Seven dogs compete for the ultimate title of

Westminster Best in Show, but only one can

come out top dog.

Malachy the Pekingese takes top honors. Photo courtesy Ernie Slone

Dog shows in today’s media are considered a quaint pastime, a hobby for a devoted group of dog fanciers, or quirky events that attract strangely passionate dog fanatics a la the popular film Best in Show. Once upon a time, however, dog shows were considered more than a quaint hobby but more like professional sports; and they were covered in the country’s leading newspaper, The New York Times, by a regular columnist by the name of Walter Fletcher. Fletcher wrote for the Times for over sixty years and covered the Westminster Kennel Club dog show for forty years. Fletcher died in February 2000 on the first day of the Westminster show.

Like sports fans, dog-show advocates are obsessed with statistics, and no kennel club keeps stats better than Westminster. Winning a Group or a Best in Show at the Garden guarantees a dog’s name goes down in history, and fanciers are fixated on which dog is the first of its breed, its sex, its color, and so forth to claim such a win. The Club itself rightly refers to its Best in Show winners as “Legends” in its own catalog and anoints the winner “America’s Dog.” Last year’s Best in Show Legend, GCh. Foxcliffe Hickory Wind, was the first Scottish Deerhound to ever win Westminster as well as the first Grand Champion (a new AKC title last year). Falling short of professional sports, dog shows have yet to retire a handler’s (armband) number or to hang a dog’s name on a jersey (or collar) at the top of Madison Square Garden arena. Likewise, the canine athletes (and their handlers) are paid considerably less (or nothing) to compete in their chosen sport compared to Brady, Jeter, or A-Rod.

Emily the Irish Setter won the Sporting Group. She has been out of showing for one year because she had a litter of 15 puppies — yes 15 puppies — last May. Photo courtesy Ernie Slone

Nonetheless, Tuesday night’s dog show continued with the Sporting Group, but the sport in question is hunting not football or baseball! Judging the Sporting dogs was Mr. W. Terry Stacy (Chapel Hill, NC) who began as a Junior Handler in the early 1950s showing his own Cocker Spaniel. He worked as a professional handler for 15 years prior to joining MBF Dog Shows at a superintendent and then went on to work for the American Kennel Club, where he helmed important projects to improve the quality of judging. He and his wife Jackie breed the highly regarded Tamarin Affenpinschers.  This was Mr. Stacy’s  first time judging a Group at Westminster.

That the stadium at Madison Square Garden was filled to near capacity speaks well of America’s love affair with purebred dogs—a perfect outing for Valentine’s Day in New York City, not to mention a fun and affordable evening of entertainment (much cheaper and somewhat less campy than Priscilla Queen of the Desert and many more laughs than Porgy and Bess!).

From the Sporting Group, the German Wirehaired Pointer, Labrador Retriever, English Setter, Irish Setter, English Springer Spaniel, Irish Water Spaniel and Wirehaired Pointing Griffon made Mr. Stacy’s first cut. His choice for Group 1 was the Irish Setter, GCh. Shadagee Caught Red Handed, handled by Adam Bernardin. “Emily,” as she’s known to her friends and fans, was the Top Sporting dog of 2009 and number three all breeds. Her show career was on hold last year when she whelped a litter of 15 puppies. Group 2 was German Wirehaired Pointer GCh. Mt. View’s Ripsnorter Silver Charm; Group 3 was the English Springer Spaniel GCh. Wynmoor Champagne Supernova,  and Group 4, the Irish Water Spaniel GCh. Whistlestock’s Riley On Fire.

Fifi the Doberman Pinscher is the top winning show dog by points so far for 2012. Why did the owner name her Fifi? Because she wanted a name that didn’t sound like all the other Dobermans. So far this is the only owner-breeder-handler among the group winners. Photo courtesy Ernie Slone

The Working Group was judged by Ms. Betty Regina Leininger (Frisco, TX), originally of Newfoundland, Canada, who made her mark  as a Doberman Pinscher breeder and exhibitor. Ms. Leininger began her professional handling career in 1971 and became a judge in 1983. She has judged shows on five continents and previously judged the Non-Sporting Group at Westminster in 2004.

