For the Love of Beagles

Hundreds of Beagle owners, their dogs and friends gathered at Hinkley Park in Park Ridge, Ill., on May 16 to celebrate the seventh annual Beaglefest, hosted by the nonprofit rescue group BREW Midwest.

This event is the organization’s main fundraiser of the year, helping raise money needed to provide vital services for homeless Beagles across the Midwest. BREW Midwest works to rescue and re-home homeless, abandoned and abused Beagles.

This year’s event generated $12,000 in donations to use for all veterinary costs, said spokeswoman Beckie Tomala. This includes proceeds from ticket and food sales, raffles and contests.

The money goes to cover the cost of caring for the Beagles in foster care who are awaiting adoption, she said. Such services include spay or neuter surgery, microchipping, dog food and additional veterinary care as needed.

Overall, the event provided the more than 750 attendees a chance for the entire family to run and play with the hounds, while contributing to the organization’s efforts to save more of these dogs, organizers said.

Without this annual fundraiser, the organization would not be able to rescue as many Beagles from high-kill shelters, said Toscha Clausen, co-director of BREW Midwest, adding, “nor would we be able to provide costly medical procedures that are above and beyond basic veterinary care.”