Hundreds of beagles and their owners crowded Queen Mary Park for Beagle Mania last weekend, to raise money and awareness for abused beagles in Canada.
Participants gathered with their dogs to eat food and play games, but the true reason for this annual event is much more serious. In 2003, the not-for-profit organization Beagle Paws was founded to raise awareness towards the abuse and neglect that beagles often face in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The mission of the organization is to educate people about the mistreatment of some beagles that are used as hunting dogs.
“During the non-hunting season when they aren’t hunting, they don’t want to pay for food, so they’ll shoot the dogs or they turn them all loose,” said May Sutherland, the Edmonton event coordinator for Beagle Paws. Sutherland also stated that many hunters will abandon their beagle, if it does not return from its hunt.
This year was the eighth year Beagle Mania was held in Edmonton, and although there was lots of games and entertainment, Sutherland said their main hope is to raise money for the organization.
Funds raised from the event help rescued beagles in many ways, such as :
- Spaying and neutering
- Emergency medical treatment
- Support for senior beagles through fospice program
- Awareness campaign for proper care and treatment of beagles
Beagle Paws is Canada’s largest beagle rescue organization with chapters in Vancouver, Newfoundland and Alberta.
