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If you are thinking twice about whether an older beagle will fit into your home then think again! Here are some heartwarming stories from families that have adopted an older beagle and have added a loyal and loving pet to the household. Yes, baby puppies are cute but it can be hard work raising a puppy, especially through the early months of teething, training and several meals a day. An older dog will in most cases be already desexed, fully vaccinated, house trained and as he is fully grown, you know exactly how big he is and what his personality is like. It especially makes sense to take an older beagle if you already own an older one and are looking for a companion. Older dogs sometimes do not take kindly to the introduction of a young puppy to the household as young pups tend to be "in their face" and not know when to back off. I am sure you will enjoy readings these stories, even if just as a dog lover. The way these beagles have settled into their new homes is definitely a Happy Ending ....
Meet these beagles who found their
"forever" homes through this site.
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Hi this is “” ROCKY “” From Mount Annan, NSW
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BASIL
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Dear
Gwenda,
We would like you to meet our new family member Basil. We found him on the Rescue/Rehoming page and fell inlove with him as soon as we opened the page. After getting in contact with his owner, we were in the car the very next morning to pick him up. We were so excited to meet him and understood how sad it must have been for his owner to give him up for adoption. We reassured him that Basil would be going to a very loving home and that he had a step brother waiting for him at home. Toby our 4 year old Labrador greeted Basil at the gate with a lick on the nose. They played around for the rest of the afternoon and ended up have a doggy nap together in the late afternoon. He has settled in so well and he and Toby are like the best of friends. They do everything together, from taking a drink out of the same water bowl to sleeping cuddled up in Toby's kennel. It is so cute to wake up in the morning and see them either still asleep in the kennel or sun baking near our fence. To anyone who is thinking about adopting a Beagle, we would recommend thinking about getting an older dog. Basil has been a delight and we know it's one of the best decisions we have ever made. Regards from Click on the photos on the right to see a larger version |
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BELLA
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It had been some time that I had been thinking about welcoming a third beagle into our house. My older girl (Ellie) had started to lose her sight and was not playing as much with the younger one (Mia) and whilst inseparable I realised Ellie wanted some peace and quiet and Mia wanted a playmate. We toyed with the idea of getting a new puppy but never quite got there and I guess we know why now. I am great believer in things happening for a reason and when I went to the ACT pound and saw the little lemon and white beagle in the cage I knew she was for us. The pound could not tell us a great deal, they had no idea how old she was and she had no name. Bella, as we called her was found tied outside a vet’s in Fadden, ACT. She had a fairly large wound on the back of her neck which was several days old. When I first took her into the play area at the pound it was not long before I realised that at some stage in her life Bella had been someone’s much loved pet, she had the most beautiful nature and was very well trained. Later that afternoon we went back to the pound to introduce her to Ellie and Mia and also to get the big nod from my husband to adopt her. One look at Bella from Rob and he was smitten, it was hard going home without her but we had to wait till the 7th day to make sure she was not claimed. We found adopting Bella from the pound both rewarding and eye opening. We were given little information about Bella apart from her estimated age was 4yrs, not de-sexed and not microchipped. I am proud to say that Bella is the ripe old age of 9, is de-sexed and has been microchipped, however, her details had not been upgraded since she lived interstate. Bella has settled in to her new family along with her two beagle sisters with little problem, she’s a happy old girl with a wonderful nature and is a much loved new member of the family. We don’t regret bringing her home and would encourage others to consider adopting an older dog into their family. Tracey Elliott |
JASPER
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Hello Gwenda ,
As promised here is the picture of “JASPER” the Beagle I rescued last month. I was so happy to adopt him as he has a lovely nature and my kids Mikee, Sugar and Jamee love him so much. He instantly became part of the family the minute he arrived at our home. Mikee is his main friend as he was a gift for his 13th Birthday and he is now Mikee’s best friend. Jasper goes on walks with him every afternoon and plays with him after school. It's so amazing the whole family loves to walk at the park now including our neighbor John. Well I would just like to thank the Club for introducing us to Jasper and giving us the opportunity to look after him ………. Thanks so much !!! The Alarcon Family Note: Jasper was rescued by a dog lover when she saw him at a Garage Sale where he was tied up to a basketball pole as one of the items for sale! He was very quickly adopted by the Alarcon family who drove all the way to Bathurst from Sydney to collect him. They were kind enough to bring him to the Club's Snoopy Fun Day where I had the chance to meet this lovely family and Jasper who is just the friendliest little dog! I am sure there will be many happy years ahead of them. Gwenda |
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LOLA
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Hello, my name is
Lola. Two months ago I was taken home by Elliott, Donna
and Matt. Elliott is the same age as me. He looks a lot
like me too. We play all the time.
