This is a very special blog post written by Bashy’s owner. A fellow photographer and I met Bunty and Bashy during a recent walk in the park and after sharing a couple of images of Bashy to Bunty, she asked us to create some lasting memories of Bashy for her. The following words are written by Bunty, and the images are by myself and Helen Westerbeke of Stoptime Photography.

Bashy, the best-looking foxy beagle (foigle), was born in small town North Island and lived with her 6 brothers and sisters until she was hired by us (read came home to live with us at 3 months old) to become Wairarapa’s best truffle hunter. This turned to custard as chasing rabbits was more her métier.

It was a struggle doing puppy training those first 9 months – hunting truffle baits were no problem. But, coming to heel and heading home from the park or the truffière, not so much. When asked about how to train this character, the vet said, “Foxy and beagle mix, what were you thinking?”

The BASH has been my trainer, walking with me for up to 7 hours at a time as I got tramping fit. She would rush over to me and give me a kiss when I fell over, and like an ever-ready battery, just keep going.

Bash has a deep voice and the tradies and couriers that visit our place look around for a big dog to find this little foigle wagging her tail at them or sitting on their foot.

We remember well the day that we took her to a remote beach on the wild west coast, her true whakapapa, where it is unusual to see a living soul. She was on fire: chasing seagulls into the waves, exploring the rock pools, and best, was her imperious look, and “How old are you?” as we hid from her around the rock formations.

From the humble beginnings of being the runt of the litter sleeping at the bottom of an overturned wheelie bin, she now has a day bed in nearly every room, refuses to eat mere dog biscuits anymore, and she has won the hearts of many mates (canine and human) at the park.

She is an old girl now, sweet 16 next week, and still does a daily zoomie: a far cry from the boinga boingas (jumping 5 times her height over the long grass on the farm), side winders and lizard walks backwards up the stairs. She might have short legs, but she could out manoeuvre the bigger dogs with her tight cornering.

Thanks Toya and Helen for the perfect pictures to capture some moments to remember her by.
Bunty