- Name – Bertie
- Age – 3
- Sex – Male
- Location – Yorkshire
7th January 2026
The Bestest Boy Bertie sadly had his other TECA surgery yesterday.
A whopping 6 hour surgery to complete this final surgery on his poor ears, but this is the start of a pain free life for this wonderful boy.
The vet couldn’t keep him under any longer to complete the surgery to his mouth where the mass was removed previously so that will be needed to be done at some point in the future. We’d rather Bertie was safe and home recovering from his surgery than risk him being under any longer to continue with the surgery.
Bertie is absolutely thriving in foster, all the grumps, growls and naughtiness isn’t showing. His foster family are very experienced Hound owners, they have dealt with TECA surgery before, they also have a blind basset. Their home is adapted for bassets with disabilities. They have spent nights and nights for weeks and weeks awake with Bertie to ensure he’s calm, comfortable and recovering from all these awful, sad, but necessary surgeries. They really have been total angels with Bertie, and we really can’t thank them enough.
We also cannot thank you all for supporting Bertie for this surgery. As you can see below it’s not cheap, but it is totally necessary to relieve him from pain, which was totally unnecessary if he had received the correct treatment in the time he since he first left us for his new life.
This boy now has the third chance of his new life and we are so grateful for you all to be giving him this opportunity.
If you can donate to Bertie’s fund please do, you can do this by the link below, by making a payment to Paypal – [email protected] or into the bank account A/C 52372266 S/C 40-34-27 the total for the second surgery was £2267.77 and we desperately need to raise the funds for this.
We also have a fabulous raffle starting so keep an eye out for that.
Support BRNGB: Donate to Help Rescued Basset Hounds
28th December 2025
Poor Bertie has had quite a rough Christmas. He’s limited as to what pain medication he can have because of the steroids he is taking to keep the infection in his intact ear at bay prior to his final TECA surgery which is going to take place on the 6th January.
He’s been back to the vets a couple of times for check up, he’s had a thorough examination to make sure his surgery site is healing as expected, which thank fully it is.
The bestest news however is the mass removed from his throat area wasn’t cancer, but obviously had to be removed as it would have caused issues in the future as it would have continued to grow. The surgery site still needs a little more work and a tooth will need to be removed which will be done at the same time as his second TECA.
Bertie has sadly been suffering the last few days with a nasty tummy. He has been to the vets about this and his steroid medication is being reduced while his tummy recovers. A sample will be sent off to ensure that it is just a nasty bug. After everything he’s been through it’s no surprise that he’s a little under the weather and could pick up any bugs going around.
We really need to say a massive thank you to his foster parents. All our foster families are amazing, but they have gone above and beyond with this lad. They have been with him around the clock to ensure that he’s doing well and is comfortable. A huge thank you for their love and devotion.
Also to the vet team, thank you. Because Bertie can be wary and reactive with strangers, we are so grateful it’s always the same team that see Bertie, they take everything at his pace, they sit and talk to him and make sure he’s happy. Because of this, any vet visit is becoming less and less stressful for Bertie and he’s happy to be with his trusted circle and they adore him.
Final thank you to you all who have donated to Bertie’s fund, supported him from afar in any way you can. We are so very grateful.
Bertie sends you a big thank you
16th December 2025
Bertie is home 
after his TECA surgery on one ear.
Conversation with his surgeon today confirmed that Bertie’s ear drum had burst previously, this had roughly healed and hair had grown where it shouldn’t have been. Bottom line is nothing would have cleared this awful infection or the pain Bertie was in.
The burst ear drum explains Bertie’s occasional loss of balance, reaction to certain noises and grumpiness. The pain he must have been in would have been horrendous.
Whilst the vet was preparing Bertie for surgery they discovered a mass in the back of his mouth/throat area which they also removed.
The surgery went OK and we will wait for the results for the lump removed from his mouth/throat. Once Bertie is recovered and fit enough he will have the surgery on his other ear
Bertie has not had much to eat tonight which is totally understandable. His foster dad did an emergency dash to the late night vet to pick up liquid pain killer as he wouldn’t take the tablets.
Bertie’s foster parents will take it in turns to sit with him tonight as he is very uncomfortable.
Please keep Bertie in your thoughts, today’s surgery was £2500.00 (including the lump removal). We know its close to Christmas, but if you are able to donate, even the price of a mince pie, please do. Bertie and us would be grateful.
Wishing Bertie and his foster family a peaceful, settled night
19th November 2025
We thought we should give an urgent update on Bertie who arrived back with us on Sunday.
Please be aware these photos are distressing.
He was straight to the vet on Monday after a really good first night, he settled all night really well.
Straight off to the vets; he was muzzled based on what his previous owner had informed us of his reaction to the vets. Bertie accepted the muzzle without too much complaint.
At the vets he had his ears swabbed and a full ear flush under heavy sedation was booked for Tuesday. His ears are full of really black, disgusting fluids.
The vet also examined his eyes; we knew that Bertie should have treatment for his eyes following on from his surgery when he was originally with us. Sadly his eyes were very dry and sore.
His skin is also very yeasty, some serious baths and grooming are required to get on top of this.