I haven’t got the words to describe my old life, but I can thank my lucky stars I have now found my forever home. Life is a funny thing… Here is what Donna and Matt have to say about me: Lola is a very special beagle with a special story. Before joining our family, Lola stayed at Hornsby Pound, Box Hill Vet and also stopped with a very kind Beagle Club foster family in Summer Hill. She was underweight and in need of much love and care. Lola has settled in nicely to our home and lives. She
and Elliott are best friends and spend most of the day
playing chases and snuggling (as well as other beagle
activities). Lola absolutely loves her food and we are
still trying to encourage her to chew. She will even help
Elliott finish his We would like to thank Gwenda Golding and The Jennings Family for rescuing and caring for Lola before we adopted her. |
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CASSIE AND JACKSON
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We adopted Cassie and Jackson in June 2006, via The Beagle
Club of NSW website (Rescue and Rehoming).
We took them on our first family holiday in September, to Lloran Log Cabins, which is pet friendly accommodation in Robertson NSW. We all had lots of fun, and we will certainly return there for another holiday. Thank you to Gwenda and The Beagle Club of NSW for providing this wonderful rehoming service. Narelle and Peter McIntosh.
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MILO
from The Thomas Family
Milo with her new "siblings"
My family and I were looking for a new family member of the four legged variety and after studying different breeds we decided that a beagle would be best for us. We notified several breeders that we were looking for a puppy but due to financial circumstances which arose, we had to put the purchase of for a few months.
By the time we were able to start looking again I had seen several dog rescue websites on the internet and thought the best option would be to adopt an older beagle that needed a home. As we wanted a purebred I thought the Beagle Club's page was our safest bet. After several months of watching and waiting I spotted an ad for a 3 year old desexed tan and white female which was exactly what were looking for.
I contacted the breeder and learned the story of Milo. She was purchased as a puppy and raised by a family who loved her until the children grew up and the parents both resumed full time work outside the home. It was at this point that Milo became "naughty". In a cry for attention she was chewing things up and barking etc. The family then decided to return her to the breeder to be rehomed. We made all the arrangements with Barbara (her breeder) and set off on the four hour trip to get her in December. As we parked outside the house, my husband said, "Now if this dog is not what we want we can just go back home and try again later". I thought that it would have to do something pretty awful for me not to like it. As soon as we saw her we both fell in love. My husband, who is normally shy with dogs took to her immediately and she really enjoyed the rub he gave her and ended up almost on his lap. She travelled home perfectly.
Our children were waiting at their grandparents for us and almost jumped out of their skins when they saw her. Having never had a dog before our daughter was a little hesitant but it only took minutes and they had made fast friends. After hearing the previous owner's story I was expecting Milo to be a bit naughty until she settled in but all she did was chew up some plastic things that were left laying around which was our fault not hers, she loves plastic!! Milo has fitted into our family so easily it is like she has always been here and she gives us all so much joy. She enjoys playing with the kids and loves to field in our games of backyard cricket. We all feel very lucky to have her and are going to be getting another beagle as her companion when I return to work in the future.
I would like to urge anyone out there considering adopting an older beagle to go for it, you won't be sorry. As long as you are fully aware of the breed and any particular habits that the dog has, there should be no regrets. Beagles are beautiful dogs and getting an older dog means you skip the puppy stage completely. I also recommend getting one from a Beagle Club Breeder if possible as Barbara was excellent. She provided us with all the necessary information about Milo and we even got to meet her mother and half siblings. In all this has been an excellent experience. Milo is our forever dog and we are her forever family.
