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Bessie

Bichon Frisé · Female · Senior · 13 years

Bessie is very bonded with her sister, Pippa, so they must be rehomed together. They can be left for short periods when they have each other for company. Due to Bessie's friendly and gentle nature, she could live with or be regularly visited by primary school-aged children. She would suit a family looking for a loving, easy-going companion who enjoys peaceful walks, plenty of affection and sharing adventures with her beloved sister Pippa. Bessie has some medical issues that can be discussed further upon application. Bessie is a lovely, friendly girl who enjoys being outdoors, plodding along on calm, gentle walks and stopping regularly for plenty of sniffing. She loves coming to you for strokes and cuddles and will happily greet everyone with a very waggy tail. She is playful and enjoys having random bursts of energy and doing zoomies! Bessie is friendly with other dogs but is also independent and will happily go off and do her own thing. She travels well in the car, making her a wonderful companion for families who enjoy taking their dogs on day trips or away on holiday.

Size
—
Age
Senior · 13 years
Location
🇬🇧Wickford
Shelter
Dogs Trust Basildon
Living with Bessie
  • ✓Good with dogs
  • ✕Good with cats
  • ✓Good with kids
Cared for by Dogs Trust Basildon · WickfordLearn about Bichon Frisé →
More dogs in Wickford →More dogs in United Kingdom →

Listed 2 days ago

Bringing Bessie home

What you'll need for Bessie in week one.

Hand-picked · prices indicative

  1. 01
    Required by most shelters

    Trixie Transport Box

    Sturdy plastic carrier — what most shelters require for pickup.

    View on Amazon→
    €35–45
  2. 02
    Editor's pick

    Folding Wire Crate

    First-week safe space. Shelter dogs settle faster with a crate.

    View on Amazon→
    €50–80
  3. 03
    Legal · EU

    Car Seatbelt Tether

    Legally required in most EU countries for transporting dogs.

    View on Amazon→
    €8–12
  4. 04

    Adaptil Calming Spray

    Dog-specific pheromone diffuser. Worth it for the trip home.

    View on Amazon→
    €18–25
  5. 05

    Orthopaedic Dog Bed

    Worth the upgrade — rescues often have joint issues from kennels.

    View on Amazon→
    €30–60
  6. 06
    Safer than a collar

    Padded Y-Front Harness

    Escape-proof for spooky rescues. Safer than a collar in week one.

    View on Amazon→
    €20–35

§ Affiliate links · TailHarbor earns a small commission, no extra cost to you.

About Bessie

What life with Bessie looks like

Bessie is a senior bichon frisé dog waiting at Dogs Trust Basildon in Wickford.

Senior dogs settle in faster than younger ones. They want a soft bed, predictable meals, and short, sniff-heavy walks rather than runs. Many senior rescues bond deeply within weeks because they understand exactly how good a stable home is. Expect occasional vet visits for joint or dental care.

🇬🇧Adopting from United Kingdom

UK shelters work under the Pet Travel Scheme (post-Brexit, the EU pet passport is not valid; a UK Animal Health Certificate is required for travel into the EU). Most UK rescues focus on domestic placements but some work with EU partners.

Wickford, United Kingdom — browse more dogs in United Kingdom.

Frequently asked

Adopting Bessie, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Bessie?
Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Dogs Trust Basildon handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Bessie on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Bessie if I live in another country?
Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Dogs Trust Basildon will tell you what they need (EU pet passport, rabies titer, transport coordination) and whether they handle transport themselves or refer you to a partner. UK adopters: post-Brexit travel into the EU requires an Animal Health Certificate. Plan for an extra €100–€350 in transport costs depending on distance.
Is Bessie already vetted, vaccinated, and chipped?
Most dogs on TailHarbor leave their shelter with sterilization, current vaccinations, microchip ID, and an EU pet passport included in the adoption fee. The vet status on this page reflects what the shelter has reported — ask them directly if you need details on specific vaccines, recent bloodwork, or chronic conditions.
What happens if Bessie isn't the right fit?
Every reputable rescue accepts an animal back if the adoption genuinely doesn't work — that's part of the standard contract. Talk it through with Dogs Trust Basildon early rather than rehoming privately; they know Bessie and can place them more successfully than a second-hand listing can.
Why does the description sometimes read awkwardly?
TailHarbor translates shelter descriptions into English from the source language (EN). Translation is imperfect — names of streets, donors, and shelter-specific terms occasionally slip through unidiomatically. For the cleanest read, click the source link to see the shelter's original page.
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