[Dailydrool] adventures at the rabbit show

[BRYAN MARTINEZ]

I just wanted to share a basset story involving my beloved Susie  
(since gone to the bridge in '03).
On one of our daily walks, we were passing through the local county  
fairgrounds, abandoned most of the year.
I should point out that when we crossed the scent of a rabbit at  
anytime , she would go into her 'bloodhound mode' and
shift into high gear with howls accompanying the "short pinging' --- 
sniffing in search for her prey. I liked to compare it to  those old  
ww1 submarine movies where the destroyer is sweeping the seas looking  
for submarines in a broad, slow sweep. But when a submarine is  
detected the sonar in the destroyer starts in rapid 'pinging' trying  
to pinpoint the sub's location.
ANYway , she would go into her crazed rapid sniffing and howling  
intermittently whenever a bunny's scent was detected.
So, on this day as we passed a large  barn-like building on the  
fairgrounds, which had large double doors open at both ends, I noticed  
a lot of cars parked off to the side. But before I saw the sign  
proclaiming an annual rabbit show here , Susie , overwhelmed with the   
scent of rabbits nearby broke away from me and with her leash trailing  
behind her, she bounded into the rabbit show her howling echoing to  
the rafters! Imagine the startled exhibitors and visitors as this  
howling basset ran down the middle of the barn completely immersed in  
the intoxicating scent of HUNDREDS of rabbits! She didn't stop or slow  
down , she just ran at top basset-speed down the main aisle in the  
middle, in one door and out the other, doing her best "bloodhound  
after the escaped prisoner" imitation . I ran behind her. saying to  
everybody I saw "sorry! " "sorry!"  "sorry!" But everybody was amused.  
I caught up to her at the far door where she was waiting on me , tail  
wagging, completely pleased with herself.