MUFFY
| Muffy was almost 12 years old when her
owner rang to say that due to ill health and other genuine
reasons he needed to find a home for his girl. Muffy had been
his constant companion since she was a pup and he was
genuinely distressed at having to part with her. Sadly the
home he had arranged for her had fallen through and we were
left with less than a week to find her a new family. I knew
there was a forever home out there somewhere but would it be
found in that short time? Fortunately for Muffy, she had been bred by a Club member and though we had one or two enquiries, time had run out and she went back to stay with her breeder until a home could be found. This is one of the great benefits of getting your beagle from a Club member, should at any time you need to find a home for your beagle, the breeder is there to help. After only a few days an enquiry came from a retired couple who had recently lost their 17 year old terrier cross named Walter while they were both in hospital. They heard of Muffy through a friend of her breeder and after seeing her photo on the Rehoming page decided that they would like to give her a home as a puppy just seemed like too much to handle. |
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I got this note from her breeder just after she delivered Muffy to her new family
Muffy was also very clever she walked straight into their home and checked it all out then said hello to the Penny and Brian. I tried to call her over but Penny said no no let her go she has to get used to everything as our dogs are part of our life. Well having checked out the house Muffy moved out into the back garden, discovering that to be satisfactory, she pooped on their lawn.
When I went back some two hours later Penny said that she had been in and out the doggy door and had been helping Brian on the computer, and of course she was joining them for dinner. Everybody says to me what a lucky little dog, as Penny and Brian are evidently known for their TLC with their animals, in fact my vet said it would be novel for them to be taking a dog that wasn't on any medication! Before she went to them I had her vaccinated and heart guarded as they had their other annual heartguarded, and an oatmeal bath at the groomers, may I say she was stunning.
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Thanks
for your help Gwenda I would say Muffy has landed on her feet,
the second half of her life will be better than her first half.
This was the note I received from Penny and Brian after Muffy had been with them for a few days We think that Muffy is a real sweetie and she has settled in so very quickly and happily with us and our bonding has been immediate. As we think she is, so we are lucky to have taken such a beautiful animal. We look forward to years of happy 'beagling'. The last note I received was to let me know that Muffy had been entered in the local Pet of the Year contest. She may not have won that competition but she has won many hearts along the way.
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BESS AND LOU
My name is Lou and this is the story of my mate, Bess (pictured on left shortly after our rescue) and me.
From the time we were baby puppies we were used and abused. We can't tell you the kind of things that happened to us, but use your imagination. For two and a half to three years we put up with this treatment because we didn't have a choice.
One day Bess and I decided to run away. We didn't run far enough, we were caught and we won't go into what happened when we were taken back to our old home. But being beagles we weren't silly and we escaped again. But this time things were different, Bess had a raging infection from a botched caesarean and I was expecting puppies. I gave birth to my puppies down by the river but it was cold and I wasn't eating properly and one by one I watched my babies die, Bess never left my side.
One day we were caught again and taken to a shelter. Here we were desexed and cared for until our rescuer called Gwenda who phoned someone called Sandra and together they decided that we should live with Sandra and Greg for a while.
One cold windy Thursday night, Sandra came to collect us, we had travelled all day in a car and we weren't happy. More humans to contend with! Sandra and her son, Tim with her. Now Tim is a big man and we had had experience with big men with big feet and fists to match. However, although Tim was angry it was not with us, because as he picked us up to put Bess and myself in the car, he was gentle and called us beautiful girls. Now we had been called many things but never beautiful girls! Was this just a way of giving us false security? We were very unsure. It's like when humans offer you food and its snatched away, or they call you and when you go to them thinking you are going to get a cuddle you are belted instead. You learn very quickly not to trust humans!
