In memory of Winston

Everyone comes to Beagle Maryland to adopt their ideal beagle - young, active, occasionally a couch potato - but those dogs are rare compared to those who have been left behind, the ones who were discarded in favor of obtaining a newer, younger dog.  

What is the story behind the older dogs in shelters?

Sometimes these dogs have spent their lives loving a family, only to be abandoned when their age meant that they were more couch potato than playmate, and the costs of veterinary care rose. Sometimes these dogs were used as hunters--penned out in the back of someone's yard--never knowing a warm bed in winter or the love a house pet takes for granted.  And because they are older dogs it doesn't matter that they are friendly, loving, outgoing and make wonderful house pets. No one wants an older dog... They are either dumped in shelters or put out of a car and left to fend for themselves.  Their last memory is of an emotionally exhausted shelter volunteer closing their eyes forever, or of finally starving to death in the dead of winter...

They deserve better than that.

What is a Friend of Winston?  Winston was the founding dog of Beagle Maryland, an older gentleman who never made it out of foster care, but found himself loved nonetheless. Beagle Maryland took care of his health concerns and allowed him to die at his own time, not earlier because of someone else's neglect or indifference. Most of Winston's friends are in the same situation, and will never be adopted - but we will save them anyway. Beagle Maryland will provide them with  veterinary care and find a permanent foster home to love them.  The permanent foster takes care of the daily and routine vetting of the dog, but Beagle Maryland provides any extraordinary vetting that is required.  We've had some confusion here:  IF YOU BECOME A FRIEND OF WINSTON FOSTER HOME, IT IS UNLIKELY YOUR FOSTER DOG WILL EVER BE ADOPTED--HE'S WITH YOU FOR LIFE PROBABLY...IF YOU CANNOT HELP WITH THE VETTING COSTS (FOR THE BASICS) WE WILL PAY FOR THIS BUT YOU MUST USE THE VETS WILLING TO DISCOUNT TO RESCUES!  And yes, we know it's not convenient when your vet is just across the street. But we do the best we can to help as many dogs as possible.  And we've done a fair job...BIG Pat on the BACK to the Friends of Winston  foster homes!

In Winston's memory, Beagle Maryland has established the "Friends of Winston"  senior dog  foster program to create a network of families willing to bring older dogs into their homes and provide them with love until they pass over the Rainbow Bridge in their own time.   We support each other and the dogs and form a unique sort of family.

Please consider opening up your heart and home to one of Winston's friends. They don't require the non-stop attention of one of our younger dogs - they just want to cuddle with you when movie time rolls around. And they are fine spending their day home alone - that means that they can sleep undisturbed! It may be difficult to think that they will be gone sooner than a younger dog, but the rewards are ample compared to the pain. Each of these dogs has a story of abandonment - can you help us make sure that their end is happy?

If you can foster a Friend of Winston, please contact us at profile@beaglemaryland.org . This is a small way to make a huge difference.  You can make a difference. 

PLEASE NOTE: Friends of Winston are always available for adoption, but in the event that they do not find their forever home, we want them to live out their lives with a loving family.

Please understand that all of the Beagle Maryland programs, including Friends of Winston, are supported through donations and fund raisers run and supported by our volunteers.  Beagle Maryland does not receive any local, state or federal funding that supports the rescue.  Our volunteers work very hard to make a program such as Friends of Winston possible and we very much appreciate the efforts and support of the FOW fosters.