Hunting season's over: Help discarded beagles

For many states hunting season is over. It's a time of year many shelters and rescues dread.

See some hunters, not all, but enough, have this tradition. If the dogs won't hunt, or they are too old to hunt, or they are too old to breed hunters, they turn them loose, or turn them over to shelters.

And the shelters are full.

According to many rescues and shelters, hundreds of hounds and other hunting dogs are taken in. And it's not just in the south (though southern shelters are overrun with hounds), it happens all over.

How to tell a discarded hound from a hunting hound

It's beagle season, and that's not a good thing.

This is the time of year when rescues and shelters say hounds and other hunting dogs start pouring into their facilities across the country, and especially in southern states.

But if you say this to a hunter, they may tell you it's not true.

Hunters for Hounds is a pro-hunting Facebook page that seeks to bridge the gap between hunters and houndsmen, and animal rescuers. At times that's led to intense arguments, where some will accuse rescuers of actually stealing hunting dogs.

Hunting dogs travel long distances. So how do you know a hunting dog is not lost, on the job -- or abandoned?

Meanwhile, well-meaning animal lovers may find a hunting dog and think it's been abandoned and or is a stray, when it's just out on the job.

"The problem is hunting dogs can travel long distances, so finding the owner may be tough," the owner of the Hunters for Hounds page told me.

What does a person who finds a possible hunting dog to do? We have some tips.

3 ways you can help Clear the Shelters when you can't foster, adopt

Saturday, Aug. 19 is Clear the Shelters Day!

Thousands of shelters in the United States are currently full of pets looking for homes -- it's a big summer problem. And it will take all of us to help reduce the pet population in our shelters.

When you adopt a pet, you actually rescue two -- the one you adopt, and the one that can take its place so it is not killed.

Buster is a 4-year-old beagle at Orange County Animal Services in Orlando, FL. He is heartworm positive, but his treatments are sponsored.

Ideally, we'd all love to run out and adopt every pet who needs a home. But that's not feasible. Still, there are ways you can help #ClearTheShelters today and everyday. Here are three:

Rehoming your beagle: Dos and Don'ts

Before we start, I just want to get something out of the way.

1. I am not judging anyone who needs to find a new home for their beagle.
2. I am not trying to enable people who are looking for an easy way out of pet ownership.

But the reality is every month I get at least one email from someone seeking help with finding a new home for a pet beagle. It's heartbreaking to read. Everyone has a reason for what they do.

If you are rehoming your beagle, here are some things to think about first:

1. Is the problem a behavioral one? Not housetrained, or barking and going crazy when you leave? Or perhaps the dog is moody, even bitey? Have you contacted a trainer or a behaviorist in your area for help?
2. Is the problem a medical one? Can you not afford the health costs associated with your dog's condition? Have you looked for a cheaper vet, or alternative care, or a group that can help you locally?
3. Is the problem a cost one? Can you not afford the cost of owning a pet anymore? Have you looked into food pantries, or thrift stores or discount stores for needed supplies?

There are other questions I could be asking: kid with allergies? Significant other says you have to get rid of the dog? Landlord says you have to get rid of the dog?

These are not areas I am willing to get into because my responses probably will not be helpful and simply upset you in an already upsetting situation.

So if your mind is made up, and you getting rid of your beagle, here are some dos and don'ts.

• DON'T just drop your beagle off at your county/city pound. Many pounds will kill your pet, and if they are an owner surrender they may not get a waiting period before they're put down. That's not fair to any pet.
  Now in a place like Orlando where there aren't a lot of beagles in the pounds, the chances are good a beagle will be adopted or rescued, but don't take that chance without reason. The pound should always be a last resort, and always done with a bit of research.
• DO contact any shelters that use euthanasia as a last resort, or are "No-Kill."
• DON'T just put your beagle up on Craigslist. Lots of people put dogs up for sale or "free to a good home" on Craigslist. Even if you try to do background checks on the person taking your dog, there's no guarantee they aren't just going to flip the dog, or worse -- use it as dog fighting bait or just plain abuse it.
• DO talk to your vet. Vets can be very helpful in this regard, if only because they know lots of people who might be interested in taking a dog.
• DO contact your area rescues. Rescue groups have foster networks that might be able to take a beagle in. This won't always work though, especially if you have a pet with an illness that needs help. Also, some rescues may not have enough fosters to care for an owner surrender. Don't just look at breed-specific rescues either. Need to find the rescues in your area? Look at Adopt a Pet or Petfinder.
• DO get on Facebook. There are lots of Facebook groups out there for dog lovers, especially crosspost groups for pets that need homes. 
• DO ask your friends. Friends and family may be more willing to help than you are aware. 
• DON'T just set your pet loose outside. That's a good way to get them killed.

