Welcome to the 2026 Basset Bustle — a joyful celebration of long ears, low bellies, and big personalities!

Join us for games, contests, food, and a full day of Basset fun, all in support of Basset Rescue.

Bring your hounds, your family, your friends, and your sense of fun.

The Bustle is back and better than ever!

What’s Happening This Year:

• Basset Bustle Kick off Parade
• Costume Contest
• Games & Races
• Raffle & Merch
• Food Truck
• Pawdicures
• 2027 Basset Calendar Photos
• PLUS much, much more!

Your Bustle HQ

Please plan to be part of the largest gathering of Basset Hounds in Canada at the 2026 Basset Bustle Extravaganza. This year promises to be our most exciting Bustle to date!

We are expecting hundreds of basset hounds and their people to descend upon Copetown on May 23rd. Please join us in celebrating our love of dogs and our dedication to this wonderful breed. Show your support for Basset Hound Rescue of Ontario and be part of this remarkable event.

Basset-town is THE place to be on May 23rd. There is tons of fun to be had in the huge, green, fenced in park. Dogs can run free and take advantage of all of the fun activities we have planned. This is a day not to be missed!

Do the Bustle!

The Bustle will kick-off at 11 am on Saturday May 23rd at the Copetown Community Centre’s lush, fenced in park. All of the bassets will bustle around the park in one very long (and very short!) Basset-line, led by our official 2026 AmBassetor.

And that is just the beginning! Enjoy a full day of doggy-fun and awesome events, including:

• Basset costume contest
• Best trick contest
• Best howl
• Longest ears
• Paw-dicure nail trimming
• HUGE raffle
• Exclusive BHRO merchandise
• 2027 Calendar photos
• Yummy food
• Over 200 Bassets and so much more! (Though what more is there?)

Basset-town is the place to be on May 23rd because you won’t want to miss even a minute of this event.

Support an Important Cause

BHRO has helped so many Basset Hounds find their way onto better lives. Many of these bassets had some challenging medical issues and this year we need your support more than ever. The well-being of these dogs is not possible without the kindness and generosity of so many people! Once again, we are asking for all of our members and friends to collect pledges for their participation in the bustle to help raise money for BHRO at this, our largest fundraiser of the year. As you know, every penny raised goes directly to helping those bassets who need us. Every pledge, no matter what amount, goes a long, long way in helping these deserving dogs. Pledge forms are available online right now!

Download your Pledge Form here!

You can also donate online through Canada Helps and set up your very own Giving Page where friends and family can donate directly to you. Personal Online Giving Pages can feature your own photos and you can set your own personal fund raising challenge.

The Basset Hound Rescue of Ontario Page on Canada Helps where you can pledge online, and learn about creating your own page, can be found at: Canada Helps Online Giving

Fundraising on Facebook:
You may also set up your own Facebook fundraising page and share it with all your friends to support the Bassets who need your help. Simply go to the MENU button at the top of the page and pulldown FUNDRAISER. From there you can select Basset Hound Rescue of Ontario and create your page.

Please let us know as all pages posted on our Facebook page will be shared. Tell the world about your commitment to Basset Rescue!

Stay Close to All the Action!

We have set aside a block of rooms at the BHRO friendly Mohawk Residence and Conference Centre, just 20 minutes from the Basset Headquarters at the Copetown Community Centre. The very modest room rates, also feature oversize bedroom suites and lots of green space. Details below.

Basset Town has some outstanding features!

In addition to all of the fun events you have come to expect at the Bustle we have some fabulous extras we are able to offer you thanks to this perfect venue. Previous years’ Bustles were made even more outstanding due to this truly wonderful location and this year will be even better!

• A beautiful, private, lush forested space. Trust us when we tell you it is gorgeous. It is the perfect spot to spend the day for the dogs and their people
• Indoor washrooms!! Need we say more. Clean and handy!
• A serene, shaded pavilion set in the middle of the lush surrounding forest. This pavilion is attached to the off leash park and is a lovely spot to relax in the shade
• We have plenty of hot, fresh food (including vegan) and cold drinks available right on site!
• On-site parking — there is abundant parking on-site. You can exit your car and be just a few steps to the event
• Lush surroundings, plenty of space, raffle prizes, 100's of Bassets — WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?? Plan to be a part of this not-to-be-missed event!

Hotel Information

Other Events You Can Look Forward to

• Our FABULOUS Basset Photo shoots!
• A not-to-be-missed raffle--our most awesome one yet!
• Delicious food available at the grill!
• Basset contests including our famous costume contest
• Basset Merch you won't want to miss
• Our always popular Pawdicure booth
• Prizes, prizes, prizes!
• Hundreds of basset hounds to delight you all day!
• And much, much more — keep watching for lots of exciting updates

Volunteers

The Bustle thrives thanks to our amazing volunteers. Email mindy@bassetrescue.ca if you can help!

Plus we are always looking for new raffle items.  Raffle items do not need to be dog related.  The raffle is all new merchandise, gift certificates and services, and if you can contribute please let Dawn know. We appreciate your support, however we are only able to accept new, unused items.

Of course this event could not be possible without your participation and support. Please let all of your basset loving friends, neighbours, colleagues, and even the stranger you see walking their bassets, know about this wonderful and important Basset Extravaganza.

Please keep checking your inbox and our socials for updates.

We look forward to celebrating with members, friends and adopters at Canada's largest gathering of basset hounds at the May 23, 2026 Basset Bustle Extravaganza at our wonderful location, the Copetown Community Centre.

Stay up to date with all our socials and eblasts!

Check back shortly for the latest Basset Bustle T-shirts!

Ready to order soon.

Email Dawn at dawn@bassetrescue.ca if you have any questions.