2023 Holiday Letter
Happy Holidays
To all our adopters, volunteers, friends and supporters
It has been another incredible year for beagles! Beaglefest 2023 was attended by 601 people and 236 dogs. The event raised a record of $27,411 for beagles in our program. We are so grateful to everyone who attended, volunteered, contributed to, or supported our biggest annual fundraiser event of the year. We are already planning for next year’s Beaglefest on September 28, 2024 in Dwight, IL, and we can’t wait to see you there!
Our 2024 calendar photo contest was also a huge success! We had 244 submissions and 19,644 votes. We’ve sold out of calendars for the past two years, and we hope to do the same for the 2024 edition.
These fundraising campaigns and your donations allow us to provide critical veterinary care to beagles who need our help. This year, we would like to share with you some of the stories of beagles who your support has directly impacted.
A Huge Undertaking
Midwest BREW’s mission is to give opportunities to beagles in need, and in September, we undertook the biggest rescue in our history—45 beagles came into our program at once. We knew it would be a strain on our resources, but we also knew that we had to step up to meet the need that was before us. 
It all began when we were contacted by the family of a man who had bred beagles for many years but who needed to relinquish them due to his health. A team of volunteers traveled to the location to temperament-test the dogs and transport them to their foster homes. All of the dogs were sweet and friendly, and with the full cooperation of the family, we brought them into the program. Being asked to take in 45 dogs would be a challenge for any rescue organization, but our network of foster volunteers heroically rose to the occasion, which allowed us to take in all of the beagles who needed our help. We took in 26 females and 19 males, ranging in age from two weeks to nine years old. All of them have received extensive veterinary care, including:
As you can imagine, many of these beagles require ongoing treatment. The total cost of their care to date is $40,000, but this figure will continue to climb as we provide the veterinary care they need.
Perry
Perry was hit by a car; badly injured and helpless, he lay on the side of the road until a good Samaritan rescued him and took him to an emergency clinic. His owners never came to claim him, so Midwest BREW brought him into the program in July.
Not only was Perry’s right front leg badly broken in multiple places, but his scapula was fractured as well. Because of the severity of his injuries, his leg couldn’t be saved and was surgically amputated. His left leg has significant nerve damage, and he underwent physical therapy, acupuncture, and TENS therapy in hopes of easing his pain and restoring the functionality of his leg. Despite this extensive course of treatment, he had difficulty using his leg due to instability in his shoulder, so he was fitted with a prosthetic leg. With the love and support of his foster family, Perry is learning to walk again. So far, the total cost for Perry’s veterinary care is $1,980.24
Scout
Scout was originally placed with another rescue group, but unfortunately, they weren’t able to afford the extensive veterinary care that he needed. So, Scout came into our program in March 2022 and was immediately assessed and treated for his multiple health issues.
Glaucoma was the culprit that stole Scout’s sight, leaving him blind in both eyes. His right eye had to be removed due to the high pressure and pain caused by the glaucoma. Scout’s teeth were examined and found to be in such poor condition that they all had to be pulled. Then, as if this poor boy hadn’t endured enough, his left eye had to be removed as well.
We then discovered that Scout’s heart was starting to fail. He was seen by a veterinary cardiologist, who diagnosed him with a severe heart murmur, congestive heart failure, degenerative mitral and tricuspid valve disease, and pulmonary hypertension. At this point, Scout was on fairly high doses of four medications and was given a prognosis of one year to live.
Scout became a hospice foster, living permanently with his foster family and having his veterinary care paid for by the rescue. Scout knew the love of his foster family for 17 months before finally succumbing to his multiple heart conditions in August of this year. He is dearly missed by his foster family and will always be remembered for his sweetness and resilience. The total for Scout’s veterinary care was $10,108.
Our Year in Review
These are just a few of the stories of real beagles who your generosity has
directly supported. In 2023, we had 202 beagles come into our program and 195 beagles adopted. We treated 9 beagles for heartworm, 24 beagles for Giardia, 26 for Lyme disease, and 10 for anaplasmosis (a tick-borne disease). We had 8 beagles treated for dental disease, 15 treated for parasites, and 1 treated for pyometra (a serious, potentially life-threatening uterine infection). Our foster families were also able to provide a safe home for 2 pregnant beagles to give birth to a total of 12 puppies.
You and your generous support are what makes it possible for us to provide care to these beagles and others like them. That is why we ask, during this season of giving, can you find it in your heart to donate to beagles in need?
No amount is too small. Donations can be made through the button below, or by check mailed to:
Midwest BREW
P.O. Box 498
Wadsworth, IL 60083
We are truly grateful for the generosity of all of our supporters. We wish you a
warm holiday season full of beagle snuggles and a happy New Year. Thank you for helping beagles in need!
2023 Expenses
$166,880.65
January 1 through October 31, 2023
| Veterinary Expenses | $137,727.54 | 82.5% |
| Operations | $11,615.98 | 7.0% |
| Fundraising Expenses | $9,001.21 | 5.4% |
| Insurance | $3,172.00 | 1.9% |
| Postage and Mailing | $1,497.67 | 0.9% |
| Microchips | $1,058.94 | 0.6% |
| Dog Supplies and Expenses | $906.05 | 0.5% |
| Tax Prep/Annual Report Fees | $856.00 | 0.5% |
| Other Types of Expenses | $561.05 | 0.3% |
| Printing | $381.96 | 0.2% |
| IL Rescue License | $102.25 | 0.1% |
Midwest Beagle Rescue, Education and Welfare is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Your gift is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
