Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, John Glenn and friends, welcome to a whole new world! Named for their bravery in exploring new frontiers, we brought a group of Beagles on the PAWS shuttle from the only home they had ever known-- a breeding facility in Virginia. They are a part of the #4000beagles and the identification code tattooed inside each one's ear will always be a reminder of that. For years these dogs woke up every day alone, just to be betrayed by humans over and over again. They have been through a living nightmare—laying in their own waste, confined to a cage, never knowing what a dog’s life should be. We know many of you are ready to step up and lend a helping hand to these wonderful dogs, and we are so grateful for that. Unfortunately, they are in their first stage of adapting and not ready yet for the wonders and chaos of a home environment. Each of these beagles is in a different stage of opening up to humans and acclimating to things like taking their first steps outside. Our veterinarians and behavior experts have developed individualized rehabilitation plans for each dog to help them adjust to so many uncharted waters: accepting a collar, leaving their suites, walking on leashes, having friends, being pet, feeling loved. With this level of undersocialization in a big city like Chicago, we need to ease their integration into the new world around them. When they are confident enough, these brave beagles will transition to foster homes with experience in socialization and a fenced in yard for safety, to continue decompressing and to finding their own desires and personalities. Please be patient with them (and with us) as we give them time to adjust to their new worlds before they are ready for their loving adoptive families. We hope you join us in celebrating that they will never be numbers again! #ToTheMoonBeagles