Newsletters

 

 

Houston Beagle Rescue 2025 Fourth Quarter Newsletter            Happy New Year!             HBHR Adoption Update We had 18 Beagle adoptions in 4Q2025 for a total of 98 Beagle adoptions in 2025.  While the number of adoptions this year was lower than the last few years, we are very grateful that these 98 Beagles found their forever homes. We will continue to explore new ways to find loving forever homes for our Beagles.  If you have any recommendations, please let us know.   If you are just starting to get this newsletter, it means you recently adopted a Beagle, so congratulations!  We hope you enjoy our newsletter, and if you have any comments or questions, we would love to hear from you at info@houstonbeaglerescue.org.    Spotlight on the Beagles Some beagles have more than their share of troubles.  Besides being homeless, poor Harry, a two-year-old stray, was found with a severe skin infection. He probably had the condition for a while and had not had any medical interventions.  So, by the time he came to HBHR, he really looked sad.  After medical treatments, special baths and lots of good nutrition, he has blossomed into the good-looking beagle boy he was always supposed to be.  This little guy is super sweet and makes little mewing sounds when getting pets!  He loves attention and has good house manners. He does show his age occasionally now that he is feeling better.  So, like most beagles, he will get into things that are not secure! Unfortunately, the underlying cause of his skin issues is probably food allergies. He is currently on Natural Balance-Plant Powered food and is doing well. He will need an adoptive family that is prepared to provide the care and nutrition he needs to make life wonderful for this adorable boy!  He will be ready for adoption soon.  So, let us know if you'd like to give this sweet boy the home he deserves.                            Poor Harry when found                                  Harry likes his baths                         Harry looking cute!   Harry's fur coat looks much better now!

Spotlight on Our Volunteers 
Johana and her husband, Enrique Hartjen first adopted from HBHR in 2016 when they welcomed eight-year-old Matilda to their family. They gave Matilda seven wonderful years before they had to say goodbye. They next fostered a puppy found in the summer of 2024 and adopted the little girl despite having no hound in her DNA. They are currently fostering our DB who has severe allergies and requires daily medical attention to keep his skin from breaking down! They have already renamed him Watson, and we know he will never leave! 

In addition, Johana has devoted time to help take care of our foster beagles in need by volunteering weekly at the Beagle Bungalow.  She helps with yardwork and beagle room cleanup. She plays with the Bungalow beagles to develop their social skills to get them ready for adoption.  She and Enrique help wrangle beagles at Meet & Greets, and they even took a couple hound mixes through the HBHR training classes last spring!  Their current pack are Josie, the beagle, Sophia, the super mutt and DB.  Thank you, Johana and Enrique, for all you do for the beagles and HBHR!  

   
Johana at M&G                      Completion of training class       Providing baths at the Bungalow


Johana with her pack

Beagle 101:  What is Reverse Sneezing

Many beagles are prone to reverse sneezing.  The beagle will start inhaling in quick, jerky spasms that look like gasps.  They stretch their necks out and inhale over and over again.  It can be scary the first time you experience this with your beagle, but you can relax, as it is usually not serious.  

A reverse sneeze is exactly what the name suggests. It's a sudden spasm that leads the dog to have short, rapid bursts of nasal breathing. Unlike a regular sneeze, the dog isn't expelling air out of the nose. Instead, the dog sucks air into their nostrils. It's like the dog is sneezing backward and taking air into their nasal passages instead of pushing it out.  Experts aren't certain what causes a dog's reverse sneeze. Not all dogs experience the phenomenon, but it seems to be more common in dogs with longer snouts.  

Some dog experts believe that dogs reverse sneeze as a way to clear irritants from the back of their throat or sinuses. Common particles in the air such as dust, pollen, or even smoke can get into the sensitive tissue in a dog's mouth and nose. That may trigger spasms of reverse sneezing as a way to clear out the irritating material. It's not usually serious, and it isn't contagious, so your other pets won't be affected.

In most cases, dogs don't need treatment for reverse sneezing. The episodes are short, and dogs don't have any ill effects after they stop experiencing the rapid gasps of reverse sneezes. There aren't any known long-term effects of reverse sneezing.

There are a few techniques you can try to relieve the symptoms, including:

• Gently blowing in your dog's face
• Briefly covering and uncovering their nostrils
• Gently petting the dog or softly rubbing their neck to keep them calm and encourage swallowing
• Bringing the dog into fresher air

When to see your vet:   If your dog is having a sudden increase in reverse sneezing episodes or if they have other breathing issues, you should talk to your vet. They might have another health condition that's causing throat and sinus irritation, such as:

• Collapsing trachea
• Foreign bodies in the nasal passages or mouth
• Nasal growths such as polyps or tumors
• Upper respiratory tract infection

Responses to this mailbox are not monitored.  To contact us, please reply to info@houstonbeaglerescue.org.