Happy Birthday to my Beagle Boys!
Today I wanted to share the stories of how we became a beagle pack. While we don’t know the actual date of birth for either of our dogs, they still deserve to be celebrated. We decided on today to celebrate only really because it is between Ron and I’s birthdays, HA!
Henry, age 6. Named after Detroit Tigers Hall of Famer, Hank Greenberg. Hank was found as a stray and rescued from a Humane Society by a co-worker of Ron’s. We then adopted Hank from the co-worker (his wife was allergic) in October 2013. We were actually still living in an apartment at the time and he was only coming over for the weekend so we could ‘test’ it out,well…he never left!
I so wish we could know Hank’s thoughts. This guy will sit on the deck, in the yard, on the couch, in bed, anywhere and just sit in deep thought observing life. He will stay outside all day long if we let him. And when he is just “over it” he sighs. I’m talking big ‘ol annoyed, you’re driving me crazy, just leave me alone, sigh. It is plain hilarious. He  protects our home and yard from the enemy, mostly squirrels. Hank will let the squirrels know exactly how he feels even if it is 6am and the neighbors are sleeping. Now I’m not sure if you’ve ever heard a beagle bark but it surely isn’t quiet.
Even though we don’t know Hank’s story before he joined us, we have no doubt that he is pure beagle. He is just so mischievous. Hank has gotten into more things than I can keep count of, namely the butter dish on our kitchen counter. Which we then moved to the cupboard and then ultimately had to put two different types of child proof locks on! He has taken dishes from the sink and into our bedroom, I’m talking heavy ceramic dishes without breaking a thing! Yet, when it comes to riding in a car he is the most ungraceful I’ve ever seen.
Harold, age 5. Named after Detroit Tigers Hall of Famer, Hal Newhouser. Hal was also found as a stray and we rescued him from a county animal shelter in April 2015. We had known for a while that we wanted to add a second beagle but hadn’t really discussed it much. Then while Ron was in between jobs in dawned on us that it was the perfect time. We decided to start looking on one day and then literally the next day we were off to see Hal and finally bring him home. Actually around lunchtime we discussed wanting to go see Hal on the weekend and then I ended up leaving work early so we could just go that day before they closed!
We don’t know Hal’s story before us either but we do know that he has some residuals that show from time to time and this breaks my mama heart. Hal is the sweetest ever (not that Hank isn’t, he is just more independent and not as lovey). Hal just wants to be in the same room as you, play fetch all day long and get a good belly rub or two or ten. He has really come into his own in the last year with us.
Hal sleeps pretty light (I think as a result of being a stray and having to fend for himself) and rises early. He likes to rise and shine, eat his breakfast, take a quick check outside and then come back to bed for snuggles. Oh the snuggles! Hal just hams it up when we pet him. He definitely loves any and all attention! He really doesn’t require much other than love, well and a toy. Though he is not picky with his toys and in fact often insists continuing to play with a toy even if only scraps are left.
Here are the 2 Detroit Tigers baseball players they are named after. In both photos Hank is on the left and Hal is on the right.
Maybe having dogs is like having kids or maybe it isn’t, but I do know that regardless I am their mama and I know that I love those 2 more than I ever even thought was imaginable! I actually really struggled when we added Hal to our family. I didn’t want to have to split my love, I didn’t want Hank to think we were replacing him or didn’t have enough time for him anymore, I also didn’t want Hal to feel unwelcome though. Then I realized you don’t split your time or your love, it just grows and now I’ve got more beagle love than I even knew was possible.
Hank & Hal keep life in perspective for me. They appreciate every moment of every day, so I try to do the same. They wake up happy and go to bed happy, a key to life. When I arrive home to another $3 Target dollar spot piece of decor chewed up and destroyed I try my hardest not to get mad. Well because I should I learned the first time not to tempt them. But also because I know their time with us is limited, we already missed out on years of their life and I don’t want to spend the remaining years upset at them. So I pick up their messes, I take them for walks, I make them homemade food and treats and I love on them as much as they will!
WHEW – thanks for reading along today! Happy Friday 🙂
Leave a Reply