Bassett hounds take over Wantagh Park

Duffy, Goose, Gunner and Hampton all stepped up to the starting line. Hampton had just won a race against last year’s winner, Genie. He couldn’t believe he made it this far. And as they got ready, and heard the call for every participant to get set, Hampton went, and Hampton won.

Who is Hampton, you might ask? Rick and Janet Budinich’s 4-year-old Bassett hound.

The bi-annual Bassett Hound Olympics was held on Oct. 18 at Wantagh Park. The Tri-State Bassett Hound Foundation sponsored this event for the 12th year in a row, holding one every spring and fall to raise money to rescue and care for homeless Bassett hounds. “They’re a great dog with great character,” said Eric Stevenson, the foundation’s president. “Looking at one you can’t help but take things too seriously.”

This year, the foundation reached its all time high in adoptions, with about 400. Two years ago, it succeeded getting 100 dogs adopted, and last year that number neared 200.

The Olympics consisted of a 10-meter sprint, hurdles competition, high jump, and obstacle course. Along with the events, there were also raffles, a barbecue and Bassett hound store complete with assorted necessities and gifts for dogs and their owners. “We try to do anything we can to raise a few extra dollars for the organization,” said Julie Tomsen, a volunteer for the foundation from Bay Shore.

Before the events took place, there was a parade of Bassett hounds up for adoption. The first event of the day was a 10-meter sprint in which the dogs raced in groups of four, with the winners moving on to race each other. Next was a hurdle competition in which the dogs would run along 10 meters and attempt to jump over two hurdles. Throughout all the events, owners would run with their dogs on a leash. During the hurdle competition, one owner surprised everybody else by literally picking up his dog and running with him in his arms. Kevin Saal, 56, of Smithtown, took his beloved Bassett hound, Ella, to the Olympics for a day of friendly competition, and of course, fun.

The next event was a long jump with the dogs seeing how high they could jump over an obstacle being raised with each successful jump. And lastly, there was an obstacle course in which the dogs raced while facing a variety of different trials and tribulations, such as tubes to run through, things to jump over, and more.

Wantagh Park was buzzing with the sounds of dogs barking and owners excited to compete in this charitable event. The next one will be held in spring of 2015.