FOURTEEN is just a number for a local family who enjoy their beagles in bulk.
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The Grahams recently moved to a farm at Eglinton in order to have enough space to care for their growing number of furry friends.
They have just adopted their 14th beagle, but Rodney Graham says living with more than a dozen dogs does not faze him or his family.
“Having 14 [dogs] doesn’t feel any different to living with four dogs,” Mr Graham said.
Since they made the move to Eglinton, their number of companions has continued to grow.
“We moved out here six months ago and in that time we’ve adopted four, maybe five dogs,” he said.
While feeding and caring for the animals may seem like a full-time job, Rodney and Peta Graham ensure they have a routine to keep everyone happy.
“We cook for them daily, and line them up as if it were a production line when it comes to feeding,” Mr Graham said.
Older beagles tend to be the ones who struggle to find homes, so it is often the case the Grahams will travel far and wide to ensure the dogs spend the remainder of their life in a happy home.
“We have gone as far as Melbourne to adopt a couple, and have even brought some back from Queensland,” Mr Graham said.
The animals live in an insulated train container, with a dog wash and play area a few steps away.
Identifying each dog seems as though it would be quite a task, however, the Grahams ensure they know who is who.
“We can tell who is who just from their barks,” Mrs Graham said.
Despite some of the pets requiring extra care, Mr and Mrs Graham say they don’t mind as it’s what they enjoy doing.
“For this one [dog], she has monthly eye drops costing $95, but we don’t mind because it’s what we love to do,” Mrs Graham said.
The beagle clan range from ages one to 13.
And is 14 enough? The Grahams say they are always on the hunt to add more to the beagle brood.