The eight dogs the judge pulled were enormously popular, including the Alaskan Malamute, Bernese Mountain Dog, Boxer, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler, Samoyed, Standard Schnauzer, and Tibetan Mastiff. Ms. Leininger’s choice for Group 1 was the Doberman Pinscher GCh. Protocol’s Veni Vidi Vici, handled by breeder-owner Jocelyn Mullins; followed by the Boxer GCh. Winfall Brookwood Styled Dream, who has placed Group 2 at Westminster for the past two years;  Group 3, the Alaskan Malamute GCh. Catanyas Latin Lover,; and Group 4, Standard Schnauzer GCh. Pepper Tree Zorro V Morgenwald. The Doberman, “Fifi,”  was a recent winner of the national specialty and is currently the nation’s Top Dog.

Chelsea, is the top Terrier and No. 2 rated dog all breeds in Great Britain. Photo courtesy Ernie Slone

Historically, the Terrier Group at Westminster has been one of the most competitive, and more dogs from this Group have emerged Best in Show than from any other Group. The Terrier Group judge was Mr. William F. Potter II (St. Louis, MO), whose background is in Irish Wolfhounds and Smooth Fox Terriers and more recently Norwich Terriers, all of which he has bred and owned. As a handler, he won national specialties with both the Wolfhounds and Smooths. He became an AKC-licensed judge in 1990, and this is his first Westminster Group assignment.

The Cesky Terrier was the newcomer in the Terrier Group, joining the Miniature Schnauzer as the only non-British or Irish breed in this Group of 29 breeds or varieties. Mr. Potter’s role tonight was to sort through a marvelous collection of dogs whose feelings of self importance and intelligence far exceeded the humans in the ring. His first cut included the American Staffordshire Terrier, Australian Terrier, Border Terrier, Smooth Fox Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, Scottish Terrier, Skye Terrier, and Welsh Terrier. The seventh dog to compete for Best in Show tonight was Kerry Blue Terrier GCh. Perrisblu Kennislain’s Chelsey, handled by Bill McFadden, this year’s Best Professional Handler. In 2003, Mr. McFadden won Best in Show with another Kerry here, “Mick,” Ch. Torums Scarf Michael. Group 2 was the Smooth Fox Terrier, GCh. Slyfox Sneak’s a Peek, last year’s Group winner; Group 3 went to the Skye Terrier GCh. Cragsmoor Buddy Goodman; Group 4 was the American Staffordshire Terrier GCh. Castle Rock’s Bigstaff Mad About You, a Hungarian import who won the famed Terrier show Montgomery County Kennel Club in 2010.

Non-Sporting group winner, Ian the Dalmatian. Photo courtesy of Ernie Slone

The seven dogs contending for Westminster Best in Show entered thebig ring—representing  the Sporting Group, the Irish Setter, selected by Mr. Stacy; the Hound Group, the c selected by Ms. Laurans; the Working Group, the Doberman Pinscher, selected by Ms. Leininger;the Terrier Group, Kerry Blue Terrier, selected by Mr. Potter; the Toy Group, the Pekingese, selected by Mr. Catterson; the Non-Sporting Group, the Dalmatian, selected by Mr. Garren; and the Herding Group, the German Shepherd Dog, selected by Mr. Clark.

German Shepherd, GCh. Babheim’s Captain Crunch. Photo courtesy Ernie Slone.

Judging Best in Show this year for the first time at Westminster is Cindy Vogels , a Long Island native now living in Greenwood Village, CO, whose claim to fame has been her top-winning and producing Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, of which she’s bred over 100 champions. Mrs. Vogels and her mom Jacqueline Gottlieb were among the original breeders whose dedication to the breed led to its AKC recognition in 1973. She judged the Terrier Group at the Garden in 2005. Mrs. Vogel has been active in her breed’s national parent club, for which she serves as past president, as well as with Take the Lead and the AKC’s Canine Health Foundation, for which she is the chairperson. She and her husband David also breed, raise and show Morgan horses, and in Mrs. Vogels’s spare time, she runs marathons.

Cinders,the Dachshund represents the Hounds. Photo courtesy Ernie Slone.

