Above left, Reilly with her new toys.  Above right, Reilly with those same toys two days later!

Below, Reilly and new brother Ben

I thought you might like an update about Reilly Ridge, who because of Sherrie, we frequently call "Reilly Roo" or "Roo"  (Sherrie called her that when we picked her up, but Reilly also frequently acts like a kangaroo.)  Granted, Reilly Ridge isn't a beagle -- we think that she's a Pointer/Whippet mix due to her speed and shape -- but she still was a great Beagle Adoption Day find!

Reilly arrived at our house and immediately showed her wonderful personality - smart, curious, friendly, and high energy.  She quickly discovered that she could jump our chain link fence and visit dogs up and down the alley in the back.  We decided that a new fence was needed, but since it was winter, that project couldn't start for awhile.  We put up chicken wire on top of the chain link.  Reilly quickly learned that she could jump, balance on the chain link rail, and then jump over the chicken wire.  So we bought fencing stakes and bent the chicken wire inward, so that when she'd jump, she'd hit the top of the fence.  It worked for awhile, but Reilly learned how to get out again.  Until July, when Reilly got a birthday present of a new 6 foot high wooden fence, it was a constant battle to keep her at home.  The new fence has been wonderful.  She's completely contained and spends her days watching the wildlife and catching birds right out of the air.  (I think that she's gotten five so far...)

When Reilly is still, she's a cuddle bug, and she loves attention.  Frequently, in the middle of the night, I get a cold nose poking me in the back asking to be let under the covers.  And often during the day she curls up on the couch next to Ben.  It took a little bit for Ben, our cranky old man, to accept her, but once he did, she became his best friend.  And now he'll cuddle up with her, too.  (Nowadays, about 9:00 p.m., it's play time with romping and howling.  And although neither dog likes to share bones and toys with strange dogs, they don't have a problem sharing with one another.