Hide the Beagle

Young Marty Preston had always dreamed of having a dog of his own. There was something about the loyalty and companionship of a canine that he found irresistible. So when he stumbled upon a lost beagle while wandering through the woods one day, Marty knew he had to do everything in his power to keep him. n n The beagle, which Marty promptly named Shiloh, had a gentle demeanor and a sad look in his eyes that tugged at Marty's heartstrings. He couldn't bear the thought of leaving him alone in the wild to fend for himself. But when Marty brought Shiloh home and showed him to his father, Ray, he was met with stern disapproval. n n Ray insisted that the dog be returned to its rightful owner, a gruff and unpleasant man named Judd Travers who lived on the outskirts of town. Marty knew that Judd was not a kind man, and he had heard whispers around town of how he mistreated his animals. Marty couldn't bear the thought of Shiloh being subjected to such cruelty, so he made a bold decision to keep the dog hidden away. n n Marty constructed a makeshift shelter for Shiloh in the backyard shed, where he would spend hours playing with him and showering him with love and affection. But his secret couldn't stay hidden for long. One day, while Marty was at school, a stray dog wandered onto the Preston property and viciously attacked Shiloh, leaving him badly injured and in need of urgent medical attention. n n Panicked and distraught, Marty knew he had to turn to his father for help. Despite their differences and Ray's disapproval of Shiloh, Marty pleaded with his father to do whatever it took to save the dog's life. Ray, seeing the desperation and love in his son's eyes, begrudgingly agreed to take Shiloh to the vet and foot the bill for his treatment. n n As Shiloh slowly began to recover from his injuries, Marty realized that he couldn't keep living in fear of Judd Travers finding out about his secret. He knew that he had to confront the man and find a way to legally keep Shil