The crowd was rowdy and vocal for all seven Group winners, so no matter which of the seven dogs Mrs. Vogels chose to turn into a “Legend,” the crowd approved, or rather most of it! Of the seven dogs in the ring, three breeds have never won Best in Show at the Garden: the Dalmatian, Irish Setter, and Dachshund, and it shall remain that way. By Mrs. Vogel’s choice, the 136th Annual Westminster Kennel Club’s new Legend was the Pekingese GCh. Palacegarden Malachy, handled by David Fitzpatrick. An English import, Malachy was last year’s Group winner and the Top Toy for 2011. He is owned by Iris Love, Sandra Middlebrooks, and David Fitzpatrick and was bred by Jim and Jean Smith. Mr. Fitzpatrick has been showing Pekes for decades and is the nation’s most successful handler specializing in this unique Oriental breed.  Malachy became the fourth Pekingese ever to win Westminster, with the last winner being Ch. Wendessa Crown Prince in 1990.

And so the tradition of Westminster continues, a new Legend is born, and we have a new “America’s Dog” to boast until 137th show in 2013. Long live Malachy, the Peke!!

Rocco was Nick’s pet pit bull, who he had rescued from a shelter several years ago. They lived in a condo on New York’s Upper West Side, and had recently been having run-ins with the condo board. In 2010, the condo board instituted a rule expressly forbidding pit bulls to live in the building. The rule did not affect Nick as he had moved into the building before 2010, but neighbors said the building management harassed him constantly about his dog. Nick was not allowed to use the main elevator or leave the dog alone in the apartment for more than nine hours at a time.Finally, after threats of fines and constant pressure from neighbors and management, Nick had Rocco put to sleep. The next day, wracked with guilt, Nick took his own life.

The condo board has denied any responsibility in the deaths, and other factors were involved. A veterinarian had told Nick that Rocco had become somewhat more aggressive, though no incidents had been reported. Nick also had suffered from depression. He may have felt particularly bonded to his rescued pit, as he himself had been raised in an orphanage and bounced around from foster home to foster home in his youth. Lately, his acting jobs were becoming more infrequent, and the harassment over his dog may have been what put him over the edge.

It’s impossible to pin the tragedy on any one thing, but it’s hard to ignore the pressure the condo board put on Nick Santino building that pushed him into making a terrible decision—when his dog had been guilty of nothing except being a pit bull. On his last day, Nick gave away Rocco’s bed and rawhide bones to another dog owner in the building and gave the doorman a box of treats to distribute to the rest of the building’s dogs.

Both Rocco and Nick were cremated, and Nick’s family has said they will be interred together.

1. Be patient. Each dog is unique, and can only learn at
his own pace. Some dogs learn quickly; others take more
time. Patience is indeed a virtue when it comes to
effective dog training!

2. Be kind. This goes hand-in-paw with “Be patient.”
Don’t lose your temper if your dog doesn’t “get it”
right away, or appears to be ignoring you. Please do
not punish your dog for not learning quickly enough.
As a matter of fact, don’t punish your dog at all.
(We’ll be teaching you effective ways to stop or
prevent inappropriate behavior–without punishment.)

3. Be flexible. If your dog is struggling to learn, be
willing to change your training routine. The location
may be too distracting. The time of day may be too close
(or far from) feeding time. The length of your training
session may be too long (or too short). The training
exercises may need to be broken down into smaller,
simpler steps. Remember, each dog is unique. Be flexible
and willing to do whatever you can to help your dog
succeed.

4. Be generous. Be generous with your rewards and your
time. Always reward your dog’s correct responses
generously. Don’t be stingy with the treats–he’s worked
hard and deserves a generous reward! And commit ample
time to your training lessons. We’re all busy these
days, but this is “quality time” for you and your dog.
You’ll both enjoy and benefit from the lessons, so make
sure your schedule is adjusted accordingly!

5. Rewards – One of the biggest keys to success with
positive reinforcement training is rewarding your dog
properly. This means giving him something he loves at
exactly the right moment. Your first task is to figure
out what kind of reward will best motivate your dog.

* Food Treats – All dogs are unique individuals. Most
dogs are motivated by food that tastes and smells good
to them. Food treats can be very small, which is handy
for keeping them in your pocket or a pouch to use during
training–and important to maintaining your dog’s caloric
intake to healthy levels. So that’s the form of reward
we’ll be using throughout this training. Be sure what
you’re giving your dog is good for him. But don’t rely
on the packing of store-bought treats to tell you “Your
dog will love it!” Strong-smelling meat and cheese
treats are usually winners, but many store-bought
treats are made primarily of other ingredients. Your
dog may not appreciate artificial colors, tastes or
smells. Small morsels of cooked chicken are a popular
home-made treat. But keep in mind that what motivates
other dogs may not motivate yours. Experiment and find
out what he loves to eat.

