(This has nothing to do with this week's Self Help Radio.)
We are fostering-to-adopt the handsome hound pictured above. He is a nine-year-old beagle - who we've been told is purebred but who because of his girth has a basset-hound-ishness about him - whose previous owner could no longer take care of him. As I mentioned, he's a little large - we estimate sixty pounds. Our other two beagles together don't weight that much. He's quite friendly, & has a great disposition, but is somewhat out of shape - he pants on long walks - & he's not used to being loved on. & doubtless he is hungry all the time.
It has been a somewhat tough three days, us getting to know him & vice versa. His previous owner had health issues that may have led to some neglect. He was passed on to a non-family-member because no one else wanted him. That sweet person met us in Olympia on Thursday - it was halfway between his home & Portland - & cried when he gave him to us. We did not know Stuart would be so large, & we thought he was a tad younger. But - as you can see - he's a beautiful dog & like I said he's very easy to be around. Except when he's about to be fed. Then he yells at you with a hoarse, throaty bark.
The foster-to-adopt program gives us a chance to get to know him to see if he'll fit in with our household. He's got a beagley indifference to things that are not good smells or food that has made him get along with the other beagles (though our youngest wishes he would play with him - the truth is Stuart may never have ever played with another dog). He has shown very little interest in the cats, though they are very suspicious of him - since he has shown interest in their food. I can only speak for myself when I say I would like him to stay. But my wife wants to know his general health - he has a vet visit on Tuesday - before she commits. Already though I see her heart softening toward him. But I can't predict the future.
Stuart by the way is the name we have given him & he already answers to it. With a beagle you can teach most anything if there's a treat involved.
It has been a somewhat tough three days, us getting to know him & vice versa. His previous owner had health issues that may have led to some neglect. He was passed on to a non-family-member because no one else wanted him. That sweet person met us in Olympia on Thursday - it was halfway between his home & Portland - & cried when he gave him to us. We did not know Stuart would be so large, & we thought he was a tad younger. But - as you can see - he's a beautiful dog & like I said he's very easy to be around. Except when he's about to be fed. Then he yells at you with a hoarse, throaty bark.
The foster-to-adopt program gives us a chance to get to know him to see if he'll fit in with our household. He's got a beagley indifference to things that are not good smells or food that has made him get along with the other beagles (though our youngest wishes he would play with him - the truth is Stuart may never have ever played with another dog). He has shown very little interest in the cats, though they are very suspicious of him - since he has shown interest in their food. I can only speak for myself when I say I would like him to stay. But my wife wants to know his general health - he has a vet visit on Tuesday - before she commits. Already though I see her heart softening toward him. But I can't predict the future.
Stuart by the way is the name we have given him & he already answers to it. With a beagle you can teach most anything if there's a treat involved.
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