Denise is living in a foster home. Please submit an application from our website and email dogs@heartlandanimalshelter.org to see if you're a match!
You may have heard about the beagles that were in the news recently. A biomedical research facility in Wisconsin came under scrutiny, and agreed to release 1500 of the beagles they had kept for testing. Heartland was able to help by taking some of them in in early May.
The beagles that were released to us were all mamas, having been used for both breeding and for testing at this facility. The day of their release was the first time they had ever touched grass, been pet, interacted with other dogs, been walked on leash, and so much more. They all went to foster homes within a few days of coming to Heartland, where they have slowly but surely learned how to "dog."
While we can't undo years of living in a kennel, being deprived of fresh air and loving care, we have been amazed at how quickly they adapted to life on the outside. These girls are remarkable and resilient, and deserve homes that will continue the progress made in their foster homes. The most important thing for anyone interested in adopting one of these beagles is acknowledging that they aren't on a typical timeline. For example, we celebrated with their fosters when they went potty outside in the grass for the first time! Only recently are they starting to play with toys, and solicit affection.
Our girls are all exceptionally gentle souls. In fact, beagles are bred and used for medical testing due to their docile natures. None of them has a mean bone, and they were not afraid of people or touch; rather, they were unfamiliar with the way a dog is typically touched, and not sure how to react to it at first. They were only ever held in the context of being poked and prodded, not lovingly petted and cooed at. So when they were first pet, they would just kind of freeze! Now, they soak up the attention, and have formed strong bonds with their foster families and their canine foster siblings!
Denise is one these resilient gals that we were lucky to welcome to Heartland! She is 3 years young and landed in an amazing foster home with a whole beagle pack! She has made huge strides, but still has a ways to go to fully adapt to life outside of a cage.
One of the most exciting changes has been watching Denise discover the joy of being a dog! She has recently started showing interest in stuffies and is beginning to play with her foster dog siblings. Seeing her playful side emerge has been incredibly rewarding, and we know there's even more of her personality waiting to shine.
Denise is looking for a patient and understanding family that will continue helping her learn the basics. She is still working on housebreaking and learning to walk confidently on a leash, so she'll need adopters who are committed to providing guidance, consistency, and encouragement as she continues to make progress.
Here is what her foster mom had to share about her!
"Experiencing the world with fresh eyes, every day brings new and wonderful things. Sometimes new things are scary and Denise needs to be shown that they are fun and safe. Mostly though, Denise is loving life and brings good vibes to every situation. Discover, wonder and awe alongside Denise."
With time, love, and a little patience, Denise is sure to become a wonderful companion. If you're looking for a gentle, sweet-natured beagle who is ready to continue her journey with a family of her own, Denise may be the perfect match for you!
Denise's adoption fee is $375. This animal is spayed, up to date on core vaccines, and Heartworm negative.
ADONIS
Mixed Breed
🇺🇸
Wheeling, Illinois
male, medium, adult
Mixed Breed
Wheeling, Illinois
