Winter 2016 Saber Tails 69
Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Club of America
department. When we lost him to congestive heart failure in 2011, we were heartbroken, but we soon realized that we can’t
live without a PBGV in our home. Helen put us in touch with Pam Helmer; so in August 2011 we drove to Maryland to view
a litter of puppies bred by Patti Ritter and Zach Helmer. We came home with Skipton’s Zoe, a sweet girl who chews nothing,
rarely barks, and has no interest in rabbits. I assure you that she is a bona fide PBGV, despite these characteristics. Zoe is a
Daddy’s girl and a velcro dog. I don’t mean that she has separation anxiety but, when we are home, she wants to be close to
us all of the time. That is fine with us. The picture that I have included shows us holding our new puppy Zoe.
What other pets have you had?
Jerry or his family had dachshunds and basset hounds. I have had cats. I was concerned about having PBGVs and cats but
have found that they can get along famously. Thank goodness that Jerry had hound experience and could teach me how to
be a hound mom.
How long have you been involved in the club?
When Tibby was a few years old, we heard about a weekend of PBGV hunting instinct tests being held in Rhode Island.
We went on a lark, never dreaming where this would lead us. There we met wonderful PBGVCA members and had a blast
watching the dogs chase rabbits. Jerry and I left covered with ticks and Tibby left with a HIT certificate! We became friends
with Linda Murray and Paula DePalma, who sponsored us for membership in the PBGVCA. Attending the 2005 National
Specialty in Rhode Island strengthened our relationship with the Club. I then became involved in the PBGVCA Health
Committee and PBGV Health & Rescue Foundation thanks to Lauren Kovaleff. My background in biomedical research
meshed with the need to review AKC Canine Health Foundation grants for possible funding by the Foundation, write lay
summaries of the grant results, and author Saber Tails articles on PBGV health issues. Because of our health-related profes-
sions, Linda Murray and I attend the biennial Canine Health Foundation Parent Club Conference to learn about current
canine health research. I also attend the Tufts Canine and Feline Health and Genetics Conference. I enjoy translating science-
speak into understandable prose so that Saber Tails readers can learn about health issues of relevance to the PBGV commu-
nity. What I love about being a member of the PBGVCA is the opportunity to meet wonderful people from all walks of life,
and from around the world, who come together thanks to this breed. They donate auction items, organize fundraisers, make
quilts, etc., They are special people.
What activities do you enjoy about your PBGV?
We love watching their noses work. When we walk around the neighborhood in Quincy, the PBGV nose assesses who has
walked before them and we watch them leave pee-mail for their friends. When we walk the trails in Vermont, the PBGV
noses revel in the rich aromas. When a PBGV balks at going down a trail because of a scent they detect, I always respect their
wishes. They smell the bears before I can see them.
Paul & Carole Urban
Tell us about yourself...
My wife Carole and I are retired and live in Cheraw, South Carolina with our pack of PBGVs, CH Carcinet's Jezebel RAE
NA AXP AJP PCMH CGC and two of her offspring from her only litter, CH PACH Pacar's Baron Von Richthofen RE NA
NAJ MXP6 MXPS MJP8 MJPG PAX T2BP PCMH and PACH3 Brenda's Benson Of Pacar RE MXP9 MXPG MJP9 MJPG
PAX3 PCMH. Jessie is 10 years old and her boys are 8 years old. I graduated from Newark Collage of Engineering (now
NJIT) as a Mechanical Engineer. I worked for several companies including Singer (sewing machines), Ronson (butane
products) and Cooper Industries (hand tools). I have numerous patents in my name with these companies.
How did you find out about PBGV’s?
We moved to South Carolina in 1976 with two English Springer Spaniels and three Dachshunds. Before retiring we were
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