`Beagle convention' in Auburn a blast for pooches and owners.

Byline: Bill Fortier

AUBURN - Collinswood K-9 Services on West Street was not a good place to be yesterday if you didn't like beagles.

However, that was not the case for the hundreds of people inside the facility for the 5th annual Beagles of New England States Beagle Bash.

They love beagles.

Leanne W. Parks, one of the founding members of BONES and a member of the rescue organization's board of directors, said at least 100 beagles were at the event that featured agility and other physical tests on the front lawn of Collinswood before heavy rain drove everybody inside or under the food tent about 2 p.m.

Inside the facility's main training room, there were craft tables where beagle-related dog collars, toys and T-shirts were sold. There was a silent auction and raffles - as well as a large screen that showed pictures of dogs successfully placed by the dog rescue group. Ms. Parks said one of the most popular sections in the BONES newsletter, called Happy Tails, details stories about beagles teaming up with a loving owner.

At mid-afternoon, a small pool was used for the bobbing for weiners competition. The voluble dogs also competed in Best Begger, Best Kisser, Owner-Look-Alike and Best Popcorn Catcher contests.

While all this was going on, the beagles barked and bayed at each other and anything else that got their attention.

Ms. Parks, the owner of two female beagles, Java, 12, and Lily, 8, said she expected the bash would raise between $2,000 and $4,000 for the care of rescued dogs. She said the rescue group has placed about 900 beagle or beagle mixes since it started five years ago.

All of the Beagle Bashes have been at Collinswood because of Auburn's central location and what Ms. Parks said was the quality of the local kennel and dog training facility.

While most beagles are known for having a color combination of brown, white and some black, Christine Dykeman of Nashua, N.H., owns a totally black combination of beagle and, most likely, dachshund by the name of Sadie.

Ms. Dykeman, who spent part of yesterday working at the raffle table, said Sadie, who weighs about 25 pounds and is about a year old, is very smart and loves to slobber kisses on people she likes.

Ms. Parks, who is from Bangor, Maine, said Sadie's color scheme is a rarity in the world of beagles.

Abby Pimental of Coventry, R.I., owns 3-year-old Star, a light brown and white beagle. Her fiance, Kevin, spent yesterday walking around Collinswood with Clark, a 2-year-old male that was one of 19 beagles taken from a home in Maine last year.

While Clark is the more vocal of the two, Star, who was rescued from a bad situation in West Virginia, is more laid-back.

Ms. Pimental said she enjoys coming to events like the Beagle Bash.

"I just tell people we're going to the beagle convention," Ms. Pimental said with a laugh.

A popular part of the "convention" is the photo booth, where professional pet photographer Christine Struminsky and her mother Marion had taken about 25 pictures by 2 p.m.

Beagles are hounds that can be high-strung, especially when about a hundred of them are together in a large room - and that can make it difficult to take a good picture.

"On a scale of one to 10 in the difficulty scale, I would say beagles are about a six or a seven," said Ms. Struminsky.

"The key is to stay relaxed," she said, "because they get their cues from you. If you become nervous, they become nervous, too."

Because they are scent-oriented, beagles are used for hunting, Ms. Parks said, adding that some of the dogs turned over to the rescue agency are brought there because they are no longer useful to the hunter who owned them. There are many other reasons why beagles end up with BONES, she said.

"They're wonderful dogs," she said. They're full of energy, they're snuggly, they're sturdy. They're very sweet and they're great family dogs."

ART: PHOTOS

CUTLINE: (1) Joseph Ciulla of Canton and his beagles attended the Beagle Bash in Auburn. (2) Sara Kanevsky of Worcester holds her 6-year-old beagle.

PHOTOG: T&G Staff photos/MARK C. IDE