We love to hear from stories from our adopters! Each one of these beagles touches our lives in a special way - hearing the "Happy Tails" makes everything we do worthwhile! Below are just a few examples of some of our happy beagle tails!
Read all of the Happy Tails by paging through them below (stories are listed from newest to oldest) or click on a name to go to a specific article.
Do you have your own Happy Tail story about adopting a B.O.N.E.S. beagle that you'd like to share? Please send it, along with any pictures, to happytails@bonesbeagles.org.
I didn't want a beagle. I didn't want something that made an "arooo" sound. I didn't want something that would rather sniff than walk. I was to be a "beag-free" lady my whole life.
2 years (and 2 beagles) later...it's hard to believe.
I was looking at a pup at the local humane society when a coworker said "how about a beagle?" "NO." was my definitive answer, for over a week. Finally, he pleaded "Just come meet him, he's soooo sweet." In retrospect, I can admit that I only went to meet the dog to get my co-worker to stop asking, not because I wanted a beagle.
At the foster moms' house, we were greeted by three rowdy, obnoxious and downright adorable beagles. After the excitement, kisses and tail wagging subsided a bit... the forth beagle, "Beau" was still hiding from us. He was timid, and terrified.
We sat on the floor for what felt like hours, just talking to him. Eventually, he sat in front of Craig – just out of arms reach. Craig held a very one-sided conversation with him...and inch by inch, Beau moved closer. We went home that night wondering how on earth a dog could be so frightened. We had no idea the plight that many rescue dogs have. After about a week of asking questions like "should we?" and "can we help?" we decided to formally apply for adoption.
Our adoption counselor, Ibby, was a blessing. After answering an endless stream of phonecalls, and putting up with newbie comments like "I have five, unfenced acres of land, he'll love it!" Beau was going to be ours.
The night we got him was something out of a horror novel. It was windy, and the leaves scared him. The car ride was an exercise in fear; the door, the coffee maker, everything was terrifying. For hours we sat on the kitchen floor, just holding him, petting him, trying to make him feel safe.
Craig was adament that no dog would sleep on the bed. I think Beau made it until 2am, when he started to cry. Craig, who had never had any dogs before, was horrified. I remember him getting up, and consoling a distraught puppy dog. Since then...well, I'm lucky if I warrant a spot on the now-named McKinley's bed.
McKinley didn't know how to play. He didn't know how to snuggle, or love, or "arrooo". He didn't ask for food, or to go out. In short, he was just there... And he was lonely. He cried a lot, no matter how much love we gave him. We took him to my moms (who had an elderly chap of a dog), and let him learn, and be buddies. We knew after just a few months, that he needed a companion. "He's so easy" we thought...surely all beagles are like this!
Which leads us to... Lola
