This handsome little Beagle arrived on Monday from Atlanta. Charlie had been picked up as a stray by a small shelter in Cherokee County, Georgia. No one claimed him. A rescue group we have worked with a lot before, Atlanta Beagle Rescue, contacted us when they learned about the blind Beagle from the shelter. We agreed to take him, and we flew him on Delta from Atlanta to Salt Lake City and on to Missoula. Alayne picked him up at the airport on Monday afternoon.
He looks quite a bit like Willie, another blind Beagle we had taken from the same rescue group a couple of years ago (since happily adopted out.) He has very distinct cataracts in both eyes, but at this point we don't know if that is the primary cause of his blindness or whether the cataracts are secondary to something else. Charlie is on the small side, and still very skinny -- his ribs stick out, so he definitely needs to gain a lot of weight. He's great with the other dogs and seems to get along just fine with everyone.
After trying to climb up onto the kitchen counter in search of food yesterday, he's learned that this is not acceptable dining behavior. (Beagle + food = trouble.)
When he first came into the house Monday evening, we had CNN on the TV ... Charlie heard the voices and zoomed over to greet the people he was sure were right there in the living room! He circled and circled the TV trying to find them, jumping up on the cabinet and poking around behind the set looking for them. I finally had to hit the mute button to convince him no one was there. That's the first time we've seen that kind of response!
Blind Briggs (also from Georgia) wobbled out to greet the new arrival, sniffed him a few times, and said to no one in particular, "Hey, it's my second cousin, Charlie from Cherokee County. Haven't seen him in years. Still can't see him, come to think of it." He paused. "Good joke, huh?" [Oh, brother.]
Fortunately, Charlie is a very mellow, laid-back Beagle who loves to sleep all day long. After wandering through the house to get his bearings Monday evening, he ambled back to the living room and found his preferred spot -- the round bumper bed on a cot:
He seems to prefer using the bed without the pillow in the bottom, which is why it's tossed out over the edge. I took the previous photo yesterday afternoon; here's a photo I took while I was writing this blog post this afternoon:
Charlie is one very contented Beagle!
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Don't forget, you can vote every day for us in The Animal Rescue Site/PetFinder's Shelter Challenge. Enter "Rolling Dog Ranch" and our state postal code, MT for Montana, and it will bring up our listing so you can cast your vote. We won $1,000 in this online contest last year because of your help and would like to win it again this year.
We're currently No. 7 nationwide, so your votes are adding up! Thank you!
What wonderful work. These dogs and cats,plus others have two Guardian Angels in you and your wife. You are very special people. I have a little beagle and she also likes to sleep. Also have Bassett with cancer plus fluid around the heart. All together I have 11 dogs,6cats and would like to thank you for you being you.
Posted by: Barbara Mansfield | July 03, 2009 at 01:48 PM
I love the work you do with animals in need. What would they do without you! I only wish I lived close to you so I could volunteer at this very, worthwhile, sanctuary for disabled animals. Charlie is absolutely adorable! I am so happy he is with you, I know he is in great hands and will receive all the love and attention he so deserves until he can find his forever home.
I voted for you and will vote everyday for the Rolling Dog Ranch. You deserve to win the big one with all the wonderful work you and your wife do at this ranch. Keep up the wonderful work. There is surely a place in paradise for such kind, loving people!
Posted by: Nancy | May 16, 2009 at 12:08 PM
I thank he is so cute it's great what you guys do. my 4 dogs all like the small beds with out pillows too, but they are all big dogs but 1. Give him a kiss for me.
Hey what are signs of a dog going blind? My lab/collie is starting to worry me. good luck with contest I voted today will try my best to vote every day hard to do when have to borrow moms computer, my lab/pit ate my power cord.
Posted by: jamie williams | May 13, 2009 at 05:27 PM
Charlie is adorable. My dad has a beagle and her main function of the day is also sleeping. He must be HAPPY and CONTENT. How is Callie doing? Hope she is still doing her very best.
Posted by: Kathy and Harley | May 04, 2009 at 12:11 PM
What a cutie! He obviously prefers the bed without the pillow in it because then it's more like getting a hug - so please give him an extra one for me. =)
Posted by: JC | May 01, 2009 at 05:58 PM
What a cutie boy!! Welcome to the ranch, Charlie...it's heaven on earth!
Posted by: Nina | April 30, 2009 at 08:57 PM
Oh Charlie aren't you just the cutest thing!! Welcome home to the best darn place on earth!
Posted by: Maree | April 30, 2009 at 02:01 PM
I hope he's just sleepy in the photos because he looks sad. Give him lots of hugs and kisses from everyone out here and tell him he's going to find out he's an exceptionally luck little beagle boy!
Posted by: Miranda | April 30, 2009 at 01:57 PM
Welcome to cute, little Charlie. He's not sleepy, he's just overcome by all the snow in his new home! He'll perk up when it's warmer. :D
Posted by: Moon Rani | April 30, 2009 at 01:27 PM
Welcome aboard Charlie !
