Beckett the Freegle! *

I volunteered at the Beagle Freedom Project on Saturday, as this extraordinary group had just gotten in 10 dogs from a San Diego lab and most were not fostered out yet.   We unpacked the generous donations of dog food, bowls, beds and treats so many people had given through BFP’s facebook page .  I was thrilled to see the beagle I fostered last year, Javi (now named Cooper), with his wonderful adoptive mother Maria.  He is so different now from the terrified, timid lab dog I knew back then!

Needless to say, I immediately fell in love with Beckett, who tried to get in my lap almost as soon as I walked in.  I impulsively asked Shannon if I could foster him, and I took him home that afternoon!  He is such a lovely boy.  Quietly adoring of Ian and me, he follows us around the house.  He is curious about our cat Hallie (he probably has never seen a cat before), and baffled when she hisses at him.  He is not housetrained (would you be if you lived in a cage for 5 years?) but he likes to cuddle and sniffing is his favorite pasttime.  At the dog park, he is constantly trotting along , head to ground, oblivious to all except these amazing new smells.  Yep, life is a lot different for Beckett now – no more cages, no more researchers in lab coats poking or prodding  for whatever (useless) cancer tests they are doing.

He lies next to me as I type, every so often emitting a soft snore.  I am in love.

*Freegle: animal rescuer speak for  “free beagle”. Like the term “Brangelina”, but for a beagle rescued from those evil research labs.