Beagle
Friendly / Curious / Merry
Facts
Not only is the Beagle an excellent hunting dog and loyal companion, it is also happy-go-lucky, funny, and 'thanks to its pleading expression', cute. They were bred to hunt in packs, so they enjoy company and are generally easygoing.
There are two Beagle varieties: those standing under 13 inches at the shoulder, and those between 13 and 15 inches. Both varieties are sturdy, solid, and 'big for their inches,' as dog folks say.
Beagles may be lemon, red and white, and tricolor. The Beagle's fortune is in his adorable face, with its big brown or hazel eyes set off by long, houndy ears set low on a broad head. A breed described as 'merry' by its fanciers, Beagles are loving and lovable, happy, and companionable', all qualities that make them excellent family dogs.
For years the Beagle has been the most popular hound dog among American pet owners. These are curious, clever, and energetic hounds who require plenty of playtime.
Why Care about our Friends with Paws
There are about 70 million stray animals living in the U.S., and of this 70 million, only about six to eight million cats and dogs enter the nation’s 3,500 shelters every year, according to the Humane Society of the United States.
The two main reasons animals end up in shelters are because they’ve either been surrendered by their guardians or picked up off the street by animal control officers.
Only about three to four million cats and dogs are adopted from shelters each year. This means that nearly half of all animals that arrive in U.S. shelters are euthanized because there is a lack of space and adopters, amounting to roughly 2.7 million dead animals every year or five out of every ten dogs and seven out of every ten cats.
Helping vulnerable animals and keeping our friends with paws in safe and loving homes requires a commitment from all of us—advocates, pet owners, shelters, leaders, and entire communities.
