That nose . . . really knows

Hmm . . . I think I smell a 'wabbit'

As any beagle owner will know, this dog's incredible sense of smell is beyond human comprehension. At nights, I  might go to the fridge for a quick bite -- maybe a slice of ham and some cheese between two slices of bread and, bingo, there's Trixie right next to me, coming all the way from the other end of my house, where the bedrooms are and where she was sound asleep. I mean, I would have to stick my nostrils to the piece of ham to know how it smells and this remarkable dog can smell it from maybe more than 30 feet away ---- and she wasn't even awake. Just the fact that the nose of a beagle has more than 200 million olfactory cells --- while a human nose has about 5 million --- okay, 'nuff said. And if that wasn't enough, their long floppy ears and their big lips help beagles trap air molecules to their almighty nose. If you are not a beagle owner but you're considering getting one, be aware that you have to have a fenced backyard, or they will run away the instant they detect an interesting scent. The temptation will be too much for them, and there's no training to not pay attention to that powerful nose.

Paying a price for being such a nice dog

When I adopted Trixie a couple of years ago, I immediately started buying books on beagles and checking the countless sites on them in the Internet. It struck me that on several of those sources, specially the most reputable ones, beagles were always mentioned as being the preferred dog breed for laboratory testing. According to the Beagle Freedom Project, beagles' sweet and docile nature, and the fact that they are relatively inexpensive to feed, makes them "ideal" candidates for all sort of experiments, like testing for medical, pharmaceutical, and household products, as well as cosmetics. It's appalling to see how these poor dogs get to live their short lives on this Earth. These beagles have had no interaction whatsoever with children and other dogs. Many of them have never even seen or felt the sun. They don't even know how it feels to walk on grass. Other cruel situations that these dogs suffer are too numerous to mention here. Entities like the Beagle Freedom Project work to rescue these dogs and find them families that will adopt them. The task, according to the Project, is not easy. These dogs have to be trained for absolutely everything, since they have lived their entire lives in isolation. As the owner of a beagle, I cannot help but feel compassion for these noble dogs, one of America's favorite breeds for decades, for all this deprivation and lack of humaneness. I'll probably get involved with these folks and see if I can do my part helping these doggies out. If you want to check them out, take a look at the Beagle Freedom Project's website, at  http://beaglefreedomproject.org/ Also, check out this video --- It'll move you to tears.

Dog days in Central Florida

Today in Central Florida was one of those days that you simply couldn't be outside, much less walk your dog. The thermometer hit 92 F (the record high is 99 F back in 1914, so we were pretty close). But the humidity was 76% ! Who can stand that?  It's no wonder that Trixie my beagle refuses to even walk half a block under these circumstances. My vet told me to be careful during these hot days when I walk my dog. During summer in Central Florida, the best times to walk your dog are either very early in the morning or about half an hour before sunset (which is now around 8:23 p.m.). If I take Trixie to the park, I carry a couple of poop bags, one for the poop, of course, and one for water. I fill up the bag with water from a fountain and, boy, she loves to drink that cold water in days like these. But let me refer you to people who really know about this: check out ASPCA's weather tips at http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/hot-weather-tips.aspx  I wish you and your pet a cool (not hot!!!!) summer. Here's Trixie with a message for you: "Woof!" Good girl!

A primer on the origins of the Beagle

An old illustration of the Southern Hound,

believed to be an ancestor of the modern Beagle.

The Beagle has been around for quite a while. In fact, centuries ago, back to around the 5th century B.C., there were dogs of similar size and purpose (for hunting, that is). In the 11th century in England, the Talbot, a white, slow, scent hound now extinct, was crossed with the Greyhound to give them speed. Eventually, the Talbot strain gave rise to the Southern Hound, which is believed to be an ancestor of the modern Beagle. It was not until the 19th century that the modern Beagle  was fully developed, after many years of meticulous breeding.

Flash! : Human is actually owned by dog!

A Central Florida resident is owned by his dog and not the other way around, according to documents exclusively provided by the Canine Press Syndicate.  The pooch's name is Trixie (see picture),a  tri-color Beagle that, since arriving to her present address in 2010, has stolen everybody's hearts, including his master Edgar (or pappy, as she would prefer to call him). According to reports, Trixie sits at the family table during dinner and expects to be served! Not only that --- at night, instead of sleeping on her own bed --- bought by mommy and pappy with great sacrifice at the local discount store --- she will hop into our bed, stretch her legs and sleep all night. And she has other peculiar traits too: she eats fish (we thought only cats did that); will snack a bug or two and once in a while she won't mind gulping a lizard in the backyard either. Several national and international news outlets are working on stories about Trixie, who is considering hiring an agent to handle all the interview requests, product endorsements and late night shows appearances. (To be continued)