Attribution: Photo by Bill Stokes
By Bill Stokes
Kickass, the doorstop dog, passes along information to the keeper and Phyllis that 1,500 beagles at the controversial Ridglan Farms at Blue Mounds have been bought by a dog rescue group and will ultimately be up for adoption at various locations around the country.
Under a court ordered agreement Ridglan will wind down and ultimately stop its business of breeding beagles and doing medical related research, with the remaining dogs also apparently processed into pet status.
A beagle named Ava, who runs the household of Phyllis’s son Todd, is a frequent guest of the keeper and Phyllis, and defines a beagle’s life as revolving around sleep, with occasional outings to howl at a fresh rabbit track. Todd passes along the information that it is Ava’s 11th birthday today which she will celebrate by staying awake long enough to consume a couple of dog treats.
A long time ago, the keeper adopted a totally undisciplined beagle—Is there any other kind? –named Frankie who ran away after several weeks and was never seen again despite extensive searching.
As a result, the keeper has lived with the implied message that his lifestyle does not meet the standards of a free-thinking beagle, except as an occasional host.
Happy birthday, Ava, and invite some of the freed 1,500 to your party.
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