remaining dogs.

The owner later moved from the Maricopa area to a property near Casa Grande. That property was found to be abandoned but there were 13 hounds roaming the dirt yard. Pinal County Animal Care and Control responded by impounding the dogs.

“We caught up with the owner who assured us that she had not abandoned them but she had to move again due to a foreclosure. She claimed to be feeding them and providing water fairly regularly,” Stalter said. “Still, we convinced her that she was in over her head and we could provide the necessary care and good homes for the animals so she surrendered them to us.”

Arizona Basset Hound Rescue has partnered with Pinal County Animal Care and Control to find foster families that are familiar with the breed and are willing to care for them until a permanent home is found.

During a follow-up visit this week, the owner turned over more than 20 bassets to Animal Care officers this week. Upon arrival, officers found one dead puppy and several others that were too sick to survive. The sick puppies were humanely euthanized.

“A situation like this points out the need for responsible pet ownership, meaning that pets need regular vet care, vaccinations and to be spayed or neutered,” Stalter said. “This is a sad case of un-altered dogs having multiple litters of puppies and no supervisory medical care.”

Stalter said the dogs’ previous home was a dirt yard with a trailer on it, a few kiddie pools filled with water surrounded by a chain link fence.

“The dogs will need time, patience and training while they learn how to be companion animals in a new home,” she said.

Stalter and the staff at Pinal County’s Casa Grande expressed a debt of gratitude to the volunteers with Arizona Basset Hound Rescue for coming to the aid of these dogs.

Pinal County Animal Care & Control has many dogs available for adoption, including pure-breed dogs of all sizes and descriptions. The shelter is located at 764 South Eleven Mile Corner Road. The shelter is open for adoptions on weekdays between the hours of

9:00 and 5:00. On Saturday, the shelter is open from 9:00 to noon.

In addition to partnerships with breed rescue groups, Pinal County Animal Care and Control takes adoptable cats and dogs to the PetSmart at the Promenade at Casa Grande each Saturday from 10:00 to 2:00.

More information on adopting animals from the shelter is available online at http://www.pinalcountyaz.gov/Departments/AnimalControl.