Featured Dog: Deuce

Hedgesville Hounds has penned many essays about dogs, but one of most celebrated has been a carefully researched treatise on the phenomenon we have coined "The Party Beagle."

We recommend this study as a general source of basic information in understanding Deuce-Beagle-Oh:

Dear, dear Deuce. Even by party beagle standards, he stands out. Does that mean that Deuce is, as has been alleged, "the worst dog ever"? Decidedly not ! We will endeavor not only to disprove this slander, but to guide our readers into an affectionate appreciation of him.

Deuce, bless his heart, is a chump. He is not only a bona-fide Party Beagle in every sense that this attribution implies, he is truly and sincerely bewildered when he encounters a world view that would condemn his dreams and goals (ie food or garbage) as "inappropriate". Deuce is an innocent.

History of Deuce: Deuce came into our care as a young adolescent. In his foster home he immediately won the hearts not only of his human care-providers, but also of their resident dogs. He mastered the basic rudiments of housetraining and manners, and was placed in an adoptive home.

Six years passed before his adopters returned him to us. In light of the reports about Deuce's conduct during those years, we can only surmise that his family must have loved Deuce very much to have lasted that long. The introduction into their family of a new human, and the reality of keeping up with Deuce as well as the baby proved too formidable for the family of Deuce, and they returned him.

Deuce was welcomed back into Hedgesville Hounds foster care. He lives up to his designation as a party beagle in every respect - he is shameless, affectionate, self-serving, and almost entirely food-motivated. As gentle and non-combative as a hungry lamb, Deuce has "taken it on the chin" more than once when an opportunity to swipe a tasty morsel presented, and despite the fact that he has been literally pasted by other dogs for his actions, he cannot help himself, and does not learn from his own school of hard knocks, nor does he ever get in a punch of his own. He gladly suffers for his art, which is eating.

At seven years of age, it is lucky that Deuce finds consolation in food, but he would also like a real home. He is a world-class cuddler, and even his surrendering family noted his stoic forbearance and gentle tolerance of being grabbed, pinched and smothered by the baby. He is housetrained, non-destructive and dutiful. In fact, if one accepts Deuce's genius for foraging for food, he really is a model citizen. He gets along well with cats and babies, people and dogs, and bears the scars of his non-violent but greedy nature without a murmur of complaint.

Deuce's eye contact is open, honest and direct. Surprisingly, he walks well on lead. He is simple and kind, and for all his plundering, piracy, and pilfering, there is something very touching about his earnestness, and the trusting way he loves to be hugged.

We hope that somewhere out there is an individual or family who might see value in a short, stoutish Beagle of a certain age; a sturdy, reliable, and very funny dog, who will reward their attentions, and their indulgence, with his great heart, and great appetite.