Have you heard of the Salty Beagle Facebook group? This Facebook group has an amazing 24.3k members. I was lucky enough to meet five of these members when I reached out asking for more information behind the first official Color Me Salty coloring book. The coloring book came to life after Alicia, who draws the real-life Beagles of the Salty Beagle, started doing this for fun and made friends with Dena, Cassie, and Shannon. Jane joined the group shortly after kickoff and has been an integral part since. I have had the pleasure of spending time chatting with this affinity of strong-minded women and learning who they are and what they stand for.
Alicia, Dena, Cassie, Shannon, and Jane started the nonprofit Artists United 4 Hounds and decided they wanted to give back to the Beagles and rescues they collectively are passionate about. The Fab 5 started with Bubbles the Blind Beagle and Nugget (Nonprofit 501(c)(3)), which rallies children and adults to end bullying in schools and other organizations by proving that all bullying—toward animals and humans—is unnecessary, how to prevent it, and how to accept each other with differences. Bubbles and family are from Michigan and are the biggest Detroit Lions fans. Bubbles got to go to Ford Field this past December to be the ambassador to disabled pets and meet Santa in his Jeep for the Pride Unleashed event. Bubbles and Nugget collectively share their home with Beagles in dire need (called the kennel kids). They foster or find quick adoptions before the dogs are euthanized in high-kill shelters. Stacie Elliott and her family do everything they can for Bubbles, Nugget, and all the other Beagles they bring home. Without their advocacy, so many more dogs wouldn’t be here today. I will post links at the bottom of this article so you can follow Bubbles the Blind Beagle and his emotional support Beagle Nugget on their everyday adventures on any social media you prefer. “Be a buddy, not a bully” is the Elliott family motto.
I have spent the past few weeks talking with the lovely ladies behind this amazing coloring book and laughing the hardest I have in a while. To be honest, I have been honored to share Beagle stories with them, compare notes, and learn about how each one of them ties this coloring book together. Immediately upon asking them, “What is your first Beagle story or first Beagle?” all five women collectively shared stories of love, lessons, and heartache. Alicia, Shannon, Dena, Jane, and Cassie have never met in person. They stem from all over the U.S., including Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Maine, and Virginia, and here I am, sitting back and letting these women tell their story the way they want to.
Tell me about your first Beagle:
Shannon aka BFM (Best Fake Mother):
The summer before my senior year of high school, after years of begging, I finally wore my parents down and they let me get a beagle puppy. It was my 17th birthday present, and his name was Barney after my favorite childhood book, Barney Beagle. When, I went away to college my parents made me give him away. Fast forward through a lot of drama and a college degree later and I had an opportunity to take Barney back! I jumped at the chance and brought him back home to live out the rest of his life with me, where I spent every day making up for the days that we were apart.
Shannon’s additional thoughts:
As a whole, this project ended up being a huge learning experience. Creating the book was fun for me and gave me a creative outlet that I could spend as much or as little time doing as I had. The process of producing and selling the book was a different story. As a group, we didn’t realize all the things we would need to do in order to sell the book “legally,” following tax laws, etc., while also making the most money possible to donate. Jane, honestly, made that possible by starting up the 501(c)(3) with money she donated to the cause! While the status is still pending, having a tax-free way to sell art will allow us to donate more money to more rescues. We have so many ideas, but the startup (as with any small entity) comes with costs.
Each of us really brings something very different to the table, which I think will allow us to be successful long-term. I believe that my personal contributions are being extremely honest and very realistic, as well as having a husband that owns his own small business and is quick to point out issues that the girls and I had never even considered (like paying taxes on our earned income profits even though we were going to donate them!).
Cassie:
I have two dogs currently, Maggie the Beagle and Mirabel (aka Gremlin). Both are from rescues. My dog before that was a Beagle mix I found in a field. Finding Molly was a dream come true for me because I grew up around Snoopy. I really enjoy the online Beagle community for its support and wonderful sense of humor, especially when it comes to these crazy hounds. I loved kids’ books about the Pound Puppies that sparked an interest in rescue dogs and a book called Bath for a Beagle when I was younger.
