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Beagles/My Beagle Ran Away

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Expert: - 1/24/2010


Question
My 4 year old beagle ran away about 2 months ago. When he went my family and I searched extremely hard. We put signs up all over town, and went door to door handing out fliers, we had it put on the local radio station and on one that is pretty popular right now. We also looked every day and went searching through the woods. We had an electric fence for him at home, but he was really smart so he knew when it was off and that how he escaped. As I said he is really smart so I think if he could he would have found his way home by now. What do I do? I cant keep feeling so helpless. He was my world, and always will be. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT I SHOULD DO NOW!! :(

Answer
Hi Courtney, I am so very sorry to hear about this, I know how it would devastate me to have one of mine run away and not get him back. The hard part with a beagle is that their nose is their real brain and they will follow whatever scent catches their fancy. He could be so far away by now that he has no clue how to get home. Electric fences, as you have found out the hard way, seldom work for a beagle, they are smart and persistent and will test it until they find it's weakness or understand how it works (like when it is is off)The fact that appear to be woods right by you doesn't bode well for him and it is doubtful he could survive well in the wild. The only other thing I can suggest is oontacting shelters and humane rescues in your area to see if he ended up with one of them somehow. You didnt mention if he was microchipped or not? If so a vet, shelter or rescue could identify him. I feel so bad for you and my heart is just breaking for your loss, this is tough to take.

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Have4Paws

Expertise

I am happy to answer BEAGLE BREED SPECIFIC behavioral questions. Please DO NOT ask CRATE TRAINING OR MEDICAL questions! I am not a vet nor an expert in the use of crates.

Experience

I currently have one beagle, a male age 5, an 12 month old Pit Bull, and a 8 year old min. poodle. I have had to let go of three of my dogs, 2 beagles and 1 whippet/rat terrier mix in the past 5 years, most recently my whippet mix. The two beagles lived to 15 and the whippet mix to 13.5, it has been hard to say goodbye to them. I have done rescue work on and off for years as well as fund-raising for the local animal shelter. I worked for a dog magazine in the past (Southern California Dog Magazine). Being a psychotherapist has encouraged me to do in depth studying of animal behavior as well. I have worked with many people to help curb undesirable behaviors in their dogs (or them!) or to form good behaviors. My life is devoted to and surrounded by my dogs........The picture you see here is Zeppelin but we also call him the "miracle dog". He was hit by a car April 2010 while out with the dog walker and had very serious injuries... 4 surgeries and $17,000 later my boy is whole again and back to loving life. He is so special to me and he weathered a lot of pain and trauma yet is still the sweet boy he always was! I also work to stop Breed Specific Legislation and help to get pit bulls adopted.

Organizations
HSUS, PETA, SPCA DONT SHOP...ADOPT!!

Publications
Dog Fancy

Education/Credentials
I am a Marriage and Family Therapist licensed in the state of CA and am also credentialed as a Certified Addiction Treatment Specialist

Awards and Honors
Honored by the Agoura Animal Shelter for my volunteer work.

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