LOU AND BESS
 

My name is Lou and this is the story of my mate, Bess (pictured on right shortly after our rescue) and me. From the time we were baby puppies we were used and abused. We can't tell you the kind of things that happened to us, but use your imagination. For two and a half to three years we put up with this treatment because we didn't have a choice.

One day Bess and I decided to run away. We didn't run far enough, we were caught and we won't go into what happened when we were taken back to our old home. But being beagles we weren't silly and we escaped again. But this time things were different, Bess had a raging infection from a botched caesarean and I was expecting puppies. I gave birth to my puppies down by the river but it was cold and I wasn't eating properly and one by one I watched my babies die, Bess never left my side.

One day we were caught again and taken to a shelter. Here we were desexed and cared for until our rescuer called Gwenda who phoned someone called Sandra and together they decided that we should live with Sandra and Greg for a while.

One cold windy Thursday night, Sandra came to collect us, we had travelled all day in a car and we weren't happy. More humans to contend with! Sandra and her son, Tim with her. Now Tim is a big man and we had had experience with big men with big feet and fists to match. However, although Tim was angry it was not with us, because as he picked us up to put Bess and myself in the car, he was gentle and called us beautiful girls. Now we had been called many things but never beautiful girls! Was this just a way of giving us false security? We were very unsure. It's like when humans offer you food and its snatched away, or they call you and when you go to them thinking you are going to get a cuddle you are belted instead. You learn very quickly not to trust humans!

But we came to live with Sandra and Greg. We met Kim who was also kind and gentle and full of ideas about what she would like to do to our previous owners. We finally got to meet Gwenda and Nerelle and the neighbours, anyone who would treat us gently. We were introduced to the dogs who lived with Sandra and Greg, friendly dogs who greeted us with sniffs and tail wags and invited us to play. Bess and I learnt very quickly that when a member of this family came into their dog run, all their dogs jumped up for pats and cuddles and weren't pushed away. So Bess and I thought that we could be a part of this. In this family hands are for pats not smacks.

That's my picture on the left, very soon after we came to live with Greg and Sandra, you can see how timid I am! I'm a lot better now.

Slowly we came to understand love and trust. We were fed on clean plates, we didn't even know what a plate was! Our food was thrown into the yard - first come, first served! For all of you beagles out there who have a loving home and people who care about you - THINK of what it is like to be pushed from one place to another.

Now Bess (see below) has gone to live with another loving family, she has everything she wants. I am still with Sandra and Greg. I may not be a show dog and I'm not an Australian Champion, I'm just an ugly duckling but I'm loved and I have mates who don't care what I look like and I would like to spend the rest of my life here.

Will they have me????

YES!!



UPDATE ON BESS
A letter from Anne
Bess' New Mum


Please find enclosed photos of our 'Beloved Bess'. She enjoys lying on the spare bed watching me iron. She has come such a long way since we first saw her, gained weight, plays, a little mischievous and so very clever, has been so easy to train.

She gets lots of hugs and kisses and has certainly filled a void in out hearts. I'm sure you will notice a change in her and we once again 'Thank You' for helping us find her. We love her dearly.

 

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