Three Star Day event to benefit Basset Rescue

by Kathleen Galayda

Sophie, at age eight, is a not so young Basset Hound who is grateful to be at the Basset Rescue of Montana shelter. Her family had to give her up, leaving Sophie with nowhere to go. Then, to make matters even worse, she developed glaucoma. After medication failed, she had surgery in February to remove her eye. Just recently, it was discovered Sophie’s other eye has also developed glaucoma and, once again, medication does not seem to be helping. She may need another surgery to remove her remaining eye, and will then – of course – be completely blind. Leslie Ames, President of Basset Rescue of Montana, now plans on keeping Sophie, since it is very hard to place a blind dog (she will consider the right family, however). Eye removal is not the only surgery Sophie has had, either. She’s also had benign cysts and a molar removed. Plus, she needed a good teeth cleaning, which requires general anesthesia.

All this medical care costs a great deal of money, which is why Basset Rescue of Montana is always seeking donations and holding fundraisers.  On Saturday, April 30, Basset Rescue will be holding a Three Star Day charity event to raise money for all the Basset hounds, including Sophie of course, who have come into the shelter needing surgery and other medical care. A Three Star Day will be an art exhibit, hosted by the rescue and Cale York, owner of the Eye of the Beholder gift and frame shop, and featuring three artists: Pawcasso Blossom, a well-known Kalispell, Montana Basset Hound who creates paintings; Lynne Geis, Leslie’s neighbor and well-respected landscape artist; and Debra White, author of the exciting animal adventure tale, Nobody’s Pets.

Blossom’s “slave,” Cookie Goldizen, discovered that Blossom is quite the unique artist. Blossom loves to dip her paws in paint and then “draw” with them. This creative hound eagerly offers her paw to Cookie for painting sessions but, before and after each session, she needs to sit in the corner of Cookie’s spare bedroom and contemplate her next creation. She will create for anyone in her own studio, but she is shy and doesn’t like to be watched. Cookie is working very hard to prepare Blossom for the art exhibit so she will be ready to sign her art for the purchaser. Blossom has been featured on front covers of magazines and many articles and stories about her talent grace newspapers from coast to coast..  Pawcasso Blossom’s originals are very reasonably priced and she shares her profits with rescue organizations. If you would like to order a sign with your name "pawed by Blossom", her email is pawsforblossom@hotmail.com.

Landscape Artist Lynne Geis (a generous supporter of Basset Rescue of Montana) will also be present with all of her paintings for a first time showing! Lynne is Leslie’s neighbor and friend and is always ready to help the shelter. Her works are beautiful, calm, creative studies of Montana’s panoramic scenery, and filled with colors that make you stop and take a breath!

Debra White, author of Nobody’s Pets, has offered signed copies of her book for this fundraiser. The story begins when two men break into the Denver SPCA and steal abandoned dogs and cats to take to Wyoming. The thieves plan to sell the animals to an unscrupulous research laboratory, but Rosie the mutt and Guffey the pampered cat have a different idea. They heroically lead six of their friends to freedom in the Wyoming wilderness, but danger stalks the little pack as it valiantly struggles to return to Denver. Nobody’s Pets is a special story about friendship, hope, courage, and determination. Author Debra White is a kind and generous supporter who regularly sends donations to Basset Rescue of Montana from her home in Tempe, Arizona.

A large percentage of proceeds from this day of art and book sales will go directly to help the Basset Rescue of Montana’s needy hounds. The rescue is suffering from insufficient funds, and is finding it increasingly difficult to cover the increased amount of surgeries, such as Sophie’s, that have recently been needed. Please help by attending the Three Star Day fundraiser on Saturday, April 30, 2005 from 11 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. It will be held at the Eye of the Beholder Gift and Frame Shop, located at 2230 N. Reserve in the Northgate Shopping Center in Missoula. It will be a fun day for everyone, so please join us, have a ball, buy a good book or lovely painting, and help a worthy cause.

For more information about this event, Basset Rescue of Montana, or the dogs available for adoption, please call Leslie Ames at (406) 626-4331 or email her at partnersplace@qwest.net. To see a sample of Pawcasso Blossom’s artwork, please visit the Basset Rescue of Montana “Everything Ears Shoppe” at http://bassetrescueofmt.tripod.com/Everything_Ears.html and scroll down the page. You’ll also see a little more about Debra White and Nobody’s Pets. There are many reasonably priced items for sale in the Everything Ears Shoppe, and all proceeds go to support the rescue. To see a picture of the available dogs (and Sophie!), please go to http://bassetrescueofmt.tripod.com/available.html.

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