We now know a lot more about our newest TG Alumni - the beagle!! His name is Hunter and he was 1 year old on August 21st. He was neutered on July 17th and had his dew claws removed at the same time.  He received his second vaccination on July 22nd. He has had 4 homes in his short life. How can that be? He is barely a year old!! His first home had 3 children and both parents worked - he was growing up undisciplined - they really didn’t have time for a dog. So he was sold to another family with children as he was so very good with kids. He was too active, would get out of the yard, his nose ruled, he was too noisy so he was "sold" again. This home neutered him and updated his vaccinations. They really hoped the neutering would calm him down. Hunter then ended up on the street. Was he sold again or was he just lost and his family hoped good riddance? We don’t really know for sure. But Hunter is safe at Turtle Gardens.

Not one of his homes researched the breed The Beagle is a gentle, sweet, lively and curious dog that just loves everyone! A happy little tail-wagger! Sociable, brave and intelligent. Calm and loving. Excellent with children and generally good with other dogs, but should not be trusted with non-canine pets, unless they are socialized with cats and other household animals when they are young. Beagles have minds of their own. They are determined and watchful and require patient, firm training. This breed doesn’t like being left alone. Consider buying two if you will be gone a lot. A Beagle has a loud baying cry that was a delight to hunting horsemen, but can be disturbing to family and neighbors. Beagles have a tendency to follow their own noses. They may take off on their own exploration if let off their leash in an unfenced area.

Hunter is all of that plus he has never learned self-control!! He has had little formal training. He pulls on leash, He ignores the person with him if there are other dogs around - he is very reactive - he wants to play,play, play. He is quite noisy and he definitely has a hound voice which he uses a lot! On the plus side - he is happy, affectionate and has good indoor manners. He is housebroken. he has very good doggie social skills. He will learn the ropes here at TG. He will go for walks, learn sit, down, fetch and to play with humans. He will learn some self -control so he can co-exist with his family happily and safely. Hunter needs obedience. But then don’t all dogs?

Another Jerry update - he is doing well!!

Dear Yvette,

Well, today’s big accomplishment was Jerry’s first poop!  A nice healthy looking one on our 5:30 evening walk.  Jerry hung out with us all day. In the morning we worked at the computer while Jerry lay on the rug. In the afternoon we went to the dump and to town on errands and Jerry rode with us.  It was a cool day and we left the windows open a crack, so temperature was fine, and it seemed like he’d like it so much better than staying home by himself.  He seems to like riding in the car a lot and seemed very calm when we come back after leaving him in the car. Then our evening walk, dinner, and now he’s lying on the floor while I write this. When I had him out for potty breaks this morning and this afternoon, he showed considerable interest in chasing rodent-types.  He chased a squirrel up a tree and kept him there for a while.  Then later he did this sniff-track-stop-stare-boing! pounce that looked just like what a coyote does.  Came up empty though.  I’m keeping a close eye on him, hoping that this behavior doesn’t transfer over to the cat. For her part, the cat is being a little provocateur while Jerry is being reasonably good.  She walks up to him while he’s lying peacefully and puts her nose right on him till he notices her, then she walks away.I am limiting their exposure to each other somewhat, easing them into each other slowly. The only tense moment was this evening at dinner time, Sheba (that’s the cat) walked between Jerry and his bowl at the precise moment when I poured food into it.  Seemed downright deliberate.  Jerry growled.  The cat didn’t run away.  I picked up the food bowl, which Jerry let me do, no problem, and hand-fed him, just to be sure this was just a spat and not a food aggression issue.  He takes food from my hand totally nicely, and sits for a handful when I ask him to (although he "doesn’t know the *word* “sit” perfectly yet).He growled one other time today, although I have no idea at what.  We gone upstairs so I could change my clothes before going to town.  He spent much time upstairs yet. He was looking around, exploring then started to growl.  Something he saw through the window that I couldn’t see from my angle?  Something he could smell?  It looked for all the world like he was growling at the two teddy bears that live on the chair.Other than those two growls he hasn’t made a peep.  He continues to be very docile, cowering occasionally but less.  I think he was limping a little less on our walk this evening.That’s the news for today.  Tomorrow might be bath day. . .doesn’t know the *word* “sit” perfectly yet). He growled one other time today, although I have no idea at what.  We’d gone upstairs so I could change my clothes before going to town.  He hasn’t spent much time upstairs yet.  He was looking around, exploring, then started to growl.  Something he saw through the window that I couldn’t see from my angle?  Something he could smell?  It looked for all the world like he was growling at the two teddy bears that live on the chair. Other than those two growls he hasn’t made a peep.  He continues to be very docile, cowering occasionally but less.  I think he was limping a little less on our walk this evening. That’s the news for today.  Tomorrow might be bath day. . .

And today at 8.30 am I received a phone call from Rose at Bandstra - our dog food had arrived and was ready for pickup! This is networking at its finest. Anipet had dog food to donate. Carrie of Langley Animal Protection emailed TG to see if we needed any food. "yes - thank you for thinking of us" I emailed Leah at Anipet Animal Services and set up a time and place for pick up. The I posted here for transport help. Melissa and Theresa both offered to help so I emailed both of them so they could co-ordinate together. Then I contacted Bev at Bandstra www.bandstra.com/freighthistory.asp and sent all the phone numbers and addresses to Melissa and Theresa. They picked up the 25 bags Wednesday morning at 9am and drove it to Bandstra. By noon it was already on its way up here. By 10.30 am it was all in my greenhouse!! All really, really good food - Nutro, Pro Plan, all top of the line. My guys will be dining well for awhile. Thank you everyone!!

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