FOUNDING
Rebellion Bloodhounds was founded in 1994 with the birth of our first litter, but its roots actually took shape in 1990. Jim had bred and raised competition/champion coonhounds for over 10 years, but had always wanted a bloodhound. For his thirtieth birthday, he received CH. Kepntab's On Irish Mist, affectionately known as Misty, from Leanne. Misty finished her championship when she was 19 months old, her show career including several group placements and Reserve Winner's Bitch at the 1992 ABC National Specialty, and was as sweet as any bloodhound could ever be.
The only trouble was, she looked up at Leanne and saw Mommy; looked up at Jim and saw the guy who lived with Mommy. Loyalties having thus been established, it only seemed fair that for his thirty-first birthday, Jim got a bloodhound of his own -- Ch. Legacy's Mouth of the South.
"Doc"
That bloodhound, called Doc, was infamous in show circles for his antics. Among them: the temper tantrum in the show ring, where he kept stacking himself backwards so he could see the other dogs and finally threw himself on his back, all four feet in the air, howling furiously when Jim tried to correct him; the sneaky swiping of the Manchester Terrier puppy from a grooming table, its owner nearly fainting until Doc graciously spit the soaking wet, but otherwise unharmed puppy out on the floor; and the many surprises hidden in his lips for the judges to find (i.e., the ancient Bud can, the rawhide knot, the rubber ball he got from God-knows-where, etc.).
Then too, there were the many incidences with the National Anthem. Doc was a patriotic dog; he loved the "Star Spangled Banner." Jim would bring Doc into the ring and Doc would sit on his foot. When the anthem began, Doc would lift his head and howl. One local kennel club even asked Jim to keep Doc from entering the building until AFTER the anthem was over. Doc finished his championship at 2 years old. He then became actively involved in therapy work, for which he was perfectly suited.
All dogs can be wonderful, loving companions. But every so often, you get that dog in a million that touches your heart and soul in a way you can never forget. We were lucky to have two such hounds.
Doc was a very special boy with a wonderful outlook on life and when he crossed the Rainbow Bridge in May of 1997, his loss was felt deeply by everyone he had ever known. Although Doc himself never contributed to the Rebellion Bloodhound lines, he was an inspiration to our breeding program and deserves his place as an honorary "foundation" dog.
Our beloved Misty also crossed the Rainbow Bridge on January 4, 1998 but her legacy will live on in her pups and in the Rebellion Bloodhound lines.
Misty's beautiful daughters, Harley, Justice and Lucky, also crossed over in 1998 but our memories have yet to fade. We like to think these girls have found Mom and are happily romping around again.