* Non-Edible Rewards – What if your dog isn’t motivated
by food (rare, but a possibility)? You’ll have to find
something else that motivates him. You may think a
couple of pats on the head are a great reward, but your
dog may not. He might not even like it (most dogs don’t)!
Try scratching his belly or some other form of petting.
Again, experiment to find out what your dog loves.
Another form of reward to consider is play. Tossing a
ball, playing tug-of-war, or playfully chasing your
dog for a few minutes may be his idea of heaven.

* The Best Reward – Let your dog show you what he truly
loves. He’ll do this with his reaction to the reward you
offer. You just need to pay attention to how he responds.
Just because he accepts a piece of kibble doesn’t
necessarily mean he loves it. Watch him carefully when
you’re giving him a treat, petting, or playing with him.
If he looks away or walks away, he probably isn’t all
that thrilled about what you’re offering. But if he gets
excited, stays close and begs for more, he’s showing you
that he loves it and will be willing to work for that
reward in the future. For initial training, we highly
recommend using a food treat as the reward. It’s the
easiest to work with and gets the fastest results…just
make sure your dog really likes it!

6. Timing – After you figure out the form of reward, the
second key to positive reinforcement is timing. This is
critical during early training: you must give the reward
immediately after your dog performs the correct action.
This means within half-a-second! Your response to his
correct action must be clear and it must be instant. If
you pause in stunned amazement that he actually did
something right, then snap out of it and give him a treat
several seconds later, you’ve blown it. You must train
yourself to deliver instant gratification to your dog. Do
this consistently, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly
your dog learns.

Here’s another important tip about timing: don’t make
your training lessons too long. Like humans, dogs can
become bored by repetition. Bored students don’t learn
very well. So to keep the training sessions effective,
don’t make them outlast your dog’s attention span. Each
dog is different, so you’ll need to be alert and notice
when his attention starts wandering. Try for a 10-minute
session and see how that goes. Shorten it if necessary.
Don’t lengthen it to more than 15 minutes. Repeating a
short session two or three times a day will be much
more effective than having one long session each day.

7. Primary and Secondary Reinforcements – The instant
reward you and your dog choose will be your primary
reinforcer. A primary reinforcer is something your dog
inherently loves. In other words, he was born loving it
(treats, tummy rubs).

Another form of reward is known as a secondary
reinforcer. A secondary reinforcer is something your
dog must learn to love and be motivated by. Praise is
an excellent example. Puppies are not born loving a
phrase such as “Good girl!” After all, it’s just noise
to them. They must learn to associate that noise with
love.

A popular form of secondary reinforcement is clicker
training. A clicker is a handheld device that makes a
distinctive clicking sound. That sound is basically a
substitute for verbal praise. When used properly,
your dog will learn to associate the clicking sound
with love. We prefer using verbal praise versus a
clicker, simply because your voice is something you’ll
always have with you. If you prefer to use a clicker,
just remember to mentally substitute “click” when
the lessons say verbal praise or “Good!”

8. Consistency is Key – Regardless of whether you use
your voice or a clicker, the most effective way to train
your dog is to use a combination of primary and
secondary reinforcers that are consistent.

If you’ll use your voice instead of a clicker, choose
a phrase and use it exactly and consistently. Dogs are
not people, remember? Words are just noise to them. They
have no idea that “Good girl,” “Great job,” “Way to go
Molly” or other phrases all mean they did the right
thing. Pick your praise phrase, and make sure you (and
others in your family) use that exact phrase or word
every single time.

Then, several times a day, say your praise word or phrase
and immediately give your dog the primary reinforcer
(such as the treat you know he loves).

Do about five repetitions, two or three times a day,
for two days. You can also use your praise word or
phrase when rubbing her belly, when she’s eating his
dinner, or any other time you’re sure she’s enjoying
something she loves. Within a few days, she’ll learn
to love the secondary reinforcer (the praise phrase
or word) and will be eager to hear you say it.

