Beagle Mafia

So this morning I get call from this frantic elderly lady who tried to surrender her newly rescued beagle at our adoption event this weekend. Apparently, this poor beagle girl was yet another victim of a backyard breeder. She was dumped off at school after just weaning a litter of puppies. So this lady calls our local animal control and they pick up. After no owner coming to claim her this lady goes and bails her out of the shelter herself. She keeps the dog for 3 days and comes to our event in tears. She cant handle her, "she give me anxiety attacks, "she cries when I leave", "she is not housebroken". She never owned a dog before and had no idea even the simple basics of how to care for a dog. Never dawned on her that a fully housebroken dog will urinate after a spay because her bladder is weaker. I figured a few days this lady might figure it out and decide to keep this little beauty after all.

So we tell her we cant take her that day but we will let her know when a spot opens but if she cant take another minute, please call us before returning her to the shelter where she will inevitably be euthanized. Well this morning I get a call and she says and I quote "I cant take another minute, she is chewing at her stitches" I am like are you kidding me lady. At this point I trying not to be ugly for the dog's sake and tell her what an idiot she was for evening attempting to provide a home for this dog. Instead I told her I would work on it but understand she has to do what she has to do. Meanwhile, I call the shelter to note her account to call us immediately if she surrenders it back. I then put out an SOS to our foster homes and one of our fosters(a previous adopter) says they will absolutely take her in. We pick her up and bring her to her new foster home. One of my other foster's dropped her off and called me immediately upon leaving and said"yeah, I am pretty sure they are going to keep her" and boy was she right! I got a call 2 hours later and sure enough, another foster flunk. :) This is a very happy ending for this little lady. She could not have landed herself a better set of owners. They are over the moon about her. A very happy ending. OASN, of course this occurs after I spend a hour putting her on the different sites. I was telling my co rescue worker today that I feel like I am a beagle traffic controller. I basically spend my days directing and redirecting beagles.

Also our last foster dog, found her forever home today. We had Miss B since July and absolutely adore this beagle. If we didn't already have a herd she would hands down be another keeper. In fact I was innerly deciding that if I would start therapy work with her right after Miss Q finishes. She could totally be a therapy dog. Ironically enough, she had another potential adopter suppose to come to the adoption event this weekend but they never showed. I was pretty bummed because this was basically the first interest in Miss B. Low and behold, I got a call that same evening from a wonderful older couple who wanted to see her immediately. Yesterday they came and I knew immediately, that was it. Of course they fell in love, I cried and continued to cry all day about it. Capo actually had to sneak her out of the house and take her to her new home. I could not do it. I broke down HARD when he accidentally left her tag on the kitchen counter. She has been the only one yet that has made me cry after finding a home. So bitter sweet. My two young dogs are searching around the house for her which makes it even harder. Miss B you will be missed but never forgotten.

The reason this is our last foster dog, is because I am getting back to my original plan for this rescue, directing. I am not cut out to foster and thankfully I have found several people in the past few weeks to step up and decide to foster. Its a blessing especially given what happened a few weeks ago when I was handed back 3 dogs. God was there, he saw around the corner and I can see clearly now. I can say, we as a rescue are far better off now then we were a month ago. Adoptions, foster homes, donation etc are pouring in. I can honestly say now, I am officially back on the graceful path and what a feeling. No more stress or drama just a bunch of us like minded people fulfilling the mission of this rescue. People have stepped up in more ways that I ever thought. Who knew it could actually be easy.....

Today also marked the second training sessions for Ms. Q. It went well, so well that her trainer told me I need to bring her a more challenging dog next time. This one is way too easy. She officially passed her STAR puppy test but still has to wait for another 2 training sessions per AKC to actually receive it. She has all but one step left to work on for her CGC. I am so blessed by this animal and for the time of this trainer. They are both simply amazing. Her trainer is really pushing me to show her as well. AKC just passed that mix breeds can show in obedience. Miss Q is soaring her way through novice obedience training. We need to keep working on a sit and wait from 20 feet away and a figure 8 turn. Today she learned a backup, and a touch naturally. Did I tell you how utterly amazing this dog is? Seriously one in a million. Next weekend we go and read to the kid's at a local library and then once we do that 4 times, get the official CDC award, I can send in her therapy papers, get licensed and insured then start therapy work. Luckily her trainer is already heavily involved and can get us in the door immediately. Very exciting stuff!

So as you can see, I was up, down, up down all day long. I do know that I am going to hit that pillow hard tonight and rest well. I accomplished a lot today and I am extremely proud of all my hard work and dedication. Its paying off and yes, this is the official pat on my own back.....neener neener.