Beagle Tales at last!

I'm confronted with a white page and need to begin.

I won't start at the beginning that's too many years ago. We are the lucky owners of two beagle girls, Cleo and Bo. Cleo is now 14 years old and Bo is 12.

Over many years there are many tales to relate and share. Owning dogs, and (I think) in particular beagles our lives have been enriched in so many ways.
In this blog I want to share some of the good, the funny, the absurd and the dramatic.
It is early morning in Brisbane, the sun is shining and  the temperature is already 27 degrees Celsius. We have been up since 5:30am and took our morning walk, before it gets hot!
Our walks have changed in this last year. We, the girls and I, have habitually walked twice a day, for 45 minutes at least in the morning, and 30 minutes in the evening. Now we are generally down to an amble around several blocks as the effects of arthritis and old age become more evident.
This morning was no different, through the park, up the hill and around a few blocks. We make frequent stops for investigative sniffs and leave a few messages here and there. Bo stays alert for any scraps of food that may feed her forever hunger.
Once home, a big drink of water and into the big kennel for a nap. This will continue until I make breakfast, when they will be at my side hoping for treats. After all these years they are still opptimistic! (probably with good reason!)
We think our girls have aged well, but this year they have both slowed down significantly. Cleo is deaf and her sight is limited, but she is a happy dog. Bo is overweight and has been for years. This has taken its toll with her  suffering from severe arthritis in her hind legs. This has been severe in the last month; (another reason for our ambles). We would and could provide her with pain relief, but she has also had several mishaps which have required attention first.
The most recent of these involves skin under her chin. All the fur has been rubbed raw. So after the vet visit she is back on antibiotics and twice daily cleaning of the wound, with cream to soothe.
What has caused it? The heat has contributed to it. Owing to the heat the girls have cleared out 'nests', digging out soil and leaves to make a pit in which to lie during the heat of the day. I noticed that one of these pits under a particular tree had a plant which I remembered was dangerous to dogs. (Years ago I had noticed this plant on a chart at the vets as being the cause of skin irritants in dogs.) I had removed all of the plant from the garden, but left some in the tree. Over time it had regrown and now surrounded one of the favourite 'nests' . Needless to say there is none in the garden anywhere now.
Plants poisonous to dogs
From this link I am sure it was Wandering Jew.