Ch Silvan Hilbilly Winter Rose, R.O.M., was born on a cold wintry day in 1989 next to a floor furnace in our little house in Ashland, Kentucky. It was only our second litter of basset hounds. Even as a puppy, we knew that Rosie was special and she eventually became the foundation of Silvan Basset Hounds. Her dam, Ch Hilbilly's Willa of Craigwood ("Willie") was given to us by a friend who was reducing her number of pets to adopt children. Rosie lived with us throughout her fourteen years, enriching our lives as only a truly special pet and companion can.
Rosie was truly the top dog of our growing kennels, which we moved to Cannonsburg in 1991. She demanded respect from all the other bassets and led the midnight baying-choir throughout most of her life. Her favorite activity, aside from swallowing dog biscuits, seemed to be teasing the male dogs and then changing her mind. Sweet and loving to humans of all ages, genuinely happy to go on long trips and to be shown, and quite convincing when she put on her sad-basset face as if to say "but you didn't give me a cookie yet", she required only love and attention which she returned many times over.
Rosie won the Puppy Class and the Puppy Class Sweepstakes at the BHCA Nationals in Texas in 1989, and her career wins included Winner's Bitch at the 1991 Combined Specialties of Louisville, Kentucky, and a 3rd Place in the Veterans' Class at the BHCA Nationals in 1996.
Rosie produced five AKC Champion daughters, three of which were specialty winners and one an American-Canadian Champion. Another of her daughters received a R.O.M. (Registry of Merit) for producing multiple titled offspring. Her grandson, Ch. Silvan Switchbark Moses, R.O.M. succeeded her as the kennel's "choir director."
It is very rare that anyone, so early in showing basset hounds, encounters such an excellent champion and producer, truly a fine example of the breed. We were saddened to lose her after fourteen years of loyal friendship and affection. Her ashes now repose in a place of honor in our home.
