Bark in the Park

Today was a day for Ripley, and friends. The Southeast Beagle Rescue held a get together in Seffner, Florida, at the Mango/Seffner Dog Park. The dog park is about an hour north, off the colorfully named Clay Pit Road, and has a wonderful facility for dogs - two in fact. Plenty of seating on benches, a pool to cool off in, and lots of friends to play alongside. That's Rip in the pool, but he does most of his swimming in the lakes alongside the golf course during his daily walks.

Ripley is often the center of attraction, and this was no different - there was one beagle who had a gender confusion issue, and Ripley kept having to tell him "not interested", and "get off my back, I'm working here". Beyond that irritation, he had a great run with beagles awaiting adoption, and those who like him had found their "fur-ever homes" through the work of Jack and his loyal band of beagle saviors. Ripley had gone straight from the Humane Society to his foster mother, so this was his first chance to meet Jack, a man of many talents and pilot of The Beagle Bus. The bus had six dogs aboard, including three males who were rescued from a kill shelter up north. Jack drives the bus, and if distances require, he pilots his own Cessna 182. Great guy, and somebody who truly cares about dogs.

Today, there were two individuals who may adopt a dog and Ripley hopes those dogs do indeed find a loving home. Ripley found his fur-ever home with us, and we're forever grateful to have him. We'll do this again - it's so neat to watch him run with the pack, and to hear his beautiful beagle bay. Three hours of beagle bliss - a great way to start the day.