The eyes most definitely had it.
"I fell in love with them," Darlene Crow said.
After gazing into Elliott's dark brown eyes, Crow knew she had met her match. She adopted the 2-year-old foxhound in October and brought him home to Mechanicsville.
"Hounds have so much heart," Crow said. "But I don't think people see them that way. Most people, when they are looking for a dog, walk right past them. They think the only thing they are good for is hunting."
Linda Wickham and her husband, John, are trying to change that. They founded Hickory Hill Canine Rescue on their 3,200-acre farm outside Ashland two years ago and work to find loving homes for abandoned hunting dogs. Last year, they took in about 150 hounds and beagles and adopted out 91, including Elliott.
"These are animals that have basically been thrown away," John Wickham said. "It makes you feel good to help them."
Some of the dogs at Hickory Hill wandered onto the Wickhams' property. Others were found by local residents. But more than 90 percent come from county pounds, most often Hanover, Caroline and King William counties.
Hickory Hill works with local veterinarians and other rescue groups to get the animals spayed or neutered. Since most are heartworm-positive, they also must undergo treatment. Others are suffering from mange. Nearly all are too thin.
Ella, for example, weighed 8 pounds when she was picked up in Caroline two months ago. The 2-year-old beagle is now a healthy 20 pounds and ready for adoption.
"To watch them blossom . . . is incredible," Linda Wickham said.
Some of the dogs have been discarded because they don't have the drive to hunt. Others are too old and can no longer run fast enough. Still others got separated from their pack and their owners never came to claim them. Shelters must keep lost dogs at least five days if the animal has no tags.
"Often, these are very nice dogs that are just gun-shy," said Lt. Shawn Sears, supervisor of the animal-protection unit in Henrico County. "If they can't hunt, they don't want them."
The Wickhams have installed kennels and dog runs and are licensed to keep 50 dogs.
"People always ask me if I love dogs as much as my wife does," John Wickham said. "I say, 'No, but I love my wife.'"
Elliott now enjoys playing with Crow's other canine, 1-year-old Abbie, a rescued hound from the Richmond SPCA. Crow admits the two are spoiled.
"They'll sleep on the couch, but they prefer the bed," she said. "They hog the bed and steal your pillow at night."
Contact Janet Caggiano at (804) 649-6157 or jcaggiano@timesdispatch.com.
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