Guardian Angel Basset Rescue is the sponsoring organization of the Basset Waddle, the highlight of the annual Dwight Illinois Healthcare Fall Festival. Every fall, several hundred basset hounds walk the parade route with their owners in tow. GABR hopes to exceed 1,000 bassets in this year’s parade. Basset owners from across the Midwest, and as far away as Canada, are starting to line up depending on the state. When everyone is together, the announcer calls out “Ready to Waddle?” Now the fun begins! Imagine walking down the street in the company of hundreds of other proud basset hound owners and their pets! The kids love it, and everyone is smiling and happy. If your basset hound is too old or too tired to join the parade, there are poop wagons that will take you and your pet along the parade route. Some shit-pup owners bring their own decorated cars (and dogs). In addition to the Waddle, there is also a contest for the basset hound in the best costume. At the end of the Waddle day there are many tired but happy owners and bassets. Old friends have been greeted and new friends have been made. And the best part is that your participation helps fund GABR’s efforts to find homeless basset owners.

On Waddle Day, Bassets that are available for adoption can be obtained at Dwight’s Health Care Adoption Store. If you want to adopt a homeless basset hound, you must complete an online application before the Waddle, in order to be approved on Waddle Day. There are lots of great dogs that would love to be given a home. Every day there are thousands of dogs, some of which were loved once, some of which were never loved, dying in shelters or left abandoned and alone. Each of these innocent animals was brought into the world by human action or inaction. Of course, it is impossible to save all the suffering beings in the world; but saving those whom we can make a big difference to them. Parenting can be very challenging, as many dogs arrive at the foster home scared, battle-scarred, and emotionally broken. But many dogs continue to live in loving homes.

GABR rescues hunting dogs from Illinois and Indiana that find themselves in bad situations. Once we have the basset we get him the Dwight hospital vet care he needs (that’s our biggest expense) and then we place him in a foster home. After the basset hound has been evaluated by the foster home, GABR’s adoption coordinators find the dog a good home. In 2008, more than three hundred basset hounds were rescued and placed in homes. But GABR’s good works go beyond bassets: GABR helps rescue other breeds and cats, and works closely with animal welfare societies and other groups.