Well folks, we finally did it, we have a new addition to the family.

Her name is Captain Olivia Benson, Olivia, Liv, Livvie or (because the stupid names have already started to appear), Blep, Bleppe di Marco, Bleppe la Pugh, all because she has a tongue that is seemingly 3ft too long for her chops.

The adventure began last week, when after about a 6 month or so wait, we received a call from Beagles of Burgundy. Beagles of Burgundy (BOB), is a rescue that rehabilitates and rescues ex Laboratory testing beagles. Often they are used as breeding machines and retired, like our Liv, or they are young dogs that are genetically small meaning they don’t fit the control parameters needed to be used for laboratory testing. Or a lab will get in touch and Virginia (beagle boss lady and absolute badass), will have 15 beagles arrive at no notice because, well, the alternative is unthinkable. So, after us filling out an application form, submitting a video about our life and current pets etc, and a video chat, we were deemed suitable adopters. So all we had to do then was wait.

So, on Saturday, after arranging a hire car, (because we didn’t want a new dog to be sat at the motorway services while we charged our car), we loaded up Freya, and everything we needed for an overnight stay. If you have a distance to travel you can stay overnight at Beagles of Burgundy for free, and just hang out with the dogs and see if you bond with anyone. As it’s just under 4 hours to drive for us, we were glad to accept that offer. All that Virginia asks is for you take to take some food to share, which is a very small thing indeed. We actually went to see another dog, lovely Piana, and despite her being the sweetest of girls she was still very frightened of everything, and preferred to just go and lay on her bed as far away from us as possible. Outside we did see flashes of personality with a few zoomies, she’ll make a great companion for someone, but we didn’t think she was quite right for us. That doesn’t mean I haven thought about her constantly since though. I can’t even think about what she’s been through.

Then enter little Sanji as she was called. Laboratories don’t name their beagles, so Sanji was only named by BOB very recently so it’s OK for us to change her name. She came up to us straight away, tail wagging and in full blep. (If you don’t have a dog, a blep is having their tongue poking out or gah I can’t explain it properly, but if you know you know). We scooped her up and she was asleep on our lap in moments. We got to hang out with her for a full afternoon, so we went in and out of the enclosed paddock with some of the other beagles and Freya who was an absolute legend all weekend, even with half a dozen beagles running about and general chaos. When Virginia had finished with the other adoptees in the other half of her beautiful Burgundian farmhouse, she brought us some snacks and a beer. France does dog rescue with typical style.

The 3 of us had dinner together in the kitchen next door with a sea of small beagles asleep around us (or causing mayhem), and it was a delight. I made tandoori chickpeas, rice, naan bread, and a gluten free orange cake that I’ve grown to love in recent weeks. We found out that Liv had only recently been spayed so we need to take her for her stitches taking out next week. That she has little muscle particularly on one of her back legs (they don’t exercise them at the lab), so she needs an osteopath referral in 3 months. We can help build muscle with short walks initially and then building them up. We talked about worming tablets and flea and tick tablets and glucosamine and nutrition (someone has to lose a kilo). It’s a lot. But, if you spent 5.1/2 years knowing nothing about the world at large and everything is a surprise then I think we can master her medication and rehab.

Then, we went upstairs to stay in our own lovely en suite room, and Liv slept on the corner of our bed and did not move the entire night. Although sat bolt upright until her eyes shut so much she had no choice.

In the morning we said our goodbyes and headed home on Liv’s likely 1st ever car ride and she was a champion. We had a slight tremble for 20 minutes and after that she either knee surfed with me gripping her harness, or had a little sleep. The first time on her lead was in Limoges station carpark and it’s safe to say not a fan, but we’ll work on that. The great thing is that even though everything is new to her, she’s embracing new things with curiosity rather than fear which is so encouraging.

We got home yesterday afternoon and she did a full nose to the ground house inspection of every skirting board. Met Figs and Barney. Figs is happy, Barney most certainly isn’t but we need to work on that too.

She slept a lot yesterday, and slept all night in her own bed without moving. Virginia says that they are just emotionally exhausted so a lot of sleep initially is very common. She can sleep all she wants.

TTFN, V x