First, thank you to the Beagle Freedom Project for helping these laboratory dogs experience freedom for the first time in their lives. They had only been known as a number, never by a name.
We were so excited to welcome our new friends into our home that we decided to fore-go our traditional Thanksgiving celebration in order to make the trek to L.A. to pick up our two Spanish laboratory beagles from the Beagle Freedom Project.
My husband and son arrived at Shannon's home around 2 p.m. and were greeted by a reporter from the Daily News. We were seated in the yard while Shannon went to get our dogs. Most people usually foster just one, however, we currently had no pets so they felt it was best to have two dogs together so they could 'learn' from each other how to be dogs.
They brought out #30 and #39. We were told they had spent the entire day together. We were also told that #39 was the most timid and frightened dogs but BFP thought our family would be a good environment for him. He shook uncontrollably. We were told they were not debarked at the laboratory although neither had made a peep.
After arriving to our home, we decided the best place for them was in our hallway. We gated both sides to make their den and then we placed their doggy beds inside along with a few toys, food and water.
They received a lot of hugs that night and they both ate and drank. They were very afraid of us and wouldn't come to us, but instead, cowered or ran if we came to them. Their den made them feel the most safe.
That night, we didn't want them downstairs, alone, so we decided to move them upstairs to a large bathroom so we could hear them if they needed us.
They seemed content and it was clear they took comfort with each other. In the morning, we found several pee accidents in the bathroom and even one on one of their pet beds, but it was to be expected after all they had been through up to this point in their lives.
Wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteThank you kindly.
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