Beagle adoption so successful that more puppies being sent to South Elgin’s Anderson Humane shelter

Hang on, Snoopy! More rescued beagles from the shuttered research facility in Virginia are headed to South Elgin for fostering and adoption, officials at the Anderson Humane animal shelter say.

“All we know is that it’ll be sometime around the first week of September. We received such an outpouring of support from our community that we felt confident in our ability to save more,” shelter spokeswoman Juliann Carlson said.

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The outpouring of interest has resulted in a full list of people ready to take in the next round of beagle puppies when they arrive, according to Jeff Robey, the shelter’s chief engagement officer.

Like the 91 male beagles Anderson placed in homes earlier this month, the new batch will be from among the 4,000 or so dogs rescued from Envigo, a breeding and research facility in Cumberland, Virginia. The U.S. Department of Agriculture found the animals being kept in horrendous conditions and cited the company for dozens of federal regulation violations.

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Gary, a rescued beagle that Greg and Lynda Ives adopted from the Anderson Humane shelter in South Elgin, is adapting well to his new life in Crystal Lake, the couple says. (Greg Ives / HANDOUT)

Working with the Humane Society of the United States, authorities have been placing the dogs with shelters across the country.

“As before, once the beagles arrive and have been checked by our veterinary staff, they will be put up for adoption on our website (ahconnects.org),” Robey said.

Foster families are given the first chance at adoption but some will be available to the public. Anderson has an open adoption that doesn’t have many requirements, Robey said.

“That said, the beagles are not used to walking on a leash so a fenced in yard is a plus,” he said.

Of the 91 beagles from the first group, 72 have already been adopted and 19 are in process of being so. All are under a year old.

“They should (all) be in their forever homes by the end of the week or early next week,” Robey said. “All but three have been neutered and those three are scheduled for later this week.”

The owners of two of the newly adopted dogs say their pets are adjusting to home life just fine.

Elgin resident Violet DiGiovanni said Bruno, named after the “Encanto” character, is still a bit afraid of things like noises, “but he loves playing outside and rolling in the grass.”

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And Gary’s adjusting equally well, too, said Greg and Lynda Ives, whose pooch’s name come from a character on the animated show, “SpongeBob SquarePants.”

“Gary has made steady progress getting acclimated to us and his new surroundings. He went through a lot in his first months of life and the ride to Anderson,” Greg Ives said.

Not surprisingly, the dog was nervous and scared in his first days with the couple, who have grown children and grandchildren, he said.

“Now he is a typical pup, and we love him as part of our family,” Ives said.

For more information on the beagles and Anderson Humane, including being added to the waitlist to potentially foster or adopt a dog, go to ahconnects.org/beagles or call 847-697-2880.

Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.