MAGGIE

Maggie has settled in.  She is just too cute and a very good girl.  She pretty much ignores the cats.  She has no issues being in her kennel. We are still trying to train the humans to know her "I need someone to take me out" signs.  One accident in the past week.
 
I clipped her toenails yesterday and she was an angel.  Not that she loved it, but she was very, very good about it. She loves to cuddle and is particularly attached to my Dad, who is the one that usually feeds her She does get excited when he's been gone for a while and does her howler, bark, baying sounds when she happy to see him.  I've attached a picture.
 -Alecia

COPPER AND POLLY

I thought you both might like to hear that Copper and Polly are getting on great these days. You were both absolutely right about Polly.  She's a total sweetheart and has completely won our hearts.  I took her at the vet last week just for a weigh-in -- sort of like her own version of Weight Watchers -- and she had lost another three pounds.  She's down to 39 pounds now!  When she's not playing with Copper, she's a total couch potato and has her favorite chairs she likes to snuggle in.  During the day, she's kind of catlike and likes to follow the sun around the house. She loves to be petted and is starting to show signs of becoming a lap dog!copper is a total ball of energy and is perpetual motion until he exhausts himself.  He is alternately adorable and frustrating.  That's the news with Polly and Copper.  Thanks for making it possible for us to have two wonderful dogs!  I hope you both have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Best,
Susan

Thanks for your follow up call.  We are having a great time with a  great dog!  Monty has adapted to our family quite easily and we all are having a lot of fun with him. We feel very fortunate that we found  B.O.N.E.S. and that all the volunteers are extremely helpful, honest  and committed to finding the best for each dog.  This adoption is  definitely a success story and we are grateful for the time and effort  that all of you put into the adoption process.  Thanks from all of us  for finding a 'perfect' match. 

CHARLIE

Just thought I'd let you know that Charlie is very popular with the children's friends.  Kathryn had 3 girls from chorus over Tuesday and they all had a ball.  Charlie loves the snow and scampers all over chasing his ball and we are working on a small Frisbee type toy!!

I am a bit more tired these days - feels like having a new baby in the house.  Lots of excitement and work -which is no surprise.  SO if I am slow to get some pictures to you , you will understand.  My son John is being confirmed in church on Sunday and tonight Matt had  a Winter Concert at  the high school.  He is in honors chorus.  Charlie didn't come but I did tape it!! Today was the first day Charlie spent 6 hours alone in the house!  He did great.  This is the longest he will have to stay and it is only once a week.  He is a peach! I hope I still have the volunteers number in Chelmsford.  I'd like to let her know how our adopting Charlie went.
Thanks,
 Linda

CHARLIE

Charlie came to be "our son" and brother to little Elsey Mae Brew Benn and Jenni the cat on September 21 and things haven't been the same in this north country home since.

We made the commitment to adopt Charlie the same day our beloved Libby Loo lost her battle with lymphatic cancer.  We were excited to become a two beagle family again so quickly, but we also had questions - and perhaps a few reservations.  You see, Charlie who is a BONES rescue, was totally blind.  We had talked with his foster mom who assure us he was well adjusted, got around the house well, and even went jogging each day with his foster dad.  We also talked with our vet who explained Charlie's early onset glaucoma, it's treatment and problems which might occur; and most of all, he assure us that he was comfortable overseeing Charlie's medical care.

When Charlie first arrived at the house Elsee Mae was a little "standoffish" but she was still grieving the loss of her sister Libby which whom she had bonded fast and deeply.  Charlie seemed to be an intrusion into her sadness - and this strange dog bumped into everything and everyone and required special attention from mom and dad that Elsey wasn't quite ready to share.  Jenni immediately took over being Charlie's friend, leading him around with special "meow" sounds we had never heard before and soon the "bumping into" became less and less.

A week passed and suddenly Elsey Mae was showing interest, initialing play, walking around side against side with Charlie - kind of steering him where he was supposed to go.  Charlie found the toy basket and the living room became an obstacle course for everyone except Charlie.  He would go to the door to go out - "trucking" down the new ramp that goes into the play yard.  He and Elsey and Jenni began to run and play outside.  And when we called he would quickly find the ramp and run as fast as his little short legs could travel - to bump into us and get a well deserved pat.

It's been just a month and Charlie has endeared himself in the center of our hearts - and the middle of our bed.  He maneuvers around the house with unbelievable agility and ability; goes up and down stairs and steps with no chading; picks out the toy she wants to play with; enjoys taking pills and having eye drops and ointment; shares ice cream with Else (and dad!); gets excited about treats and know when they are due; and loves to visit Grammie and Grampie.  Jennis has become the "fluffy beagle" and his own sister.  Elsey Mae is his best friend and...there are even times when we forget hit slittle bundle of beagle is blind.  How Blessed we are.
- Butch and Nancy

RIGBY

Rigby is doing terrific!  I have attached one pic, I will send the others in separate e-mails because they are big files. The ones numbered 22 & 23 are what Rigby experienced when our daughter wanted to treat him like a baby. Poor dog! I think he does like the attention though! He is a really happy dog.  He always want to be involved in what we're doing.  We have two dog runs with cable leads that we can hook to his harness so he can run around and be outside for awhile. We only have him on the run when we are outside with him.   We don't like to leave him outside by himself.   He is going to obedience classes at PetSmart once a week, and he is doing well.  He loves to play with the other dogs too. He really has become a member of the family. He loves to sleep on our bed with us too. Our cat doesn't like having him around though. She hides down in the basement and comes up when she knows Rigby is either in his kennel or asleep up in the bedrooms.  I hope she will get used to him and stop sneaking off when she sees him. Well- that's about it. We just adore the little rascal.  I can't wait to see what he does when it snows and he can chase snowballs! Have a great Thanksgiving Holiday.
Best regards,
Barbara