Mandy was such a loyal dog. She was an Irish Setter. My Molly was a sweet, sweet girl. She was very young when I found her and in need of some TLC. Eventually, she became a therapy dog and visited patients in hospice and the hospital. Somehow she knew who needed her to visit—it was magical.
My Maggie went to a rescue after her owner became ill. She had some behavioral troubles, but she’s such a loving, happy girl now. Mirabel, I got from the shelter. Her owners were moving and couldn’t take her or afford her. I just woke up one day and decided that I was going to the shelter to adopt the oldest dog they had there—a lucky day for her at 11 years old.
Cassie’s additional thoughts:
I think we all just found we have similar stories and always felt like we had a combined group effort of love for these animals and their welfare, particularly Beagles. We thought it would be a fun and creative way to help while showcasing why we love them so much. The things we love about the dogs in our lives created that mutual understanding to become good friends and work on this. Each one of us has a unique skill that’s been essential to this project, and I am so proud of it.
Jane:
Alicia is the artist. Every single bit of art in Color Me Salty Vol. 1 is hand drawn by Alicia. She would draw a beagle and then submit it to us for suggestions. Loads of suggestions flying in from four different ladies with different ideas… and she never lost her mind over it. She did it while growing a baby.
My Beagle experience is somewhat limited prior to my current Beagle, James Brown. I adopted a six-year-old Beagle named Milo, who had been severely abused and was biter. It took a year to help him decompress and calm down, and then he became such a good, loyal dog. We had Milo until he was 11. Milo passed away during the pandemic when getting medical care in my small town was nearly impossible.
After he died, we decided to adopt another “impossible” dog, and that is James Brown. He came to us semi-feral as a street dog from the South. He is now four years old, and we have had him for three years. He is finally beginning to become who he was meant to be. James Brown didn’t know how to live in a house. When we first got him, we purchased new furniture, and he tried to eat all of it. He didn’t know where his legs were supposed to go, so he would fit himself into strange areas of the house with his legs sticking every which way.
James Brown was super mouthy—so mouthy that every time I saw the doctor, I had to convince them I was safe in my home because I was always black and blue on my arms and had multiple bites. He never bit out of anger or aggressiveness; it was more a reaction to control. James Brown never made eye contact for his first year and a half. If he looked me in the eyes, I wouldn’t look at him because I was afraid it was right before he was going to jump at me. Which he did from time to time. He thought he was playing, so it was more about gaining a common language between us and setting reasonable expectations. I took him to the trainer and told them I just wanted him safe, and that is still our number one focus with him. He is a good boy about 90% of the time.
Jane’s additional thoughts:
The first shipments of the coloring book went out when the baby was about three weeks old – and Alicia packaged and sent out every one of them! Shannon, Cassie and Dena know everything there is to know about the beagles on the Salty Beagle group, so they were able to make suggestions to Alicia about the personalities of each beagle to enhance each beagle’s page. And you know how Dena wrote saying she doesn’t know why she is in the group? I can tell you about Dena. She is the most loving, patient and stubborn person on our team. Here’s an example: Early on, we had discussions about whether the pages should be printed double sided or single sided. Dena said the pages should be single sided because people use markers. How I felt about it was, how are we going to produce a 100-page coloring book, mail it and have any money left over for our rescue? I can’t speak for the other ladies, but it seemed like we dropped the topic, only to revisit it over and over again. Dena always voiced her opinion and then laid back and watched us shoot it down. But she never gave up and when we finally got near the printing phase, she just held her ground. So we ran the numbers – printing costs, postage, what would be a reasonable price that would sell but still give us a respectable donation. And guess who was right?
Dena, like a velvet hammer, was never in our faces about it. She just patiently repeated, “I think this is the way to go.”
Shannon is very active in fostering hounds. Her knowledge about the breed and specifically about many of the dogs in The Salty Beagle is expansive. Shannon is direct, hilarious, and kind. Even when on vacation, Shannon made valuable suggestions. Also, she is good at keeping us on point when we get (easily) distracted.
