Dog Abandoned by Owners Now Travels by Private Plane: 'Air Beagle'

A beagle who was abandoned by his previous owner is now one of the luckiest pups in the world after finding new owners who are obsessed with him; he even gets to fly in his own private plane.

In a post shared on TikTok last Friday under the username @rumi_the_beagle, little Rumi can be seen sitting on his private plane, which his owners call "Air Beagle," enjoying the views from the window as his pilot dad flies him around.

A caption reads: "POV [point of view]: your first family moved and gave you away. But your new family will literally not leave home without you." It is followed by: "We travel in a pack."

The poster, Nicole Evatt, from California, told Newsweek they adopted Rumi nearly two years ago after her husband saw a Craigslist ad for a beagle who "escapes all the time."

Evatt said: "Turns out, the owner was moving to Mexico and looking to rehome his 2-year-old pup. He met us at a nearby parking lot and handed Rumi over for free. The rest, as they say, is history!

"We truly lucked out with Rumi. He's the quietest, sweetest, and calmest beagle you'll ever meet. He's easy to train, incredibly well-behaved, and has never escaped with us. I'd encourage everyone to rescue. It was the best decision we could have made!"

Rumi's owners says he also fits in perfectly with their frequent travel lifestyle because he is equally as relaxed in new environments as he is in their small plane.

"My husband is a private pilot, and Rumi took to flying immediately. He wears his doggy ear protection and is usually fast asleep before takeoff," Evatt said. "As you can probably tell, we're that stereotypical childless couple who are obsessed with their dog. He's our world!"

Rumi was lucky to find a loving family right after his previous decided to leave him. However, many other pets who are surrendered by their owners end up in shelters, which may even put them down when there is no more space left.

Each year, 6.3 million pets enter U.S. shelters, which is an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The number of dogs and cats taken in by pet shelters hit 46,807 during January 2023, an increase of 1,744 compared with January 2022, the 24Pet 'Shelter Watch Report' found.

Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.

The Humane Society of Macomb in Shelby Township, Michigan, says moving home is among the most-common reasons for dog surrenders, as well as the animal's old age, allergies, behavioral issues, cleanup, cost, new pets, and shedding.

The video quickly went viral on social media, getting viewers from across TikTok. It has so far received over 44,700 views and almost 4,000 likes on the platform.

One user, katyviva, commented: "They didn't deserve him. U clearly do! & he deserves to be loved the way [you love] him! Beagles [are] the best! Always happy (or sleepy) & so expressive. The yips howls, head tilts, floppy ears & puppy eyes [are] like cuteness overload!"

Brad Strange said: "Beagle fans get it! I rescued a beagle from a backyard breeding ring, her name is Baloney and she's living her best life!"

Vickie maclean added: "I agree with you. we never go anywhere without our beagle. she have been on all our vacation trips. She is our world too."

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