Beagles are governed by food. This fact makes them excellent candidates for sniffing out all sorts of contriband. They find the desired object; they are rewarded with a treat. Apart from being very intelligent, they are also stubborn, wilful and cunning. On admiring a Beagle at the airport, commending its handler and volunteering that we also owned a Beagle, his response was "I feel your pain".
Michael used to keep a list of the destruction caused by Ruby. Electrical cords, chest of drawers handles, door stops, bath plugs, wall plugs, hard plastic of any sort - nothing was safe from the Beagle if she set her mind on its demise. She has nearly died from eating poisonous cocos palm nuts.Most recently, she caused us a memorable $1200 bill at the vet in Northam. Her repeated burrowing under our fence caused a chain reaction in her ears than led to extreme "skankiness" with a nasty associated pong.
On Thursday, Ruby absconded from our backyard. Twice. We were beyond understanding and tolerance. On Friday morning - Good Friday - we decided that we had to act. No more Mister Niceguy. Ruby had pushed us beyond the bounds of reason. We resolved we would have to take her to the Gallery. And tie her up all day.
This we did. Madame had her lead attached to the air compressor. She could see us, she could venture into the doorway of the Gallery, but she could not escape. What a ham. If the pitiful kohl brimmed eyes of a Beagle could have had the desired effect, we would have released her, swept her into our bosom, wept tears of guilt and allowed her liberty. Alas, this was not to be. From her point of view.
She remained at the Gallery all day. We didn't come home until after six in the evening. Apart from supervised wee breaks and a bowl of water, she had nothing to amuse her. She was unamused and unimpressed. And every time she tried yet another tug on my heartstrings, I severely told her she had brought this penence on herself and that she should be ashamed of herself.
She was exceedingly well behaved this morning. She did not attempt an unscheduled outing. We left her at home with the other dogs and Jacinta and Vanessa. If a halo could have appeared above her Beagle head, Ruby would have declared she had earned it.
We are not swayed by her platitudes. If she puts one paw wrong, she'll be back on a lead. I think she is hoping we'll desolve at one glance of her beautiful eyes. We are made of sterner stuff than the Beagle realises.
And tonight, Woody, Denese's cattle dog escaped from her yard and turned up at our house...Michael took him home. There MUST be something in the air!
Innocence be my name...really truly....
Really I will be good Dad and not disappear,butter would not melt in my mouth,Crap you lie! Stay on the lead and we will see!!!
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