Bertie was really good at the vets, was happy to wag his tail after he spent some time getting to know the vet, although he wasn’t a fan of a small dog in the waiting room.
That vet check cost £400.77 (invoice below).
Fast forward to Tuesday, Bertie was back at the vets to be sedated and have his ears flushed. The photos below are photos taken by the vet. As you can see, his ears are an awful mess, smell awful, full of disgusting puss and badly inflamed. He must be in so much pain, as we know ear infections are awful and can have an impact on everything from how you feel aside from the never ending pain to your balance. We’ve also attached a copy of the vet report on his ears.
We are waiting on cultures to grow in the lab so we can ascertain what infection this is and how best to treat it.
Since the flush Bertie has been brilliant at having his ear drops, even without a muzzle. He’s also more balanced when walking, although stiff in his back end.
The ear flush yesterday cost £585.28 – again the invoice is below.
Bertie’s foster mum really wants you to know that despite all this, he’s a very loving boy and is settling in really really well.
Within 48 hours of Bertie arriving he’s had treatment, treatment that is needed to deal with a deep rooted, disgusting infection in his ears, costing just shy of £1,000.00…..and this isn’t the end of the treatment road for Bertie. He will need further treatment for his ears, his eyes, his skin and his teeth are in dire need to work. For a hound so young, he really is physically in a terrible condition; a condition he was not in 2 years ago when he left our care, after significant treatment for a minor ear infection (which had totally cleared up) and his face lift.
Bertie has a little wish list for some grain free treats and he also needs a coat. He’s lost a lot of weight and is feeling the chill of November. If you are able to donate to his wish list the link is below.
Bertie needs some considerable funds, so please if you are able to donate, the link is also below, or purchase a raffle ticket (details also below).
We will keep you updated on Bertie. Thank you so much for your support with all of our hounds.
Support BRNGB: Donate to Help Rescued Basset Hounds
16th November 2025
Please welcome back into the BRNGB family Bertie. Bertie originally joined us in February 2023 as one of the fab four; all four were boys and were living as stud dogs outside.
Bertie was nearly 2 when he joined us, he’s now nearly 4. Please note Bertie is under assessment and is not available to be adopted so any enquiries regarding him will go unanswered.
Bertie was adopted the late end of 2023; whilst in foster with us he had a nasty ear infection which was treated, deep cleaned and completely signed off by the vet. This had to be done, for the obvious reason that Bertie was in pain with his ears, but until this was totally clear he would not be able to have his entropion surgery.
Once all medical professionals were happy that his ear infection was clear, Bertie underwent his entropion surgery; a nasty surgery, but sadly one we are familiar with and one which was most definitely needed for Bertie to ensure his eyes were pain free and he wouldn’t risk his sight in his later life.
Bertie made a full recovery from his surgery, was loving life and was ready for his forever home.
Because of his full assessment in foster, we knew that Bertie had a very high prey drive, was very clever when it came to stalking the foster family’s chickens and there was no way he would be able to live with any small furries. We also knew that Bertie was a guarder of his home and his people, he most definitely had an ingrained “stranger danger”.
After careful consideration of his applications, a perfect family was found for Bertie; one who wouldn’t have many visitors, a resident dog for Bertie to have company with, someone around all the time, one that understood that Bertie would need time and continued training for his safety and those around him.
Sadly that has not been the case; Bertie has managed to scare the postman to the point they will not come to the home anymore; he has managed to bite a stranger delivery driver, as well as a visitor. As soon as we were aware, we offered to assist with training and any support we could give. Bertie’s family secured a trainer of their choosing to work with Bertie.
Bertie’s family have since made the decision to surrender Bertie back to the BRNGB family. Full rescue back up is something that we offer to all of our hounds, supporting the new family and hound, so of course we have welcomed Bertie back into the family.
Frustratingly, Bertie’s ears are badly infected, leaving him in pain, which of course has led to him being uncomfortable and grumpy. It does not appear that any vet treatment has been sought for Bertie which is incredibly disappointing considering all the effort, time, money and care which has been provided to this boy, by his foster family and you, our supporters.
Sadly, Bertie, one so young, has been let down by humans.
So what does this mean for Bertie?
Bertie arrived at his foster home today. A foster home who is very experienced, they have fostered for us for many years and we are confident that they are the right foster home to fully assess Bertie (Bertie’s original foster family were unable to take him back in at this time but they have assisted us and Bertie wholeheartedly in his surrender).
The first port of call will be a vet to assess Bertie’s ears; we are hopeful once the pain has lessoned, Bertie’s behaviour assessment can then commence. Getting him pain free is the main priority.
We do not judge people who need our help, we are here to help all Bassets, our foster families, our adoptive families, we are just disappointed that our help and assistance was not sought for Bertie when he needed us the most and when it was offered.
We hope you will all support us in getting Bertie back to a pain free life and one where he can find happiness, love and fulfilment.
If you would like to donate to Bertie’s care the link to do so is below, or please purchase a raffle ticket or buy yourself something from our shop, as well as his previous blog.
Support BRNGB: Donate to Help Rescued Basset Hounds
Sustainable Products: Explore Ethical Shopping Now
Applications Closed Bertie looking for his forever home – BRNGB
