Barkley Basset Hound & Beagle Mix Cincinnati, OH

Meet Barkley, a nuzzly, kissy, 4-year-old "bagle." As you can see from his pics, he is utterly adorable! Even more so when he lets lose with one of his distinctive beagle howls. His previous owner, a veteran, originally adopted Barkley from the SPCA as a kind of service dog ... but, due to health issues, he is sadly no longer able to care for him.

Barkley came to STAF after an extended stay at a local kennel where he also attended daycare. His buddies there have this to say about the Barkster: "Barkley is quite the character! He loves playing with other dogs and is an attention-seeker from staff. To say Barkley has a zest for life is an understatement! He has a big personality along with his stout, jiggly body. He is also an escape artist. Despite his wide, short stature, Barkley has managed to escape group many times ... he’s an opportunist! His nickname is 'Ham,' because he is just that: a little piggy not only for food but all the love and play he can get ... so much that sometimes it gets him into trouble as he tends to be in the moment a bit too much and rough plays with other dogs, but with a little correcting he’s back to being the good boy that he is. I’m sure Barkley would be great as a family dog, but with his exuberant disposition he would do better in a home with other dogs to play with. Most days Barkley still acts like a puppy so having a doggy sibling or two would make him the happiest boy. Along with lots and lots of belly rubs."

Nobody (not even a dog) is perfect, and The Barkster is working on self-improvement: He is hovering around 50 pounds, down from 57. He will sit--but only for a treat, and only briefly. He can be good on leash, but other times forgets himself and pulls. He will be a better dog teamed with a family dedicated to training, one able to maintain a proper affection-to-discipline ratio, and one that won't turn to instant mush at the wag of his most adorable tail. As mentioned above, he needs a doggy sibling or two, as well as a good, solid fence.

Barkley is accepting applications for his forever-family. You will, of course, be required to demonstrate your belly rubbing technique. Non-kissers need not apply.

• All of our animals are spayed/neutered and current on shots.
• We do not do same-day adoptions; we ask that you return for a follow-up visit before taking an animal home.
• You must be 21 years or older to adopt from STAF.
• We require a 4-foot-tall physical fence for homes with children under the age of 11. We also may require a physical fence for specific dogs on a case-by-case basis, depending on each dog’s behavior and exercise needs.
• Invisible fences: Due in part to increasing coyote activity/incidents in the area and the difficulty of predicting how a dog will respond to invisible fence training, we cannot adopt to homes with invisible fences unless otherwise noted in a dog’s profile.
• We do request vet and personal references.
• We can facilitate adoptions within a 75-mile radius of our Cincinnati-based shelter.

Please visit www.STAF.org for visiting hours, a downloadable application, and additional information.