During early training, the combination of the primary
and secondary reinforcers will be extremely powerful
and effective… more so than using either form of
motivation alone.

9. Treats Won’t be Needed Forever – Don’t worry that
you’ll have to carry treats around in your pocket all
the time to get your dog to behave. As your dog learns,
her obedience will eventually become habitual. You won’t
need to consistently use treats or other primary
reinforcers for those behaviors beyond that point.
(You’ll need to use them consistently whenever teaching
something new, though.) It will always be a good idea
to continue using the secondary reinforcer (“Good!” or
whatever). You’re basically thanking your dog for doing
what you asked… simple common courtesy is always a good
thing!

Mix three small jars of baby food (chicken or beef flavor), 9 tbsp powdered milk, 6 tbsp ground flax seed, and 8 tbsp wheatgerm. Roll into walnut-sized balls and bake on a greased cookie sheet for 10 to 13 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until the bottoms look a little brown. Refrigerate to store.

Remember that these cookies, while healthy, do contribute extra calories. So just one or two a day is enough for Santa’s little helpers. ]]> http://k9s4ever.com/super-easy-christmas-cookies-for-santa-paws/feed 0 http://k9s4ever.com/thanksgiving-safety-tips-for-dog-owners?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=thanksgiving-safety-tips-for-dog-owners http://k9s4ever.com/thanksgiving-safety-tips-for-dog-owners#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:02:52 +0000 Lorna http://k9s4ever.com/?p=455

Thanksgiving Safety Tips for Dog Owners

Here’s a story that’s sure to warm your

heart: Patrick, the Pit Bull who was

thrown down aNew Jersey apartment

building’s garbage chute and looked

to be near death from starvation

and neglect, was rescued by a team of vets and is now a happy, healthy pup waiting for his

new forever home.

See the pawesome Patrick »

One cold night in 2009, Roland Adam of Hoerstel, Germany discovered a pair of recently born pigs on his twenty-acre property. Sure that the surviving baby would die from cold or hunger, or would be snatched up by foxes before morning…he tucked it under his sweater and brought it to the house he shared with Katjinga the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

The piglet became little Paulinchen, and Roland decided to hand her off to his dog, who had recently weaned her own litter of pups. It was a good move. Katjinga gave the piglet the soft-puppy treatment, keeping her clean and warm. The pig clearly felt right at home, even trying to nurse—though the dog was no longer producing milk. (Roland and his family took care of the feedings.)

A few days later, with pig and hound getting along like mother and son, Roland discovered Paulinchen’s birth mother with the rest of her litter, all healthy. He thanked Katjinga for her service and returned the lost baby to the pig family, which eagerly accepted her.

Though the piglet bonded with Katjinga only briefly, it was at a crucial time for the newborn. Back in the porcine life, Paulinchen was a little different from her siblings—a bit tamer and more at ease with other animals. “She knows us and knows Katjinga,” Roland says. “When we see the pigs running around and we call to them, Paulinchen will put her head up and look.” Sometimes she and Katjinga have a quick nuzzle when the pigs come around sniffing out a meal.

Read more about the piglet and the Rhodesian Ridgeback in the bestselling book Unlikely Friendships by Jennifer S. Holland. ©2011. www.unlikely-friendships.com.

The LARGEST just so happens to cause the most problems…but
NUMBER 2 is the SMALLEST breed.

Is yours on the list?

Mike Pickard, Head of Risk and Underwriting at esure pet
insurance, which carried out the poll said: ”It’s not
surprising that the Great Dane is number one – it’s sheer weight
and size is bound to lead to accidents in the home.

“What’s more surprising is the tiny Chihuahua in second place -
it’s amazing that the smallest of the toy breeds can cause so
much havoc.

To help minimize your dog’s destructive behaviour, remember to
house train them from a very early age, maintain their health
with regular vet check-ups, and give them plenty of exercise. A
bored dog is often a destructive dog.”

The poll of 3,000 dog owners, by ensure pet insurance, revealed a
total of 60 per cent have forked out to fix damage caused by
their beloved dogs.

Among the horror stories which emerged from the study were:

One Great Dane who assumed its owners lounge patio doors were
open, took a long run at them only to knock the entire doors and
frame straight out of the wall.

