Happy Paws (page 3)

Joe Cool:  I'm sure that you have been having a fun filled summer with all of the lab beagles that are coming to you from the lab. They look adorable!!! I was wondering about the details for Barktoberfest so that Joe, Joe Cool and I can take a trip down to visit and put some faces with names! We just got back from New Hampshire again... I attached some pics for your entertainment since, I'm sure you miss the havoc wreaked by our little buddy.

People are just suckers for him it kills me... Joe and I included. While we were in N.H. these past few days, Joe and I took him to Mt. Washington.... he peed on it (pic enclosed, kinda tacky but who ever would have thought one day he'd be there!).

The funny part of the trip happened Tues night.... Joe and I went out for dinner and stayed out at some of the local pubs later then we had planned. So we rushed back thinking "Our poor little guy, he's so lonely!" When we got back at about 1100, there was a note on his doggie run that said "We're up at the inn visiting with Molly and Meg (the inn's mascots!)", kinda shocked that he was up there so late. We rang the inn keepers door bell, out ran Joe Cool.... he had been hanging out with Steve, the inn keeper, in his recliner sacked out for the night. Steve "felt bad" for Joe Cool since he's such a "people dog", so he went down and got him from the doggie lodge and kept him company until we got home. Needless to say, he wasn't lonely at all! He just melts people....

- Val, Joe, and Joe Cool (CBR-E February 2007)

- Jan and the Rubino Family (adopted Jackie O, CBR-E July 2007)

Potter: Thought I'd send along some recent shots of Potter and his brothers. He's adjusted very well.  The oldest beagle (Roody) was slow to accept him, but they play together now aside from some periodic jealousy on Roody's part. Potter also grew to be 20 inches tall.  He's all legs.  Guess that makes him a Beagle mix of some sort.  We thought maybe Foxhoud,  Saying his name to his face usually results in him dropping to the floor and rolling on his back with his tail wagging waiting for a belly rub.  Hope you enjoy the pix. Thanks.

-Steve T. (adopted Potter, CBR-E June 2007)

The beginning was a little difficult for Gus, everything was new.  It took most of July for him to warm up to us and be comfortable.  He wasn’t used to being held and cuddling up with people.  He did not seek out any human attention.  Everything scared him, including his new dad, Mike.  The easiest things for him were house training and being weaned off his prescription diet.  His first favorite spot in the house was our bed.  Whenever he was nervous or unsure that is were he ran to.  Cassie has been a great big sister for Gus.  Gus followed Cassie everywhere and she showed him the ropes.  We made sure that he didn’t spend time alone, and that he cuddled us and we petted him and loved him all the time.  Slowly Gus began to unwind and become more and more comfortable. 

He still loves the bed, in fact he is the worse one in the house for getting up in the morning.  Now his new favorite spot is wherever I happen to be.  If I am not within his reach he cries, it is very cute and has been most successful in getting him even more hugs and kisses. 

Cassie and Gus are beagle best friends, they love to cuddle up when they are sleeping.  The two of them run through the house chasing each other, wrestling and jumping around.  We took the two to a bark park and it was quite interesting to see.  While they both went off in their own directions to explore every couple of minutes they would meet up, check-in and then be off again.  It was the oddest things I ever saw, they had to make sure that their buddy was still there and okay.  Anyone who says that dogs don’t have feelings has never been near a dog. 

Gus’ anxiety and the things that scare him have diminished.  He no longer runs when Mike comes in the room.  Now he runs to Mike and jumps on him for hugs and kisses.  Gus demands affection all the time; he will lean into you or bury his head under your arms.  He has also taken to howling randomly for no apparent reason, just the joy of being a beagle. 

The biggest change in Gus is that in June and for most of the summer I was convinced that his tail was broken, you barely ever saw it wag.  One fall evening as we were all watching TV Gus suddenly jumped off the couch, ran to the middle of the room and began to howl.  No-one moved, we wanted to see what would come next.  Then Gus began to sort of skip/hop in a circle, roll on his back and bark.  That was followed by several high speed laps around the house.  This was the changing point, this is when we knew he loved us and was happy.  Ever since that moment the tail wags non-stop! (unless he is crying because I am out of reach).  

Words just can’t describe how heart warming it is to see this beagle’s confidence grow leaps and bounds.  Mike and I call Gus our little mush ball because he just loves to be held, petted, talked to, and he follows me everywhere.  I couldn’t imagine life without Gus around.  He has warmed our home.  It is also amazing how he has changed Cassie’s life.  She has been reenergized since Gus has come home.  You would never guess that she turns fourteen in January.  The best thing that we ever did was to adopt Gus.  He truly deserves to enjoy a long, healthy, and happy retirement; and that is exactly what we intend to give him.  I am proud that we are a part of Gus’ success story and we truly thank everyone from Cascade Beagle Rescue, especially Carolyn for all the love and patience that you gave to Gus.  You helped to complete our family and there isn’t a day that goes by that we are not grateful. 

-Jen, Mike and Cassie (adopted Gus, CBR-E June 2007)