ILLINOIS WADDLE WILL PUT BASSET HOUNDS ON DISPLAY

Sadie likes snoozing in the sun. Abbey likes to nap on the couch. Sadie and Abbey also like to dig holes -- big holes.

Sadie and Abby are typical basset hounds.

"They have long floppy ears, sweet dispositions and mournful expressions," said Laura Hurst of Cape Girardeau, owner of the hounds.

Sadie and Abbey will go to work for a national cause to benefit their breed. On Sept. 18 and 19, Hurst and her dogs will go to the Illinois Waddle, a milelong jaunt, designed to raise funds and find homes for misplaced bassets.

"This is the 20th year for the Waddle," said Hurst, who will be making her second trip to the event in Dwight, Ill., a half-hour south of Chicago.

"It's a sight to behold," she said. "Last year more than 225 bassets led by their owners waddled down Route 17. They were from nine states and Canada. The day before a basset bash (party) was held for basset owners."

Theme for this year's event is "500 for '99," said Larry and Emmy Little, who hold the annual Waddle.

It is sponsored by the Guardian Angel Bassett Rescue group headquartered at Dwight. The group's goal is to rescue bassets from abusive and, or unwanted situations. During the past year the group has rescued 166 bassets and placed 147 in homes.

Hurst is a member of the Guardian Angels and has rescued and placed six bassets during the past year. Hurst, who owns four bassets, is fostering two others available for adoption. A friend, Shelly Littleton, will take one of the adoptable bassets to Dwight with Hurst and her hounds.

Littleon is also a member of "Rides Across America," an organization that helps transport adopted bassets from one part of the country to adopters in another part of the United States.

"I receive calls from a wide area -- Southern Illinois, West Kentucky and Southeast Missouri," said Hurst. "Some people buy bassets as young puppies. As they grow, people decide this was not the dog for them and try to find a home for the dogs."

In many cases new basset owners think the dogs will be content around the house like oversized stuffed animals.

"But they're just the opposite," said Hurst. "Bassets are very active and sometimes get a bit mischievous. A lot of people buy bassets without doing the proper research."

Puppies grow into dogs, and bassets range in size from 35 to 60 pounds.

Last year's Waddle raised more than $20,000. Six bassets were adopted during the march.

"People throughout the area turn out for the Waddle," said Hurst. "This year's goal is to build a special basset shelter.

A number of pet contests are held during the event.

Hurst has served on the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri board for a number of years. She became a basset fan eight years ago.

"I started with Sadie," she said. "I acquired her when she was 6 weeks old. She's almost 8 now."

Bassets have been around since the 1600s. The origins of the dog have been traced to France.

The first known bassets in the United States may have been the two received by George Washington from Marquis de Lafayette, a French soldier and statesman who joined the United States in its fight against Great Britain and served on Washington's staff.

Most bassets are black, white and tan, or red and white. The typical basset is 12 to 14 inches tall and weighs 45 to 60 pounds. They are natural hunters, and many are trained to hunt rabbits and other small game.

"They were bred for hunting," said Hurst.

Bassets are scent hounds, meaning they hunt with their nose to the ground. Their long ears, which drag along the ground while hunting, stirs up the scent of the prey.