The Beagle

It will be two weeks on Thursday that the sweet little beagle wandered into our yard. She had a traveling buddy originally, but the black cocker spaniel didn't stay around for very long. The beagle was older, pudgy, and stiff legged. She hobbled up the hill from the barn, being led by Chelsea, and accepted the affection that we offered her with polite kindness. Her eyes seemed sad. She could not tell us where she had come from or why she ended up here. We could not imagine that she had run away, she seemed unable to accomplish simple things like climbing the three steps to the porch. Sadly, we assumed that she had been dumped by an owner unable to care for her.

Glen and I were gone for the evening on that first day. When we returned home and walked in the door a very tired dog face greeted us from a folded-towel-bed on the kitchen floor. We groaned, instantly recognizing that the kids had adopted this sweet canine into our home. In the morning when I came downstairs and turned on the light, her wagging tail thumped on the floor to greet me, and I felt my heart warming to her as well. Two days later the beagle seemed to perk up some. She could walk outside to do her business on her own. The next morning when I came downstairs she was not on her towel bed wagging at me? "Now what?" I thought. Slowly and still a bit sleepily, I walked through the dining room. No beagle. On to the living room. Low and behold...that dog had pulled the largest pillow off of the sofa and was sleeping in the middle of it looking very content! Hmmmm...clearly she was a house dog that had enjoyed a comfy life. The days went by. Our entire family was growing attached to the dog. Glen was calling her Pudding. She could stand her ground with our two dogs in defense of her food dish. Yet we really did not want another dog. One morning I read in the paper that the place to call if you were missing a pet was a vet clinic in a nearby town. I dialed the number and explained that we were not missing a pet, but had "found" one. The friendly voice on the other end didn't think any dogs of her description had been reported missing, but she took my information just in case. A few moments later the phone rang...it was beginning to look like our beagle had a home and a family who were looking for her. Several phone calls and a few hours passed. There was a knock on the door. A very happy family called to a very happy beagle! The missing pet and the ones who missed her were reunited!
We then learned that the beagle's name was Roxie. She had gotten out of her yard with the cocker spaniel and roamed the neighborhood till they ended up at our house. Her partner in crime had returned home the same day, but Roxie had been too weary and foot sore to do the same. Now that little homesick face was bright and smiling. Gee...some things just make you feel so good! It was wonderful getting to know you, Roxie!