Henry the Beagle and His New Family

Just before sundown yesterday, I was surprised by a visit from Nora and Bruce, a couple who used to be my neighbors. They are a generation or two younger than I, but we share a mutual love of animals. Yesterday they told me their old dog Moochie had been killed by a Rottweiler, and they needed a seeing-eye dog for Sherpa, their other old pet who is blinded by cataracts. I was introduced to the dog they chose for the job, a Beagle named Henry.

Henry looks like a typical beagle, tri-color and good-natured. He has proven to be good with cats, so I invited him in, in spite of the baleful looks of my house cats. It really wasn’t an option, since Henry is a male drama queen. He can’t bear to let Bruce or Nora out of his sight or else he will cry in a series of mournful ‘whoop-whoops' as if he is being beaten to death. His original owner died, and later when he was adopted from the animal shelter, he ‘soiled’ the house of his new city-dwelling owners who promptly returned him to the shelter. He has been abandoned twice, and he is not going to let it happen again without a lot of protest.

The San Diego animal shelter had a special on last month when they gave animals away free of charge. The shelter had become so overcrowded they had to do something to alleviate the crush. Nora said it was heart breaking to choose only one dog. She saw a golden lab she liked, but when Henry saw Bruce, it was love at first sight. Henry scratched at his kennel door, and put up such a series of howls, as only a beagle can howl, that Bruce announced, “ That’s the one. I want the Beagle”.  They took him home and he has been accepted by Sherpa as his guide dog, and is tolerated by the mama cat and her kittens. Here, once Henry had convinced us to let him in, and he had sniffed around taking no notice of my cats, he settled down, and we humans could visit.

Nora and Bruce are both large people; Nora is at least 5’ 10” and somewhat overweight, and Bruce over 6’ 2” with a muscular build. Nora’s attractive and intelligent face reflects her never-failing good nature. I’m sure that is one important factor that keeps Bruce so obviously smitten and madly in love with her. He, on the other hand, has a quick temper he displays too often with people other than his wife. He can’t hold a steady job, and people who know him hesitate to hire him even for day work. He behaves much like a Vietnam vet with mental problems, but I’m not sure he has ever been service. He does use military slang in conversation. Whatever his problem, they have always seemed to like me. Maybe because I gave them a spare battery once when they didn’t have the money to buy one for themselves. Also, I have always been glad to care for their three dogs and a cat when they had to be away for a few days.

Recently, Nora has been ill with kidney stones, and has quit driving cab, their only source of income. For about three years they have used a leased cab for transportation up and down the mountain from a trailer spot on a ranch in Campo, to San Diego, 70 miles away. It cost them at least $50 a day for gasoline. They refuse to even consider living closer to town. They love the country and the independence they have out here. Also, the rent of a spot for their trailer is only a third as much as they would pay in town. Another difficulty is that their multiple pets would not be allowed in an established trailer park.

They seem quite calm about not having a job. They think they will clean houses, or do odd jobs. I’m sure Nora could get a job at the Golden Acorn Casino that is open 24-7. There must always be a need for reliable employees. Meanwhile they have gone into the recycling business – collecting cans and bottles. Mean spirited me didn’t offer my own collection I have salvaged here in this horse camp, but I suggested a few other places they might look. They might even collect enough to pay for Henry’s food and that of the rest of the family. I think there are a lot more people around here drinking beer and throwing out cans than there are sober people picking up cans for redemption.

In any case, I am absolutely positive that Henry has found a good home with people who will love him and never abandon him. He is probably out of luck for getting veterinary care, but he will always have his share of whatever is for dinner as well as all the Old Roy dog food he can eat.