One of the oldest of the hound breeds introduced to Europe (even before the Crusades) was a dog so valued that only the clergy was said to have been entrusted with keeping watch over it to ensure its purity. Because of this purity, the dogs became known as “blooded hounds” – or “hounds of noble ancestry.” Today, we know these dogs as Bloodhounds, but the name comes not from the breed’s ability to pick up a human scent by blood left behind, but by it’s blood purity.

We fast forward to “Diamond Jim” and his sister, “Bugler Ann,” a pair of friendly Bloodhounds who belonged to Ralph and Anne Crookston of Carmel, New York in the 1950s.  Aware of their dogs’ breed legacy, the Crookstons were determined to have their dogs meet their potential, and embarked on training the pair as best they could using everything from neighborhood cats and kids, to car keys, steering wheels, and old socks, and in a variety of settings. For more than a year, Ralph and Anne worked with their dogs until Jim and Ann were able to cover tracks up to 36 hours old.  At the age of two, the two dogs were taken to a spot where prisoners had overpowered a guard and escaped, and quickly found the bad guys in a swamp a mile away. Shortly after that, they tracked down two murderers from a single footprint.  In time, Jim and Ann were credited with over 100 finds, many of them life-saving. The dogs found celebrity in their success, and starred in “The Bloodhounds,” and an episode of “Naked City,” a wildly popular TV show in the 50s and 60s.

Sadly, the dogs died close together in time. While working a call for help in 1968, Bugler Ann missed her footing and injured herself in a fall.  While recovering at a clinic, Ann’s brother died of congestive heart failure in her absence.  Ann lived on for another 18 months before joining her brother for eternity. Today, they rest at the Hartsdale Cemetery.

Photo of “Fergie” and “Maxine” (aka GCHB Wychway’s Almost a Printcess BN, RA CGC MTI and GCH Wychway’s Rocking The Tiara BN, RN MT) appears with the kind consent of Betsy Copeland. Visit Betsy’s Bloodhounds at: Wychwaybloodhounds.com