Cassie is the detective! She is the Columbo of our coloring book crew. If you need to know something about a Beagle, she’s got the answer, and her recall is superhuman! Also, Cassie can take one of our ideas to places we never imagined. She is so creative and funny. Also, thoughtful. So very thoughtful.
Me? I just try to hang on by my fingertips and see where I can contribute. Mostly, though, I try to be a positive and supportive member of the group while I am in awe of these ladies and thankful for my luck to know them. We are very different from each other, but somehow, we appreciate each other’s points of view and recognize that our differences make us stronger. Beyond the Best Coloring Book Ever Invented, our bond is without question.
Did I mention that we have never met in person? We have not. I really want us to go on Good Morning America so we can meet each other in person—or The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Dena:
I am certain Snoopy was my first Beagle love, but my Papaw also had Beagles for hunting dogs. It was impossible not to love them. When one couldn’t hunt any longer or wasn’t a good hunter, he found them homes.
Our first Beagle in the family was when I was 15, sweet Jacques. He was a lovely singer who drove my dad crazy! My husband and I have rescued five Beagles since 1997. Our first, Skippy, was hanging out near the I-75 weigh station where Don worked. Don had been leaving him food and water for a couple of weeks but couldn’t lure him any closer. He realized the dog was suddenly limping and bleeding and had been hit by a car.
Don bought Slim Jims and Funyuns from the vending machine and finally caught him. The vet advised euthanasia, but Don turned over the $1,500 savings account and saved him. This was the best decision ever, as he became the first dog for our family that my son, nieces, and nephews grew up loving.
Dena’s additional thoughts:
We were really blessed when we started to figure out that selling our book was going to be considered income, even though all money received is only paying for printing and postage costs, with everything else going to Bubbles. Jane was able to pay for establishing United Artists 4 Hounds.
It’s our shared goal to come up with other future projects to benefit other Beagle charities that we currently support in other ways. It’s been a real learning experience (my degree is in Business Management, and my career was in HMO Underwriting and healthcare business). I look forward to seeing what we can do next and hopefully finishing selling our first 150 coloring books, getting them out there, and selling enough to order another print run!
Alicia:
I grew up around a lot of different breeds. I got my first Beagle by accident. She showed up in my yard, and I thought she was a puppy because she was so small. I put a lost and found poster at the local store. I received a call two days later. The people who had her had just let her go because their landlord wouldn’t let them keep her. They said I could keep her. They also said she was two and a Beagle-Chihuahua mix. She looked just like a Beagle and acted like one too. She was the size of a Chihuahua! She passed away, and I couldn’t see myself without a Beagle. So I got Oakley.
I can’t foster right now, but I would love to in the future. I was questioning, “What can I do if I can’t foster?” So I started doing art for donations to a rescue. Then I thought I would love to do a coloring book for the group. I love the community where The Salty Beagle has grown. Probably the only reason I keep getting on Facebook!
I do want to say there’s something special about gaining trust and love from a Beagle. They are so independent, so I feel the reward is greater. I feel like Beagles get such a bad rap. They are really intelligent, just not how we want them to be. They are super intuitive too. Both of my Beagles instinctively knew when I was going through a pregnancy loss, and both knew exactly how to support me.
I also trained Oakley to find hearing aids. I’m hard of hearing, and so are three of my kids, so hearing aids can get lost easily. They just need motivation. Don’t get me wrong—Oakley is still a jerk and the king of “nope.” He even stole my husband’s doughnut today. He had zero regrets doing it.
Alicia’s additional thoughts:
It brings me so much happiness to see all of the reactions. I love that this project has brought people together. I think with everything that’s been going on in the world, it’s easy to forget what a community feels like. There were a couple of times I doubted being able to do this, but I thought, even if we fail, I made some great friends. I am blown away by what we did accomplish.
It started as a thought: I can’t foster, and I’m not rich, so I don’t have a lot to donate. But what can I do? There’s always a way to help. I thought, wouldn’t it be nice to raise money for rescues with art? I did a few drawings in exchange for donations to a rescue. Then, Dena and Jane mentioned selling in a store like Etsy and Redbubble. I tried that and realized they take too much of the profit.