An overzealous Rottweiler who knocked over a vase – a family
heirloom worth £1,500 ($2427.80 USD)

A Border Collie’s wagging tail which knocked over a large glass
of red wine, two days after its owners new cream carpet had been
laid, wrecking the £3,000 ($4855.60 USD) floor covering.

A Labrador pup which chewed through three pairs of its owners
Nike trainers worth £75 ($121.39 USD) each.

An owner which came home to discover his prize pooch had pulled
all the material off the sofa, leaving just the wood and springs
on show.

The research showed the most common forms of damage were stained
or soiled carpets, scratched doors, chewed door frames and
ruined clothes.

Ripped sofas, chewed wires and broken ornaments are also among
the problems caused by a man’s best friend.

It also emerged that while half (50 per cent) of owners say
their dog caused most of the damage when they were a puppy, an
unlucky 14 per cent have to put up with the destruction
throughout their dog’s life.

Top 20 dog breeds which cause the most value of damage:

1. Great Dane – £669.64 ($1083.83 USD) – Scratches doors and rips sofa covers

2. Chihuahua – £638.41  ($1033.28 USD)- Chews sofa and cushions

3. Mastiff – £585.71($947.99 USD) – Chews door frames

4. Basset Hound – £564.13 ($913.06 USD) – Chews door frames

5. Whippet – £518.75 ($839.61 USD) – Scratches doors

6. English Setter – £485.29 ($785.46 USD) – Scratches doors

7. Bulldog – £446.05  ($721.95)- Scratches doors

8. Dachshund – £444.70 ($719.26 USD) – Stained carpets

9. Boxer – £403.87  ($653.68USD)- Scratches doors

10. Beagle – £399.54  ($646.47 USD)- Rips sofa covers

11. Greyhound – £392.74 (635.67 USD) – Stained carpets

12. Dalmatian – £387.75 ($627.59 USD) – Scratches doors

13. Doberman Pinscher – £380.30  ($615.53 USD)- Chews sofa and cushions

14. Rottweiler – £200 ($203.70 USD)- Scratches doors

15. Border Collie – £178.97 ($289.67 USD) – Stained carpets

16. Labrador – £171.52($277.61 USD) – Scratches doors

17. Rhodesian Ridgeback – £170 ($275.15) – Stained carpets

18. Newfoundland – £162.50 ($263.01 USD)- Rips sofa covers

19. Jack Russell – £160.95 ($260.50 USD)- Stained carpets

20. Golden Retriever – £148.90 ($241 USD)- Scratches doors

Most of the destruction happens while these guys are puppies-
which

means you’ve really got to PROPERLY train your dog.

A research beagle awaits his first steps to freedom (Photo: Matthwe Sumner, Special to the San Francisco Chronicle

Last weekend, nine beagles who spent their lives in crates as “lab rats” for the pharmaceutical industry got their first foray into freedom. Normally laboratories euthanize these dogs when their usefulness is done — usually after about two years of this “life,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Medical laboratories in the US are using about 60,000 dogs at any given time, according to the Foundation for Biomedical Research, an organization that educates the public about the role of humane animal research. Beagles are often used as testing animals because the dogs are trusting, good-natured, and small, according the Chronicle. And it’s not just medical research facilities that use dogs. They can be used in testing anything from cosmetics to household cleaners.

The beagles who got to explore freedom on someone’s grassy San Jose, Calif., back yard were there because of some magic worked by the Beagle Freedom Project. The group was able to legally obtain the dogs from an undisclosed pharmaceutical laboratory to give them a new lease on life.

The beagles were a little cautious at first, but they slowly got into the business of sniffing and checking out their surroundings and each other. They went from frightened caged animals to dogs who started enjoying life.

For more photos and details of the day, be sure to read the San Francisco Chronicle’s story. And if you have a few minutes, and a couple of Kleenexes, sit down and watch the Beagle Freedom Project’s first rescue, in December 2010. The way these two dogs sat in their crates forever, despite open doors and sunny, inviting lawn, is a heart breaker. But it will make your day when you see them running around in joyous circles after they finally realize that they’ve gone from Dog Hell to Dog Heaven.

The beagles who tasted freedom this weekend will be up for adoption. For info, check out the Beagle Freedom Project
.