As a rule, I don't personally post re-homing pets on my social media pages. It would open flood gates. But there are lots of people who do. You just have to find them.

Beagle weekend: Shampooch and Barktoberfest in Orlando

Sorry I didn't do a Beagle of the Week yesterday. I haven't been feeling well, so there's been a lot of sleeping involved. I promise I will have it done next week!

First - We spent a rare Friday afternoon at the park. We had decent weather for once, and Lulu was feeling better and excited about a little exercise. We had a hound party!

The next day Lulu and I got in the car for a trip to Downtown Orlando. Shampooch and Barktoberfest were happening. Both are great events to help rescues and pets (primarily dogs).

Of course, when I told Lulu we were going out,  made no mention of what that might entail.

See, Shampooch is a charity dogwash. And Lulu is not fond of baths.

The attendants were very nice and totally understanding of how a dog might feel. The attendant came by and gave Lulu a back scratch, which made her happy. Then she took her leash and followed her to the bath area -- until she realized she was about to get wet. But by then Lulu couldn't back out, and there were now two people to hold them.

But my girl was very good. She wasn't happy with me after though.

Shampooch happened at the Lambs Eat Ivy Salon in Thornton Park on Washington Street. It's an annual charity event. They say they washed around 300 dogs, and raised thousands of dollars for several pet charities.

Then we went to Barktoberfest,put on by Orange County Animal Services. We met some friendly dogs and their owners, including one of my readers (Hi, Andrea!). We also met some great rescues. We got lots of treats! And Lulu got a dress. It was a $5 donation to the Florida Dachshund Rescue.

Afterward, we went home and Lulu went right to bed. I think she had a busy weekend!

Rescue a pet at an Orlando area animal shelter

There's a disturbing trend happening at the animal shelters in the Orlando area.

More and more pets have been coming into a shelters, and fewer are coming out and going to forever homes.

Nebula is a seven-year-old beagle at Orange County Animal Shelter. She needs to be out this weekend.

Local TV station News 13 (FULL DISCLOSURE: I work for them) did a story last week, where at least three shelters -- Orange County Animal Shelter in Orlando, Osceola County Animal Shelter in St. Cloud and Halifax Humane Society in Daytona Beach are all operating at full capacity.

It's not just dogs either, it's cats too. The shelters say they're seeing more pregnant cats coming in as well. That means kittens being born in the shelter.]

Many of the shelters are doing low-cost or no-cost adoption events to get pets out to homes. But more come in every day. And these shelters ARE NOT No-kill. That means animals could be euthanized.

We at Life With Beagle are not sure what is going on at, but what we do know is these shelters need help.

Here is a list of county animal shelters around Orlando:

• Brevard County Animal Services
• Flagler Humane Society
• Lake County Animal Services
• Marion County Animal Services
• Orange County Animal Services
• Osceola County Animal Services
• Seminole County Animal Services
• Sumter County Animal Services
• Volusia County Animal Services

You can also always adopt from animal rescue groups, and also area SPCA and Humane Society shelters.

These easiest way to find a pet is through Petfinder.com. Many of the area's animal rescue groups are on there.

PHOTOS: Checking out Yappi Hour in New Port Richey

Over the weekend Lulu and I visited a small monthly rescue event in New Port Richey, FL. My mom, who runs the blog Furbabies and Grandbabies, has been attending this event for the last few months, and made many friends.

Yappi Hour takes place at Mezza Luna Pizzeria on Main Street on the first Sunday of each month. Take a look at these pictures.

Like I said, it's a small event, but the people are dedicated. In center: My Dad with Buster and my niece with Jasmine.

Pit Bull Happenings has a table of items for sale. I bought some party collars to help support them. They constantly in need in of foster families. There are so many pit bulls in the area.

Florida Doggie Paws Rescue holds raffles to raise money for their pets.

R.O.A.R. helps pets that are abused, neglected or abandoned. This poor baby is deaf.

This hound was very friendly. Not available though.

This sweet dachshund has not been adopted yet because she needs a home without cats. Can you help? Email placingmisplacedpets@gmail.com

Homemade healthy treats! Dog Gone Healthy is a shop in Spring Hill. Check them out online at http://www.mydoggonehealthy.com/

At least two dogs were adopted, not bad considering how cold it was.

If you're in the Tampa Bay area, please check out the rescue groups, and consider coming to New Port Richey next month to check out Yappi Hour.

•  Florida Doggie Paws Rescue
• ROAR (Recycled Orphans Animal Rescue)
• Pit Bull Happenings Rescue
• Placing Misplaced Pets