Sir Charles Reginald of BeagleShire.
This is my boy!
I found him on the streets outside an O'Reilly's Auto Parts. He trotted past the storefront, no leash, no owner in sight, so I headed out to check on him. I casually asked him where he thought he was going. Most loose dogs spook and bolt — but not this one. He spun right around, trotted up to me, and put his paws on my thighs like we'd known each other for years. Did I mention it was January? Cold and snowy.
I brought him inside and asked the mechanics if anyone could take him home. Ironically, every single one of those burly auto parts guys was a cat person.
So I took him home myself. I posted him all over missing pet Facebook groups and brought him to the humane shelter in case his family was looking for him. He was clearly well-trained — knew his commands, walked nicely on a leash, could sit on cue. After a week with no one coming forward, the shelter called me.
Here's the thing: when I originally dropped him off, I was told they'd call me and I could simply come pick him up. But when the time came, the receptionist informed me he'd have to be transferred to the adoption center and wait for his photo to appear on their website — another five days in a cage. Now, I'm normally a calm and polite person, but that news broke my heart. I told her, respectfully but firmly, that I would be coming to pick him up at their earliest convenience, and that he would not be going to the adoption center. She pushed back, citing procedure. I acknowledged that, explained what I'd originally been told, and made it clear that — with all due respect — I was not going to leave him sitting in a cage for another week while his file was processed.
She paused, then told me if I could get there by 5:30, I could take him home.
We've been together ever since.
He came with some challenges. He's dog-reactive and still treats most other dogs like threats — we suspect his previous owners weren't kind to him. He doesn't bark or bae...., except at other dogs or the occasional cat on our walks. He also has a little urinary leakage situation that we're addressing with diapers for now, and a CT scan coming up in the next few months.
But otherwise? He is my perfect little angel of chaos.
If you stayed to read our story — thank you. I've loved being part of this community and becoming a beagle mom, even though I always thought of myself as a big-dog person. He wasn't the dog I would have picked, but he was exactly the dog I needed. He showed up during one of the darkest periods of my life.
We saved each other.