đž Honey: A Little Beagle Miracle
Need a break from the world? Don’t mind adorable dogs? Meet Honey, our adopted pocket beagle, and tiny miracle. Her adoption story serves as a reminder that when you open your heart, the universe delivers the sweetest things.
Wild Beagle Packs and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory
Honeyâs journey began not in a designer kennel, but out in the North Georgia mountains. On a November day, her pregnant mom, a beautiful tri-color beagle we later knew as Charlie, wandered onto a farm looking for food. This wasn’t a lost pet, she was likely a member of the rumored wild beagle packs that roam the foothills in North Georgia, abandoned or separated from hunting groups season after season.
The farm owner made a crucial call, and Releash Atlanta swooped in. This 100% volunteer-run nonprofit saves dogs from high-kill shelters across Georgia, and Charlie and her unborn puppies were their latest rescue.
On December 28, 2021, Charlie gave birth to a litter of seven precious beagle puppies: five tri-colors and two chocolates. They were dubbed “The Chocolate Factory Puppies” and DNA testing showed they were purebred, 100% beagle. Among this litter was the smallest little girl, a gorgeous, green-eyed chocolate runt who was named Oompa (who would soon become our Honey).
đ A Twist of Fate and a Sign
It had been a year and a half since we lost my first wonderful dog, Anna, during COVID and after properly mourning her death, I was ready to start looking for a new fur baby for our family. While Anna was a dachshund/terrier mix (I grew up with a dachshund and once you go weinerdog, it’s hard to stray) I had my heart set on a beagle for some reason. I was researching beagle puppies when I stumbled upon Oompaâs picture online. I mean, this was like the cutest fucking dog I had ever seen in my entire life! I was all in.
I submitted the application, ready to advocate for our home. Releash Atlanta is a serious rescue matchmaker and they ensure their rescues have the right caregivers, home dynamic, and space. For beagles, a large, fenced-in yard is a must. We checked all the boxes and passed the interview.
Then came the first sign from the universe: I was at a local bar (this was before I got sober) and ran into a cat-loving acquaintance of mine. I had mentioned that we were looking to adopt a beagle and he wanted to show me a picture of one he saw up for adoption on Facebook. He pulled out his phone and showed me – it was Oompa! What a ridiculously cool coincidence â I took this as a sign from the universe that this tiny dog was meant to be in our family.
But like most love stories, ours hit a snag. The adoption coordinator called to let me know another family had been chosen. I was heartbroken! I even said a small pleading prayer, asking for a miracle.
⨠A Backyard Miracle
And then, it happened. Two days later, the phone rang.
The other familyâs current dog wasn’t compatible with a puppy. Their adoption was off. The tiny, green-eyed runt, Oompa, was ours if we were still interested…Like Charlie when he got his golden ticket, I felt like I won the puppy lottery!
This was 4 years ago and Honey has brought us immense joy. Every time I look at Honey’s sweet face, it reminds me of how loving miracles happen around us everyday. Honey is our real little miracle. She is a reminder that even when life is tough, the moments of unexpected joy are all around us if we take a second to appreciate them.
If you are considering adopting a dog, check out Releash Atlanta’s Adoptable Dogs!
