If you’ve lost your beagle, contact all the County Animal Control facilities and Humane Societies within a 75 mile radius. Visit shelters weekly to see if your dog has been found. We do not take in stray dogs unless they are posted at the local shelters. 

If you want us to post your dog’s picture, please send a photo (digital photos or hardcopies are welcome). 

Beagles can be found after several months, so don’t give up! Post notices everywhere. Keep looking. No one else may be looking for your dog, so you have to keep the faith.

Notify the local County Animal Control facilities, Animal Shelters and Human Societies and provide information that will permit an owner to reclaim their dog. Many dogs have microchips, so you can take a “found” dog to your vet or a shelter to have them scanned.

If you’re thinking “This dog is in terrible shape, I don’t want him to go back to the owner,” remember that this dog could have been stolen and dumped by a thief. Please give owners a chance to reclaim their lost dogs. Even a well-cared-for dog can look very scruffy after a month or two in the woods. 

If a “found” dog is not reclaimed by an owner, we may be able to help find the dog a home. If there is a vacancy, we will take the dog. However, we are often at full capacity from rescuing dogs from shelters.

Would you be willing to provide a foster home for the dog? If so, please email us at profile@beaglemaryland.org. We provide the vetting and you provide the nurture.

ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center provides 24 hour assistance from veterinary toxicologists. There is a charge of $50 per case but followups are free. Call 1-888-426-4435 or 1-800-548-2423. 

MARYLAND 

• Animal Emergency Center, Timonium
• Anne Arundel Veterinary Emergency Clinic, Annapolis
• Beltway Emergency Animal Hospital, Glenn Dale
• Emergency Animal Center, Hyattstown
• Emergency Animal Hospital, Ellicott City
• Emergency Veterinary Clinic, Catonsville
• Falls Road Emergency Animal Hospital, Baltimore,
• Harford Emergency Veterinary Services, Edgewood
• Metropolitan Emergency Animal Clinic, Rockville
• Westminster Veterinary Animal Hospital, Westminster

NORTHERN VIRGINIA 

• Alexandria Animal Hospital & Veterinary Emergency, Alexandria
• Emergency Veterinary Clinic of Fair Oaks, Fairfax
• The Hope Center for Advanced Veterinary Medicine
  (formerly Emergency Veterinary Clinic of Northern Virginia), Vienna
• SouthPaws Criticare, Springfield
• Woodbridge Animal Hospital, Woodbridge

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 

• Friendship Hospital for Animals, Washington, DC

Before you start dreaming of that “perfect dog” to complete to your family, consider some hard realities:

• First and foremost, there is no such thing as a “perfect dog.” This is especially true of rescued dogs, who’ve often been neglected, abandoned, or worse; they need kindness and consistent care, and it may take some time for them to relax, trust, and truly “blossom.”
• As a human parent, you will most likely become, and remain, the primary caretaker of the family dog. (Plan ahead for when the kids grow up and leave home — chances are, the dog will be staying home with you!)
• Dogs are not toys. There’s no remote, and you can’t put them away on a shelf when you’re done with them!
• Puppies are especially high-maintenance! They need constant supervision, they tire quickly, and they require a lot of sleep. Please don’t allow your children to handle them roughly, or wake them up to play!

   

• If you have any questions about what goes into the care of a typical beagle — or what our “special needs” beagles require above the norm — please don’t hesitate to ask!

Vaccinations are a safe and effective way of protecting your dog against the most dangerous infectious canine viruses and bacteria. Consult your veterinarian about your dog’s ideal vaccination schedule (remember, puppies require their own specific schedule of vaccinations!).

• Rabies: Initial one-year vaccination; followup vaccinations good for three years (required in Maryland)
• DHLPP: Annual vaccination; combination of five vaccinations in one injection (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvo Virus, and Corona Virus)
• Bordatella (“Kennel Cough”): Annual vaccination
• Lyme Disease: Annual vaccination (as recommended)
• Leptospirosis: Annual vaccination (as recommended)
• Parainfluenza: Annual vaccination (as recommended)

Heartworm larvae are transmitted year-round to dogs via mosquitos and left untreated, heartworm disease is deadly. But it’s easily preventable by giving your dog a monthly preventative that will also protect against various types of parasites.

Fleas and ticks are more than a nuisance for your dog — they’re also disease vectors. Lyme Disease and Ehrlichia are both passed to dogs through infected ticks; left untreated, both diseases have potentially lethal long-term complications. There are a variety of topical flea and tick control agents available; consult your vet on which is best for your dog.

Hygiene for your dog is very important! Discuss your dog’s particular needs with your vet. 

• Too-frequent bathing can strip the natural protective oils from his skin and coat and cause dermatitis.
• Look for natural pH-balanced shampoos and rinses specially formulated for dogs. There are even OTC and prescription shampoos available for dogs with special skin or coat conditions.
• Floppy-eared dogs (like beagles) tend to be more prone to ear infections. Ask your vet to show you how to clean your dog’s ears, and check them regularly for swelling, discharge, or other signs of potential infection. 
• In the winter, watch out for caking of snow and ice in the fur between the paw pads, and gently rinse your dog’s paws with warm water if he was in contact with salt or ice-melting products. 
• Overgrown nails can adversely affect your dog’s paws, and can potentially lead to orthopedic issues.

Dogs require good nutrition and plenty of fresh water to thrive!

• A good general rule: buy the highest quality dog food you can reasonably afford, or make it yourself. There are many excellent recipes for homemade dog food online, with ingredients such as ground turkey and rolled oats.
• Avoid giving your dog animal bones; they can easily splinter.
• Foods that are harmful for dogs include chocolate, grapes/raisins, garlic, ginger, and avocado.