TulsaPets Magazine January 2023

34 TulsaPets • January / February 2023 hound” she said. “Then suddenly I’m get- ting calls for all these long-legged hounds. I got a quick lesson about just how many hound breeds there are.” The American Kennel Club recognizes 32 hound breeds. Of those, some are con- sidered sight hounds and some are scent hounds, based on the inherent hunting style of each breed. Helpless Hounds focuses on rescue efforts for scent hounds, including basset hounds, coonhounds, and beagles, to name a few. And those long-legged hounds Edwards was getting calls about? They are treeing walker coonhounds, a breed that has now become one of her favorites. These hounds sport markings similar to those of bassets or beagles but have long legs and a lean, athletic build. In fact, it was Copper, one of this variety of coonhound, who became Edwards’ best teacher, friend, and dog mentor in her rescue journey. Common Story, Special Dog Copper’s story is a tough one, and sad- ly, not an uncommon journey for many hounds. Likely a dumped or lost hunting dog, Copper was picked up as a stray by animal control in Geronimo, Oklahoma. Soon after arriving at the city’s shelter, Copper was part of a big adoption event to hopefully find all resident dogs new homes. At the end of the day, every single dog had found a home except Copper. Copper was considered a difficult dog to place, so the shelter scheduled him for euthanasia. Thankfully, a compassionate woman in the area learned of the hound’s plight and stepped forward at the last minute to save his life. While this fortu- nate turn of events should have been the happily-ever-after part of Copper’s story, it was anything but a fairy-tale ending. It turns out that Copper was an accom- plished escape artist. The dog spent a year hopping out of his owner’s yard, cruising around town, chasing cats, and wreaking havoc in true hunting-dogs-gone-wild form. After several citations from animal control, Copper’s owner realized the dog needed more help than she could provide. Enter Helpless Hounds rescue. Copper joined the program and soon gave Edwards her biggest challenge, but at the same time became her greatest teacher. “He was the worst dog we had in our rescue,” claimed Edwards with a laugh. “He was timid with new people, very aggressive toward cats, and able to leap over a five-foot fence with ease.” A frustrating challenge, but Edwards still saw something very special in the six-year-old hound with the soulful eyes. Determined to save the dog, she worked with him nonstop. And yes, Copper did get adopted. And then, unfortunately, returned to the rescue — twice. “Copper needed someone to give him the time and patience to help him set- tle into a new home properly.” Edwards dedicated herself to him by keeping him in her own home and taking him with her to work every day. In the process, she fell in love. Copper is now a beloved member of the Edwards household and an integral part of the rescue. “When we have new foster dogs come in, we introduce all of them to Copper. He shows them the ropes and helps them feel comfortable.” The once “worst dog” is now a valued team member for Helpless Hounds. “He is the cuckoo-crazy coonhound that means everything to me.” Exceptional Companions Helpless Hounds celebrated its three-year anniversary a few months ago. To date, the rescue has come to the aid of 800 hounds and hound mixes. Of those dogs, 281 have been transported to out-of-state rescue partners in California, Wisconsin, Minne- sota, and Maine. The remaining 519 dogs have found placement locally and through- out the country with careful screening by Edwards and her volunteers. Ellie May, with a badly injured foot, launched the rescue operations of Helpless Hounds. Although her leg had to be amputated, she now has a happy home and loves to chase squirrels.