The Pizza Was Gone. The Basset Hound Was Sitting in the Box.
The pizza is gone, and a lemon and white Basset Hound sits right inside the empty box as though it were a throne. His long ears drape over the cardboard edges, and his heavy eyes look worried but proud. A sofa piled with blankets, a plant and a food bowl wait in the background of the room. The only thing left of dinner is a faint scent and a few crumbs.
Basset Hounds are gentle, easygoing dogs with famously droopy ears and an incredible sense of smell. Bred to follow trails slowly and steadily, they are determined once they catch a scent, and food scents are the best of all. Those long ears help sweep odors toward the nose, and they also need regular cleaning to keep them healthy. Pizza is a problem for dogs because of the salt, fat and sometimes onions and garlic in the sauce and toppings. A bite or two of crust is unlikely to cause trouble, but a whole pizza is worth a call to your vet.
Basset Hounds are also prone to gaining weight, so keeping treats small and walks regular helps protect their long backs. Keeping boxes and leftovers out of reach is the best insurance against future pizza heists.
He sits on the box with the calm of someone who owns the entire kitchen. The pizza may be gone, but his dignity remains fully intact.