Come to think about it, I don’t think I would have ever thought to do it had it not been for Jane and Dena telling me to sell my work. I guess it just takes someone to believe in you. Anyways, after I decided the store wasn’t for me, I thought, wouldn’t it be cool to color all of our dogs?
Unfortunately, I’m not as funny as I like to think I am. Cassie always made me laugh in the group, so I asked her if she would help. She accepted and added Shannon, who I wouldn’t have dared to ask (at the time, I didn’t really know her other than being a part of running The Salty Beagle). Then came Dena and Jane, which transformed into this wonderful project and beautiful friendship.
Alicia just welcomed a brand-new baby right before this book came to print! Let’s congratulate Alicia and her family!
I watched the surprise unfold over the weekend as the coloring books made their way to the homes of Beagle owners all over the U.S. The joy, laughter, smiles, intrigue, and interest flooded the Salty Beagle Facebook page and my newsfeed on Facebook! Stacie Elliott received the donation on behalf of Bubbles and Nugget on Saturday from the United Artists 4 Hounds—an amazing $500.00! She gave a very “unsalty message ever” to thank the group.
Stacie, who just lost a beloved new dog friend named Tandem days prior, was extremely grateful to continue her work for dog rescue. By Sunday, she was on her way to rescue a momma and two babies that had been abandoned. This just shows how dedicated and strong Stacie and her family are, stepping up to the plate and moving forward for the love of dogs.
I can tell you it has been an immense honor to have befriended Alicia, Dena, Shannon, Jane, and Cassie. If you met them, you would think they have been best friends for years because of the way they speak so highly of each other, laugh, joke, and share the emotions of the dogs that shaped them into the amazing humans they are today.
The truth is, they are five women who happened to collectively meet through The Salty Beagle, but if you ask me, I think fate intervened. I asked all five women to email me separately and tell me the details of how this idea started and how they contributed. I couldn’t help but be amazed by the fact that each one of these women told not only the same story but also made sure to fully compliment each other, highlight each other’s strengths, and unite as a group of dog-loving, independent, and wise women to bring help and financial assistance to other women they admire.
I am a better human being for spending my last few weeks with these women, and I hope you, the reader, take something of unity, friendship, and positivity out of this story about five women on a mission of humility. Enjoy your Color Me Salty Vol. 1 coloring book.
I asked Alicia, Cassie, Jane, Shannon, and Dena what they were feeling about all the feedback from the coloring book over the weekend. Their responses varied, from wanting everyone to know how hard they worked and how happy they are that you are all enjoying the book, to being grateful they can share their work with you all and make you smile. The reactions and posts of humor and excitement from people finding their dogs’ coloring pages were overwhelming. One person even posted a YouTube video showing themselves opening the book and finding their beloved Beagle on a page.
The Fab 5 collectively thanked each other for their hard work and dedication. They want you to know that there is still time to order your coloring book—or to get one for someone special for Valentine’s Day—at https://unitedartists4hounds.org.
The Mission Moving Forward
Through their nonprofit United Artists 4 Hounds, they plan to expand their efforts and create more projects to benefit Beagle rescues. While the journey has been a learning experience—navigating tax laws, nonprofit requirements, and creative challenges—their determination has been unwavering.
This project started with a simple thought: How can we help? Today, their coloring book is making its way into the homes of Beagle lovers across the U.S., bringing joy and raising funds for an important cause.
Unexpected loss of Minnie Shivs.
Our deepest condolences go out to the Tydings family for the loss of our Saltiest girl, Minnie a.k.a Minnie Shivs.
A Special Congratulations
Alicia, one of the key creators, just welcomed a brand-new baby before the book went to print! Congratulations to her and her family on their newest addition.
Order Your Copy
If you haven’t yet, there’s still time to order your own copy of Color Me Salty, Vol. 1. It’s the perfect gift for any Beagle lover—or for yourself! You can place your order at https://unitedartists4hounds.org.
The Fab 5—Alicia, Dena, Shannon, Jane, and Cassie—are grateful for the love and support this project has received. They hope you enjoy the book, share a smile, and feel the same joy that inspired its creation.
References and Links
United Artists 4 Hounds Website
United Artists 4 hounds facebook page