At the end of August, in partnership with the The Humane Society of the United States, we took in 15 Beagles from the Envigo facility in Virginia. The only name these pups have ever known has been a tattoo of six letters on the inside of their ear. These Beagles spent the last couple of weeks in Foster homes with and we asked their Foster families what they’ve learned about them since arriving in Kansas City!
How long have you been fostering? If new to fostering with Great Plains, have you fostered anywhere else?
“I’ve been fostering for about eight months. I’ve never fostered anywhere else.” – Leigh B.
How are these animals different from previous animals you’ve fostered?
“One thing that was different about Norman was his absolute refusal to go potty outside. He would go out for hours, but wait until he went inside to go. It was almost like he wouldn’t let his guard down outside. That has gotten a lot better, but the housebreaking is a work in progress.” – Leigh B.
What changes, if any, have you noticed in the Beagles since they first arrived in your home?
“One of the big first things I noticed about Norman’s behavior was his sniffing. Everything was so new and different, and he spent the first two days doing nothing but taking in all the unfamiliar smells, especially outside. He was very jumpy and scared and wasn’t sure if we were people he could trust. He didn’t understand the backyard, stairs, treats, a dog bed, or how to play with toys. After about two days, he started coming around. He would watch Basil (my dog) run around and fetch, and as soon as he tried it he never wanted to stop. He now begs for treats, cuddles up in his fluffy bed, and zooms up and down the stairs. He acts like the goofy puppy that he is supposed to be. He still does a lot of sniffing because he’s a beagle, but he does it with excitement now more than fear. He’s an awesome dog and I’m glad I had the opportunity to help him bring out his awesomeness!” – Leigh B.
How long have you been fostering? If new to fostering with Great Plains, have you fostered anywhere else?
“I’ve been fostering animals for about 12 years, mainly when I started working/volunteering in animal rescue. I have fostered for so many places…it’s too many to list. Everything from volunteer run small rescues all the way up to national animal welfare organizations.” – Stephanie P.
How are these animals different from previous animals you’ve fostered?
“The biggest thing that sets Phil apart from others is that he has so many “first” experiences. Watching him figure out how his back legs work was so interesting, his body awareness was so low. Then running and jumping was something he had to work on before he got good. He can’t eat out of a bowl yet, it is so overwhelming scary to him. Nighttime seems to give him a burst of confidence and energy, he’s a snuggle bug then but still skittish all day.” – Stephanie P.
What changes, if any, have you noticed in the Beagles since they first arrived in your home?
“Phil has gained confidence and started to show his true personality. He can go in his kennel on command, at first he had to picked up and struggled with to get him in. He approaches everyone, he still retreats but he sticks around. Toys and treats are his favorite things now!” – Stephanie P.
We are so excited to find them forever homes and proud to be a part of this unprecedented rescue effort. The Beagles will appear on our website as they are made available for adoption. If you are interested in adopting one of the cuties, check the website and complete the online application (front and back) at this link: greatplainsspca.org/adopt/adoption-process/.