:)
Posted by: Amy A | April 30, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Welcome sweet Charlie! It's so nice to see another blind beagle has the found the perfect home. Thank you so much for all you do for these little ones.
Tip to all bloggers to INCREASE YOUR DAILY VOTING in the Rescue Site contest. I have found you can vote once per day, per web browser. I have Firefox and Safari on my computer at home, the same two web browsers on my computer at work and Safari on the scanning station outside my office. So I vote for Rolling Dog Ranch twice at home and three times at the office every day during the business week for a total of 5 times a day! Just wanted to pass that along.
Posted by: Peggy Fields | April 30, 2009 at 11:20 AM
Never too many Beagles! What a sweet face. So happy to see him so cozy and content. He deserves it. Thank you RDR!
Posted by: Margaret | April 30, 2009 at 11:15 AM
My introduction to this adorable breed (other than Snoopy of course!!) was after we moved here to the country. I heard these horrible, wailing sounds coming from the woods. It went on for over an hour. I was convinced a poor animal was caught in a trap or some other painful tradegy. Finally, I convinced my husband to go investigate. What'd he find? Two beagles, happily running around a tree that they had chased a squirrel up. Dang, they can make some noise!!
Welcome Charlie!
Posted by: Lynn | April 30, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Aww, he looks like a sweet little guy. Thank you for rescuing him.
Posted by: Billie | April 30, 2009 at 09:46 AM
Wecome to your ranch home, Charlie!
His disposition looks like he'll fit in just fine. He's adorable too! I'm sure he'll enjoy getting healthy and gaining some weight in his new home.
Thanks for making room for him. : )
Posted by: boundforglory | April 30, 2009 at 09:22 AM
What a doll!! Give him a welcome to the family kiss for me.
Posted by: Lynda | April 30, 2009 at 08:46 AM
Uh-oh, the dachshunds had better watch out! The beagles are taking over!
Posted by: Jeanne | April 30, 2009 at 08:38 AM
A very warm welcome to Charlie!!
He looks so sweet, especially in the bottom picture.
Thank you, Alayne & Steve, for giving him a loving home.
Three cheers for Charlie!
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | April 30, 2009 at 05:24 AM
Cute joke Briggs. It reminds me of a joke a blind gentlemen named Bernie told me back when I helped blind folks learn computers. One day, when I was leaving his house, he asked me, "Glenn, do you know how a blind sky diver knows when to bend his knees?" "No", I said. Bernie replied "it's when he feels some slack in the leash". Bernie was a character, and Charlie looks like a real character too!
Posted by: Glenn | April 29, 2009 at 11:21 PM
We estimated Charlie to be about 8-ish. He is actually pretty spunky - don't let the lounging around fool you. He LOVES to go for walks and was completely fearless on a leash. He loved riding in the car too.
I'm sure RDR will be able to fatten him up nicely. He definitely does not have a problem eating.
If we did not have four of our own dogs on top of our foster crew we totally would have kept Charlie. We are very grateful that RDR had room for yet another beagle from us. We look forward to seeing the crew again in July!
Posted by: Morgan Skilling | April 29, 2009 at 10:00 PM
I'd be contented there too! Can I come stay at your guys house? LOL I promise I'll stay off the counters. I'd also be Alaynes minion plus I can drive and operate a tractor. : )
Posted by: Craig from Great Falls | April 29, 2009 at 07:40 PM
I think I'm in love!! What a sweet boy!
Posted by: Tricia Taylor | April 29, 2009 at 07:01 PM
Charlie is cute as a button, of course! I'm glad he settled in so easily. Do you have any idea how old he is?
Posted by: Vicki Small | April 29, 2009 at 06:54 PM
He is a cute little guy. Didn't take him long to make himself at home. After some advanced training from Widget he will fit right in with the beagle mafia.
Posted by: Bob | April 29, 2009 at 06:30 PM
Welcome, Charlie!!!! You have just arrived at Heaven on Earth. You will have no more worries. You will have plenty to eat, get lots of love, have friends/long lost cousins to play with & I see from the 2nd & 3rd pics you have already assumed one of a Beagles favorite positions. Bless you, Steve & Alayne.
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin | April 29, 2009 at 06:08 PM
OMG what a handsome fellow, even though he looks a bit sad. WELCOME CHARLIE your home now.
Posted by: gayle | April 29, 2009 at 05:35 PM
How sweet! Lucky little pup to have people such as you and the rescue group.
So right on about the beagle + food = trouble. I have a schnauzer/beagle mix (with the schnauzer more of an afterthought) and he puts Minnie the Moocher to shame. Also sleeps a lot. A vet told me several years ago Joey may go blind later in life. I would never consider giving him up and now know that a blind dog can be every bit as happy as a sighted one.
When you love someone, you love them for life! Thanks so much for all you do. You both are such an inspiration.
Posted by: Lynne Parker | April 29, 2009 at 04:04 PM