Seven month ago all I knew was that I am always afraid of a lot of things, tall men, loud noises and the garden hose just to name a few. Although l am large I was a timid and very shy beagle boy.

One day I was taken by a kind volunteer from Brew, Inc. for a long ride in the car. Boy was I glad when it stopped and I could finally stretch my legs in the park near by.

And what did my big brown beagle eyes see - the most adorable tiny beagle girl. I knew I was supposed to be afraid but she was so cute and bossy. She marched ahead and I could not figure out why her human kept saying "be nice Chelsea" - she was nice and so beautiful.

We walked together and ended up in a garden where Chelsea let me know that this was HER space. As long as I let "her be in charge" she would let me play in it and if she felt like it play with me, maybe even let me in the house. I liked the garden and I liked Chelsea’s human. She did not seem to mind that I was afraid and shy. In my hearts of hearts I was hoping I could stay with Chelsea, even though I knew that I would have to teach her not to be so bossy and to stop biting my feet!

After I spent some time with Chelsea in the garden we went into the house together. Chelsea jumped on all the furniture, but I was all of a sudden a little frightened again so I just laid down and watched Chelsea do her antics. After a while Pat left and I was beginning to hope that I would stay with my new found friend and her human. If this was to be my new home I had better make it so. When we went upstairs I followed Chelsea's lead and hopped up onto a big soft bed and to my surprise I got my belly rubbed for it!

Later that day a man walked in, I was so scared, but Chelsea seem to be so excited and cuddled right up to him so I decided it would be Ok to let him touch me. Chelsea and I were fed a delicious dinner, let out to play and then we went to sleep WITH the humans on the bed. I was so happy I kept licking Douglas’ bald head!

January 31, 2003

So many things have happened since - I am no longer so afraid and I have taught Chelsea that there are limits to my patience. I have learned to bark and chase squirrels.

Chelsea and I are a happy couple and run the house we live in. I learned not to be so afraid when all these people came into the house and made lots of noise in the bathroom, spread dust everywhere which did not help Chelsea's and my allergies! But they are gone now and things are back to normal.

Today is my name sake Franz Schubert’s Birthday and I have been with my humans one year now. I am a happy, confident and grateful beagle and ever so thankful that BREW rescued Chelsea and I, found our humans gave me second lease on life that I can share with my one and only Chelsea!