Our goals and aims
Beagle Welfare was formed in 1979 to give help and advice on beagles and to rehome those whose owners, for whatever reason, are unable keep them. In 2019 the charity found homes for more than 250 of these delightful, but sometimes difficult, little hounds and the number of beagles still waiting for homes always exceeds the number of homes we have waiting.
As well as our national rehoming centre in the Midlands we have a small but wonderful army of volunteers who look after dogs for us until homes can be found for them. Scarcely a day goes by without an owner asking Beagle Welfare to find a new home for their pet. We always take great care in matching the beagle to the family and potential owners are visited by our volunteers to make sure they are right for the breed. Equally, wherever possible, we do our utmost to ensure we know all the facts, good and bad, about each hound before placing it with a new family.
The main aims of Beagle Welfare are:
- The prevention of maltreatment and cruelty to beagles and to encourage responsible ownership of beagles throughout Great Britain.
- To rehome beagles whose owners are unable to do so.
- To provide advice and guidance to beagle owners.
- To encourage responsible breeding practices in the breeding of beagles throughout Great Britain.
Donations to help finance the work of Beagle Welfare are very welcome when a hound is given up or adopted. However, we would never turn away a beagle in need just because the owner could not contribute to our costs. Our generous supporters and their fundraising efforts make up any shortfall in meeting the costs of any individual case.
We hope to prevent rescue problems by making prospective owners fully aware of their responsibilities as dog owners, and the particular needs of beagles as pets. We would rather put someone off having a beagle in the first place than have to pick up the pieces a year or two later. On the other hand, potentially good homes can be encouraged to learn more about the breed so that they can enjoy life with their beagle to the full.
Elsewhere on the website is more information about beagles, to assist any prospective beagle owners in making their decision, and to help existing beagle owners with any questions they may have. We have also created a booklet, Beagles as Pets, which you are free to request a copy of (please email info@Beaglewelfare.org.uk).
Our history
Beagle Welfare was founded in 1979, the result of an initiative by the committee of the Beagle Association. At the time, people in many breed organisations were becoming concerned about the problem of pedigree dogs flooding general rescue organisations.
It seemed only responsible for breed clubs to take the lead in ‘putting their own house in order’ and, in any case, who better to deal with pedigree dogs than those who spend all their lives with them?
Very soon, Beagle Welfare was developed as an autonomous organisation, although it has always maintained close and friendly relations with all the beagle breed clubs. By 1990 it had an established network of more than twenty regional officers and was handling a budget of several thousand pounds per year. Accountability to the breed clubs has always been important to the active officers of Beagle Welfare and an annual report with audited accounts has been presented every year since its inception.
The charity was formed
It was felt that charitable status would be an advantage, both for Beagle Welfare itself, and as a safeguard for the people who generously give money to the organisation, and so in 1990 a successful application was made to the Charity Commission.
Occasionally Beagle Welfare has been called upon to handle more dramatic cases:
- The ‘Scottish Puppies’ – intended for laboratory use but saved when their money-minded owner died – 28 poor little waifs who turned up five days before Christmas.
- Various batches of Welsh ex-puppy farm rejects, often requiring extensive veterinary treatment.
- And most spectacular of all, the ‘Perrycroft’ Beagles, when Beagle Welfare worked closely with the RSPCA around the country after advising the Headquarters’ team which directed the operation.
One of the high points in Beagle Welfare’s 30+ year history came in 1994 when it was awarded the Pet Plan / Dog World prize forBest Breed Rescue. The Trustees attended a lavish celebration in London – with a Welfare Beagle to represent the real heroes of the scheme – and received a large cheque for the funds and a magnificent crystal trophy.
This award was a tribute to the hard work and dedication of all the people who had contributed to the growth of the scheme since 1979.
