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Amanda went to a foster home where her foster mom had to SWEAR to her husband that Mandy would only be a foster.  She PROMISED that since Mandy was just a pup, and so beautiful that someone would want her right away and she wouldn't be in their home for long.  Foster Dad relented. 

True to the prediction, several applications were submitted for Amanda.  One by one, her foster mom came up with excuses why she should not go to this or that particular family.  Mandy went to a few adoption events, and her foster mom would warn people away from her.  "She digs."  "She chews."  "She'll eat your cell phone."  "She's not a pure bred beagle...."  All the while, she'd hold Mandy close on her lap, telling any child who dared approach, "She's not used to children...  She might bite."

Finally, one day, Foster Mom was taking Mandy out the door to another adoption event, and Foster Dad said, "You're not taking her, are you?  I don't think you should take her.  Sadie (one of her foster sisters) needs her!" 

SO...  Mandy is now the youngest of three beautiful beagle and beagle-like dogs in our home.  Every night while the humans eat dinner, Mandy and Sadie growl, roll and wrestle while Penny, the senior "I've had enough of this!" beagle, twitches her lips and snarls when the action gets too close. 

She chews.   Pens are her favorite, but underwear will do nicely if no pens are available.   We've all sacrificed at least two pairs of shoes to the cause.   The oak balusters will soon be mulch.  The cell phone was particularly tasty, as was her human sister's dental retainer.

She digs.  Our yard looks like the lunar landscape.  I once found my husband's brand new watch lying in the back yard next to a newly dug hole.  Any blade of grass that dares break through the surface, is quickly plowed under.

She is a table-surfer extraordinaire!  She jumps low gates and scales high ones.  She's just WAY more trouble than we ever thought possible!

She is so joyful so happy, and so full of herself!  She LOVES to play.  When she plays with her mom, she sometimes throws her head back and lets go a long, deep and low bay.  She is shouting for joy.  She's gentle and affectionate, and like to cuddle.  She makes us laugh.  We ADORE her!

And if we ever foster again, we'll make sure we're not fostering a puppy.  We're going strictly for the couch potatoes!                                                                            7/28/06