IN MEMORY
These bassets crossed the Rainbow Bridge while they were in SBR’s Forever Foster program. Our Forever Fosters are special hounds who, due to age, medical needs, or behavioral challenges, spent their days with SBR in loving foster homes for the rest of their lives – whether that be days, months, or in many cases, years. They received excellent medical care and knew the love and warmth of a dedicated family. We treasure and honor them all.
When you love a dog, they become a part of you and you a part of them forever.
In early September 2025, SBR said goodbye to a very special soul when Forever Foster Bailey let her foster family, Jason and Becky, know it was time to cross the Rainbow Bridge.
Bailey came to SBR over two years ago after her previous family brought home a new baby, which caused tension between Bailey and another dog in the home. At 12 years old, Bailey arrived with numerous sores that wouldn’t heal, and soon after, she was diagnosed with melanoma. Because the cancer had spread to numerous areas of her body, we chose to give her the best gift we could—love, comfort, and care for the rest of her days.
And that’s exactly what Becky and Jason gave her. From the moment Bailey walked into their home, she was cherished beyond measure. Becky said everyone who met Bailey fell in love and wanted to take her home. She had a sweetness that touched every heart. Over the past two years, Bailey truly lived. She had warm beds, relaxing outdoor time, gentle hands, and endless love. She and Chief, another SBR alum, were inseparable and true buddies until the end. Now, both Becky, Jason, and Chief, are feeling the deep ache of her absence.
Thank you, Becky and Jason, for giving her the happiest years of her life, for loving her so completely, and for having the courage to let her go when it was time. Because of you, Bailey left this world knowing she was deeply loved.
Run free, sweet Bailey. ❤️
In Loving Memory of Rocky
Beloved Forever Foster of Suncoast Basset Rescue
Rocky, our sweet and resilient basset hound, crossed the Rainbow Bridge after a short but brave battle with lymphoma. He was 11 years old.
Rocky’s story was never just about survival—it was about spirit, love, and second chances. He came to Suncoast Basset Rescue when he had nowhere else to go. Surrendered to a vet with a painful back injury and limited use of his hind legs, his future looked uncertain. But from the moment we met him, we saw a light in his eyes and a strength in his heart. We knew we had to fight for him.
With the support of SBR and the devotion of his foster family, Rocky underwent surgery to repair his spine and began the long road to recovery. Through months of physical therapy, hydrotherapy, and sheer determination, he regained full use of his legs. He walked again. He played again. He found joy again.
Because of his special needs, Rocky became a Forever Foster—never up for adoption, but forever cherished. In his foster home, he was not just cared for—he was loved. He basked in sunshine, snuggled on soft beds, and lived every day surrounded by people and pups who adored him. He gave so much love in return, with his gentle eyes, quiet strength, and the sweet basset soul that touched everyone he met.
When lymphoma came, it came fast. But Rocky didn’t face it alone. His foster family held him close. They gave him comfort, dignity, and peace. They let him go with the same love that carried him through his hardest days.
Rocky leaves behind a legacy of resilience and heart. He reminded us all that every dog deserves a chance, that love heals, and that even when the road is hard, it can still be beautiful.
Run free now, sweet Rocky. Your legs are strong, your spirit is free, and you will forever be part of the Suncoast Basset Rescue family. Thank you for letting us be part of your journey.
Forever in our hearts. Forever our Rocky.
We are heartbroken to share that sweet Daisy, one of our beloved Forever Fosters, has crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
Daisy’s story with Suncoast Basset Rescue began after she was found near a wooded area—tired, alone, and in need of care. We believe that she was on her own for a while. Thanks to the kindness of Good Samaritans and the help of our dedicated volunteer Theresa Heiker, plans were quickly made to bring her into the SBR family. In true basset fashion, the night before her scheduled transport, Daisy found a way out of the yard where she was staying. Despite giving a few SBR coordinators quite the scare and rattling more than a few nerves, she casually returned the next morning—strolling back in as if nothing had happened, ready to begin her next chapter.
Not long after arriving in foster care, Daisy suffered a medical emergency that resulted in a trip to UF Veterinary Hospital. There they discovered that she had a severe urinary tract infection and also diagnosed her with having diabetes. It was then that we made the decision to make her a Forever Foster—knowing she would need lifelong care and close medical support.
In her Forever Foster home, Daisy found the comfort, stability, and unconditional love she had always deserved. Her foster mom, Jane Turner, shared that Daisy truly blossomed in the short amount of time that she was with her - becoming a joyful, affectionate, and energetic girl who knew she was deeply loved. She was surrounded by people who cherished her, and who ensured that her final chapter was filled with peace, dignity, and compassion. Daisy quickly became a favorite at the veterinary clinic, where she was a regular visitor as her chronic UTIs were treated and her insulin and glucose levels were carefully managed. Jane said she never had a dog who loved going to the vet office like Daisy did. They all adored her there—often stopping whatever they were doing just to spend a moment with her. Even her veterinarian was moved to tears when Daisy crossed the Rainbow Bridge last week, a testament to how deeply she touched the hearts of everyone who met her.
Though her time with us was too short, her impact was lasting. Daisy reminded us why we do what we do—and how every dog deserves a second chance, no matter their past or their needs. We are so grateful that SBR has the Forever Foster Guardian program where we can unconditionally help foster dogs like Daisy live out their remaining lives with the care, comfort, love and support that they need. Thank you, Jane, for all the love in your heart that you gave to Daisy.
Run free, sweet Daisy. You were deeply loved, and you will never be forgotten.