And we gave her all that - thanks to her forever foster parents, Leanne & Guy, who take on every foster challenge fully armed with the kind of quirky sense of humour a beagle counts on. Oh the hilarious pupdates I've received over the years from this beloved couple, filling me in on all the crimes and misdemeanors committed by the BOB beagles they dared to take on. I'm absolutely certain their sense of humour saved them from the depths of insanity on more than one occasion (not to mention the beagle!), especially when it came to the Incorrigible Quince! That beagle was The Good, The Bad & The Ugly Cute all wrapped up in one! But they loved him somethin' awful. It really helps that God made beagles so cute.

I keep telling them, they need to write a book or two or three with all the dogs they've saved, both for us and on their own. Of course, it might take a lifetime to accomplish. Besides Quince's spaghetti western equivalent to "War & Peace", "Silly Sylvie & Her Fast-Paced Adventures" would require its own lengthy literary masterpiece.

Where to even begin?

Let me at least give you the Coles Notes version on the story of Ms. Butterball.

It was just days away from Christmas 2017 when we learned about Sylvia's arrival to an animal shelter. Her elderly owner was suffering from Alzheimer's which had a devastating impact on Sylvia.

Overgrown nails and wine-stained paws were the minor issues.

Nothing a professional paw-dicure and some hot pink Go Go Booties to deter compulsive licking of her tender tootsies while she received treatment couldn't solve.

No, the worst issue was her size with all the potential health consequences that come with obesity. For a low-to-the-ground beagle, Sylvia was enormous weighing in at over 70lbs. We were understandably on needles and pins from the get go. But despite the burden Sylvia was carrying, she defied gravity…like a bubbly bumblebee. She was just too darned happy in her new home up North country with her foster parents to do anything but levitate from sun up to sun down! In less than a year, she went from a knee-buckling 71lbs to a trim, healthy, beagle-appropriate 31lbs! Nothing could slow her happy roll!

Until that little paralysis scare back in the fall of 2018 when she was stuck in hospital for a few weeks. But somehow, Sylvia made lemonade out of that sour lemon of a situation too. When she finally and miraculously walked out of the hospital on her own 4 feet, it was like the Queen of England was leaving the palace. Her Highness enjoyed a red carpet send-off courtesy of her "loyal and royal staff". They were gonna miss doting on the happiest patient they'd ever had.

But Sylvia had some cottage country catching up to do and there was no looking back!

She immediately remembered her Favourite Things and got right back to them from that moment on, EVERY day for the last several years!

And she did it all on High Speed setting!

Sylvia was the Ever-Ready Bunny hopping down the stairs and out the door for her beloved walks first thing every morning! Except, Sylvia didn't really have a 'Walk' setting.

Walking was virtually impossible for Sylvia.

She had to RUN and she ran EVERYWHERE.

She'd run down to the Beach to do her wind sprints. But only after she obsessively inspected the yard for any lost poop (aka forgotten ground treats), (aka lawn sausages). It was her guilty pleasure. So was chasing down her sibling Pomeranian, Red. She loved tormenting Red. Although, if she had to choose between tormenting siblings half her size and much smaller-sized grasshoppers, she'd pick grasshoppers. Not chipmunks. Not squirrels. Just grasshoppers because, according to Sylvia, they had no business on her property. At least, she didn't have to contend with them in the winter. Glorious Winter! When she could eat snow to her heart's content and then bundle up for some hardcore ATV'ing with mom (which she fully expected to do year round). Snowmobiling was a close second but Snow Bunny Sylvie LOVED to ATV no matter the season!

You might imagine her being the type to howl with delight upon every adventure but Sylvia saved her vocals for more important things. And, truth be told, she didn't so much howl as she did BARK…kind of like a beached seal, which always did the trick when she wanted back inside, a lift up the stairs, or when her human servants were a tad late serving dinner.

So that, my friends, was Sylvia in a nutshell. A beagle who loved everyone but barely tolerated grasshoppers.

A beagle like that leaves a big hole when they go.

A beagle like that can never be forgotten.

Because her story is the kind of story you want to read over and over again.

Yes indeed, "Silly Sylvie & her Fast-Paced Adventures" is a Classic.

Here's to the One with the Jingle Bells.

And here's to Leanne & Guy.

Thank you for giving Sylvia so much to sing and ring about from the moment she turned that corner at the shelter and discovered you standing there - arms and hearts opened wide. Ready to share the Adventure TOGETHER.

She may be on to a new adventure now but I'm guessing she'll be leading the Welcoming Committee and ringing those bells for us one day! 

September 20, 2018:

Poor Sylvia and poor us! This summer, Sylvia suddenly was unable to walk. It was devastating for her foster family who would do anything for their dogs. Without hesitation, we brought Sylvia to a trusted and amazing vet, Dr. Malik, who is also treating our Fenn! Sylvia has spent the last few weeks in Dr. Malik's emergency hospital in Newmarket for a ruptured disk. We were fearful she would not regain mobility but slowly, she's getting back on her feet thanks to Dr. Malik and his amazing team! Of course, despite all the cost cutting this wonderful vet did for us, we are severely depleted of funding. This year has been one of the worst ever for costly medical interventions. Please consider a donation to help us keep our doors open for beagles just like Sylvia. 

Dec 19, 2017 eblast: