we can't all be uno

Don't get me wrong...I LOVE that a beagle won Westminster! But I have very mixed feelings about dog shows at the best of times, and this is no different.

I'm not really that into the notion of the "perfect" dog, and I really loathe the primping, pruning, shaving, cutting and other nonsense that goes into these spectacles. So when a dog like a beagle wins it really is refreshing (not that Uno didn't go through the same primping and pruning as the poodles and afghans because he definitely did!)

Uno's win resonated with me, because it's obvious that his personality played a huge role in his victory - the crowds at Madison Square Gardens went crazy for Uno and his beagle howl! Aside from being a beautiful boy physically, he is obviously personality plus. But then again, so are ALL beagles.

When you are in the beagle rescue business the Uno's of the world are few and far between. And my concern is that sweet little Uno is going to spark a beagle breeding frenzy. Pet stores will want to "stock" beagles to make a buck, backyard breeders will be doing anything possible to spawn as many beagle pups as they can to capitalize on the Uno-mania.

And us here at Big on Beagles? We'll be doing what we've always done. Marna will continue to receive emails like the one she got a few days ago about "a bunch of beagles" in a shelter in Montreal that will be killed because they've been abandoned and a home can't be found for them. We're talking perfectly healthy, young, friendly beagles being killed for no good reason.

We will continue to be here for the beagles that are abandoned after the Uno craze is long forgotten. The Albert's, the Vada's, the Darwin's, the Violet's, the Quince's...the list goes on. You can see the list rescue beagles that need a home here in fact!

I try to keep this blog lighthearted and fun. I don't like to focus on the sadness that is inherent in volunteering with a dog rescue. But the reality is that the work Big on Beagles does is very, very sad. Abused, abandoned, sick, sad dogs are not lighthearted and fun. And rescuing these beagles is hard work, that costs a lot of money, takes the love and compassion of a small army of foster parents and supporters and has little to no fanfare.

As far as I'm concerned, Marna should be receiving a "Best in Show" ribbon alongside Uno.

Marna, Erica and all of us loyal Big on Beagle volunteers do what we do because it makes a difference to a breed of dog we adore (and a breed that is very misunderstood).

And I hope that we can use Uno's victory to help educate people about responsible pet ownership, the work of dog rescues like B.O.B (and many, many others) and the realities of the dog breeding industry.

Because THAT is what really, really matters.