But we came to live with Sandra and Greg. We met Kim who was
also kind and gentle and full of ideas about what
she would like
to do to our previous owners. We finally got to meet Gwenda and
Nerelle and the neighbours, anyone who would treat us gently. We
were introduced to the dogs who lived with Sandra and Greg,
friendly dogs who greeted us with sniffs and tail wags and
invited us to play. Bess and I learnt very quickly that when a
member of this family came into their dog run, all their dogs
jumped up for pats and cuddles and weren't pushed away. So Bess
and I thought that we could be a part of this. In this family
hands are for pats not smacks.
That's my picture on the left, very soon after we came to live with Greg and Sandra, you can see how timid I am! I'm a lot better now.
Slowly we came to understand love and trust. We were fed on clean plates, we didn't even know what a plate was! Our food was thrown into the yard - first come, first served! For all of you beagles out there who have a loving home and people who care about you - THINK of what it is like to be pushed from one place to another.
Now Bess (see below) has gone to live with another loving family, she has everything she wants. I am still with Sandra and Greg. I may not be a show dog and I'm not an Australian Champion, I'm just an ugly duckling but I'm loved and I have mates who don't care what I look like and I would like to spend the rest of my life here.
Will they have me????
YES!!
UPDATE ON BESS
A letter from Anne
Bess' New Mum
Please find enclosed photos of our 'Beloved Bess'. She enjoys lying on the spare bed watching me iron. She has come such a long way since we first saw her, gained weight, plays, a little mischievous and so very clever, has been so easy to train.
She gets lots of hugs and kisses and has certainly filled a void in out hearts. I'm sure you will notice a change in her and we once again Thank You for helping us find her.
We love her dearly.
BUD
by Maggie & Alan
Bud's new Mum and Dad
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Sadly Bud went to the Rainbow Bridge on 28 December 2005 aged 12˝ years An inveterate mischief-maker, a shameless and lightning-fast food-stealer, a loyal and loving companion
and an all-round good time boy, Gone from our lives but never from our hearts. |
Bud (centre) with his new siblings Cotter (L) and Cami (R)
We never really planned to add a third beagle to our family. In fact I was adamant that two dogs were the perfect number for us. Then we read Gwenda's e-mail about the ten year old whose family could no longer keep him. We talked about what it must be like for this poor old boy to lose his family. We said we would see if he would fit in with us.
We had many concerns: would he get along with Cami & Cotter, brother and sister, who have rarely been separated in the eight and a half years since birth? Would he pine for his old home? What if there were problems of aggression or worse still, inconsolable grieving for what he had lost? There was only one way to find out if he was meant to be ours.
Cami & Cotter came along the day we went to pick him. We took all three dogs for a walk and then lifted Bud into the boot of the station wagon with his new siblings. When we brought him home, he was giddy with excitement at the new smells, the other dogs and a house with stairs. He settled in quickly. He has only growled once when Cotter pushed his feet into him when they were sleeping together. On the other hand, Cotter and Cami are gentle tempered dogs and have never complained about his being here. They know there is lots of love to go around.
I think that Bud's canine telepathy had been telling him for some time that he was on his way out at his old home. I think that he was worried. We have tried to show him that he is loved and that he belongs here. Slowly he has started to accept his place. He seems younger now than when we brought him home. He plays with his pile of toys like a puppy. He retrieves balls and throws his tug toy around with complete joy. At first he would barely look at them.
Young dogs, like young children, instinctively learn to trade
on their gift of nature - their good looks and cuteness. Older
dogs are not always so obviously winsome. But once their sixth
sense tells them that their home and happiness is in jeopardy,
they are loyal to whoever shows them kindness and gives them a
second chance. They intuitively know that
they have found a
human who values character as much as good looks.
We could not imagine life without Bud now. He is a loyal companion, rarely letting us out of his sight if we are at home. He staunchly defends the yard, announcing every visitor who steps on our block. His comic acts and fierce devotion show us that it's true: sometimes we don't just get older, we do get better.
Adopt an older dog. They'll know you could have gone for young and cute and they'll love you even more.
Bud with his new Dad, Alan
CHECK BACK SOON - MORE STORIES ARE COMING...
If you adopted a beagle through the Club's Rehoming website then we would love to hear from you.
I am sure you would like to see the story of your new family member added to this page.