Update:  3/15/23 - Widget was originally diagnosed and prepped for ear surgery with a specialist and due to the vet having an emergency, Widget's surgery was post-poned.  For her recent pre-op evaluation, the doctor determined that her ear blockage/swelling had gone down significatly and was due to a number of things to include allergies.  Widget has been on Apoguel for a short time and this has helped her overall health improve dramatically.  We are now going to a regular veternarian to re-evaluate her ears to make sure we're on the right treatment path.  Widget is doing very well in her foster home.  She's almost ready for her new family.  Widget's foster Mom reports that Widget is enjoying the young children in the home as well as the other animals.  Widget can be a bit shy at first and seems rather submissive but warms up quickly.  Widget almost immediately warmed up to the other dogs in the home and was found snuggling with them within a few hours of meeting.  She is with a young adult and a senior dog.  She's well received in the neighborhood with humans and dogs.  She hasn't met anyone she didn't like.  Widget finds comfort in her crate, with the door open when the family is home and tolerates the door closed when the family is away.   Right now she tolerates the crate and being alone for about 4 hours at a time.  Widget may be a bit too nosey and have fun with mischief if she's left outside the crate when the family is away.  She's pretty active in the home and yard.  She's doing pretty good (for a Beagle) on leashed walks.  She goes on a leashed walk/or outside for potty breaks about 5 times a day.  Since she's doing so well on the leash, with the right amount of walks/exercise, she'd likely do fine without a fenced in yard.  Widget is affectionate and likes to cuddle, she thrives on attention, is playful with other dogs and would LOVE to sleep in bed with you, enjoys car rides, is food/treat motivated and may want to chew on things when you're not looking.  Widget is a velcro dog - you'll find her as your shadow.  She can go from nap on the couch to play with other dogs in an instant.  She loves petting time and enjoys being scratched.  She's responding to verbal "no's" very well when she tries to join the family at the dinner table.  She wants to please.  If foster Mom had to create the ideal home for Widget, it would be a home where someone is home most of the time, perhaps with another friendly/playful dog, a home with kids who aren't wild or crazy and understand a dog needs a gentle touch and a home where her allergies are cared for through pet nutrition, allergy medication and supplements.  She's a very sweet girl and will fit into a new home easily, given the above.  

Widget has been treated for her heartworms and her recovery is progressing extremely well! She continues to thrive in her foster home but we have one more medical concern we must take care of for Widget. Both of her ears are occluded and ear canals almost completely blocked. She is scheduled mid February for TECA surgery (a total ear canal ablation) with a veterinary surgical specialist. We are very optimistic that Widget will do well but she will most likely be deaf after the surgery. She is still so young and such a smart little puppy that we are quite confident her skills will help her to adapt quickly. Please be sending prayers and positive thoughts for her and if you would like to consider a donation to help with the high cost of her surgery, please use the donate button on our web page and thank you!

Widget and her friends, Sprocket and Hiccup were found as strays in rural Alabama. No one claimed them and we were contacted and asked if we could take them. Fortunately we had enough foster homes available and said YES! At this writing Widget has only been with us for about a day so we have much more to learn about her. So far we can share that she is timid with people and will submit by rolling over and showing her belly. She does not do this because she is asking for a belly rub, but to show that she is no threat and solicit kind treatment. Widget will soon learn that this is not necessary and hopefully this behavior will eventually disappear. She will take treats from your hand and once a little relaxed wags her tail. Widget is confident with other dogs and we hope will become playful with the beagle in her foster home. We have an appointment for her to be spayed before Christmas but Widget did test positive for heartworms and will need to be treated mid January. Stay tuned for updates!