But, the most important thing these hounds have given me is the chance to meet some of the best folks ever to walk on this earth. I have made friendships that will last a lifetime. I am not talking about acquaintances that you see at the field trials every now and then and say “Hey”. I am talking about folks that will watch your back and if necessary will guard your front. They share with you the love of beagling and will do whatever it takes to help you out. This is a treasure more precious than silver or gold and it is the hounds that brings these friends into our lives. I could go on and on but want to share a story with you.
Last fall I received an email from a guy in Nova Scotia, Canada. He had gone onto bfo and bought a pair of pups from a fellow down in Northwest GA. He asked me to check up on this fellow and to see what I could find out. The Canadian had sent the money for the pups and shipping. He drove down to Bangor, Maine, rented a motel, and went to the airport the next day to pick up the pups. Well, the pups were there but they had come COD. If the guy wanted the pups he had to pay the shipping a second time which he did. Thennnnnnnnn, he realized the pups came without their papers. So here he is with two pups with no papers, paid a lot of money for them and shipping them twice and cannot get the guy to respond. I checked around and from what I found out from other beaglers this man was up the creek without a paddle. What he had in hand was all he was going to get. Sad situation but we became good friends over the internet and I told him if he could get it worked out I would give him a running dog with papers if he could figure out how to get it up there. Then he told me about a lady beagle friend of his that loved the hounds as much as I do. She is out with her hound everyday during hunting season. So, she calls and we get to talking and I asked her to come on down and run hounds and bring her hunting buddy with her or vice versa. I can't remember which.. I just spent 10 days running hounds, talking dogs, sitting by the fire and just all around having fun with some of the best beaglers you would ever want to meet. Made friendships that I will treasure the rest of my life. Oh, did I tell ya the lady is 76 yrs young???? IF I could only do as well as her when I get to be that age.(She might kill me for posting her age but I am so proud of her.) It was all I could do to keep up with her.
Peter and my hubby spent the weekends going to gun shows while Dot and I ran the hounds. Peter would go with us during the week.Here of some pictures of us running the hounds. One of those blueticks is the one that Peter is going to get shipped up to Canada soon.
Should I thank that jerk down in Northwest Georgia for bringing us together???
Some pictures of the hounds running.
Look in the middle of the picture and you can see the rabbit as it went by.
One rabbit wasn't so lucky when it ran into a brush pile. One of the blueticks came out with it in its mouth. Is this "run to catch", Madcatter??
Hounds headed to the truck.
JC of Crewse-N-Beagles running with us. You can see her little black and tan in the lead in one of the first pictures.
We would sit on top of the Ranger and watch the hounds. Dot Bruce up on top and JC standing.
Dot, from Canada and Oakhill
Peter Foster from Canada.
Peter Foster at the cabin ready to run the hounds.
Dot with Sally the hound going to Canada. Nice name for a hound don't ya think??
Peter Foster saying good bye to the hounds.
Oh, I forgot to mention, I broke my toe two days before they got here.
We do have some great memories, don't we Ricky?? That memory is one of my favorite. We were blessed as no one I know have ever seen that before and us sitting right there so close. You are also one of my favorite beagle buddies!! Also, mom's too. 
