Beagle Boy 4

Fast forward to one week later....Despite my best efforts to reunite this dog with his owners, I was unsuccessful. The local radio stations advertised where and when the dog had gone missing, providing a description. The local humane society was contacted to see if anyone was missing a beagle hound...no such luck. The children were happy about our find, but this dog could not stay. For one thing, he was a bit melancholy and spent quite a bit of time moping and whining around the house. We interpreted this behavior as a dog who was pining for his lost master and friend. The children tried to cheer him up with a game of fetch, chew toys, and doggie treats. The young dog seemed grateful for the attention, but it all seemed a bit foreign to him. He acted as if he had never played before and didn't know how.

He must really miss his family, we reasoned. It was then, that the "pack leader" at our house decided to take matters into his own hands. My husband returned to the site where I had those heart stopping moments when the dog and I had first come nose to nose, or bumper to nose. He began knocking on doors and asking questions. Four doors and a few knocks later, he asked a lady if she had a beagle. She looked a bit concerned and reported that her husband had a beagle that had been missing for a while. A bit more conversation and a few pleasantries later, my husband returned home to give us the news.

A lifetime lover of dogs, my husband had learned that this beagle had been used for hunting purposes only. He had been born and raised in a pen with several other dogs. The woman had told him how the dog was an escape artist and would end up dead if he stayed. She offered to let him keep the dog and he agreed. That is the story of how a little boy's prayer to have a beagle came to an end. It is also the beginning of a new story....how a new friend became family.

Beagle Boy 3

The first order of business was a bath. How would we get rid of that odor? We scrubbed and washed and scrubbed and washed. Then we did it all over again. We used the best dog shampoo money could buy. Then we used the best people shampoo money could buy. That little beagle was so patient with all our scrubbing efforts. We didn't know it then, but his persistent patience through all this bubble action was the first sign that we were now in possession of an exceptional canine. You see, Beagles think very little of "foo foo" smells. A spray of Cliniques Happy perfume equals S-A-D to a Beagle's nose. However, nothing will deliver a more proud pooch than after he has had a good roll in fresh manure.

So back to my story...
Our new house guest was about as clean as he would ever be and our house now smelled like "Skunk A La hound dog." Our new Beagle buddy just sat and stared. He acted a little like a polar bear vacationing in Hawaii. He just did not know what to do with himself. Our little family of six gathered around him. The children did not know what to make of his demure disposition. Quite frankly, I did not know what to make of it either. No movement, no wagging tail, no friendly licks or howls...just silence and stares. We were all feeling the tension in the air. Just then, the dog stood up and approached our oldest son, Bryce. Unsure of how to react, the Beagle instructed him by placing his head under Bryce's hand. It was his way of saying.."Go on...pet me. I like you too." Slowly, the dog made his way around the room, stopping to acknowledge each one of us. This was all very deliberate and caused us to feel as though we were the guest instead of the hosts. He stopped at each one of us to introduce himself. He even included the baby. She had been watching all of this unfold from her place in the walker. She let out a shrill of delight when he gently placed his paw on her tray so she could reach him for a pat. What would he do next?

Beagle Boy 2

I continued on my route to the school where my children would be waiting. My new acquaintance sat upright in the seat beside me. I was fairly certain that I had performed my civic duty for the week. He was surely a runaway and I would do my part to return him to his beloved owner. He was rather thin with a dull sticky coat. He had a dried sticky substance down his back resembling the stickiness of an old coke. Now that we were in closed quarters, my nose quickly detected the very strong and lingering odor of a skunk spray. I looked over at my new furry passenger with disgust and disbelief. I could swear to this day that he looked away in embarrassment. I would soon learn that despite smell and appearances, I was now in the company of a gentleman.

I surmised that fate had brought us together. After all, I would be the one whose hard work and dedication would reunite this pup with his people. It was at that moment that my oldest son, Bryce, about 10 yrs old then, jumped in the car with the exclamation, "A BEAGLE!!! I've been praying that we would get a beagle!"
Now I must say that at that moment, I was slightly unnerved. I had no intention of keeping this skunk hound in my home for any more than a few days. A prayer warrior, I knew the power of prayer. I knew that God likes to grow the faith of His little children by answering their prayers. This would definitely complicate matters.

Beagle Boy 1

This blog is for anyone who loves dogs...especially Beagles.

Koda came into our lives about seven years ago. A full bred beagle, he ran out in front of my car three days in a row. Three days in a row his life was spared with the slamming of my brakes. My neck was beginning to feel the effects after three days of simulated whiplash. Apparently, the beagle and I both had to be somewhere every weekday at three o' clock. Well, I had to pick up my children from school each day. What appointments did he have? Hmph!

Alright, alright! Enough is enough. On the third day it was clear to me that I was going to have to have a talk with this clumsy beagle. On that particular day, he wasn't much to look at and having a close encounter with him would prove that he was even less of a looker. Pulling my minivan over on the shoulder, I got out to meet this little man face to face. I could see that he was rather timid. If I was going to have my chance at giving him a stern talking to I would have to win him over first.

I tried all my usual doggie coaxing charms.
"Here boy...treat!" barely resulted in a mere glance over the shoulder.
He was nonchalantly headed toward the oncoming traffic. I hurried to step between him and the road. He simply headed in a new direction. This went on for some time. The pursuit ended when his little sniffer led him straight into a trash can that was now laying on the ground. The lingering smells of past delicacies beckoned him like a burglar to a bank. I pulled the stinky hound out by his hindquarters.

Our eyes met with equal surprise. We shared a look of understanding. It was like meeting a long lost friend. "Come on , boy," was all I said. Willingly, he obliged and jumped right in the family van.


To be continued.....