Tails from the Front: Beagle in a Box

Shiloh was very good.  His owner, however, was not.  Once upon a time Shiloh belonged to a little boy and lived a happy life full of tail wags, kisses, and romping fun.  Shiloh knew all the house rules and happily slept in the little boy's room at night, never making a mess, and happily romping around the yard during the day.  Then one day the boy's parents separated and the boy's grandmother got Shiloh.  The little boy was devastated.  Shiloh was devastated.

The boy's parents told him that Shiloh would be OK.  They lied.

 Shiloh spent the next eight ( 8!) years of his life on a front porch on an 8 foot lead.  His only shelter was a cardboard box with a light bulb in it.  His lead barely allowed him to make it off the porch to go to the bathroom.

Eight years.

  A couple of years ago, a volunteer stopped and asked the owner if she could walk Shiloh because she felt sorry for him.  She walked him for a while until she was told to stop.  The owner said that now Shiloh wanted attention and would bark whenever someone walked by the house.  This situation bothered the volunteer for a long time but nothing could be done about it.  As long as a pet is given food, water, and shelter, this is viewed as acceptable by the law.  Sadly, many pets live under these conditions.

 Then a few months ago, a vicious dog that was running loose came up on the porch and attacked Shiloh.  Since he was on a lead, he couldn’t get away.  He was torn up pretty badly.  Animal control convinced the owner that Shiloh needed vet care and if they couldn’t afford to take care of it, it would be in Shiloh’s best interest to surrender him.

After some time ( some time when Shiloh was in great pain), the owner said OK, I give up, you can have him.

Shiloh is now being taken care of!  He was taken to the vet and got quite a few stitches and drainage tubes.  He was on antibiotics and has been given needed vaccinations and tests.  Hard to believe, but he tested negative for heartworm.

Maybe even harder to believe, but Shiloh is a perfect gentleman in his foster home.  He is perfectly housetrained, despite all those years living in a box on a porch.  He gets along well with foster canine siblings- he even tries to get them to play.  His foster mom says that Shiloh doesn't act his age- he acts younger than his 3 year old foster brother.  Shiloh still loves the outside, loves walks, and is learning to play with toys. 

But Shiloh needs a forever home!  Do you think you could give Shiloh the love he deserves, and let him love you back?  Shiloh was rescued by a great volunteer group downstate.  Although he is staying at some distance from Chicago, this great volunteer group donates their own time and gas money to transport dogs all over the Midwest, to great new homes.  Maybe yours! 

  If you think you  might be interested in Shiloh, please contact the great volunteers at Paw Pals of Clinton County by clicking here.  These great people donated their own money to get Shiloh into veterinary care.  Any help you might give back would be greatly appreciated.  I would also like to thank them for giving me permission to use much of what they had written about Shiloh in this blog.  Thanks!