A mischievous pair of beagles are being dubbed Britain’s naughtiest pooches – after they destroyed more than £6,000 of their owner’s designer handbags and shoes.
Between them, six-year-old Reg and five-year-old Ron have munched their way though two designer handbags, a leather armchair, a pair of Dubarry boots, two pairs of Ugg slippers as well as countless other pairs of shoes.
Flustered owner Odette Forbes even spent an extra £7,000 reinforcing the garden of the house she shares with her husband Tony, 55, and son, Bill, 14, to stop the pair escaping.
The two beagles, Reg and Ron (above), have destroyed over £6000 worth of their owner’s designer handbags and shoes. Odette Forbes (above) said they are the ‘terrible twosome’
Between them, the two beagles have munched their way through two pairs of Ugg slippers (above), a pair of Dubarry boots, two designer handbags and a leather armchair
Ms Forbes, 52, a professional dog groomer from Westcott, Surrey said the pair will cause trouble whenever and wherever possible.
She said: ‘They’re the terrible twosome. If you leave anything on the floor or lying around they’ll get it.
‘It doesn’t matter what it is, if they see it and the time is right they’ll have it.
‘Despite their destructive streak they’re such loving and loyal dogs. Just make sure you don’t leave anything near them that’s leather though.’
Ms Forbes initially adopted Reg, a rescue beagle, in 2014 but decided he needed a companion and that there was no other choice than to name his new best mate Ron.
Reg had always been fairly low maintenance before Ron arrived in 2017 but before long the pair were living up to the reputation of their criminal namesake’s.
Despite the two beagles’ destructive streak, Ms Forbes insisted the pair are loyal and loving. She said they would ‘do anything’ for her and are always ‘excited’ to meet new people
The professional dog groomer from Westcott, Surrey, showing the damage her beagles have done. The two dogs have destroyed countless pairs of shoes, including two desert boots
Ms Forbes has to make sure her bins are secure so Reg and Ron don’t break in (above right). She said the pair are like ‘little demons’ when her back is turned
Ms Forbes said: ‘They’re naughty, no doubt about it. I realised the moment that we got Ron that they would both be trouble.
‘Reg was pretty good to start with apart from peeing on people’s shoes when we took him out to the pub but first thing he destroyed was his bed and then he started stealing socks.
‘When Ron arrived he was initially timid but started copying Reg and my husband’s desert boots were first thing he got. We’re convinced he’s the instigator now.’
She said: ‘They love a challenge. They are great escape artists despite a fence all around the garden. They often find a way to climb up and take themselves off for a walk if they think we haven’t given them a big enough one.
‘Reg escaped twice on Christmas Day which involved lunch being put on hold. If they think they can escape from somewhere they’ll give it a pretty good go.
‘We’ve put a six-foot high fence on some of the sides of the garden to make sure the place is escape proof.
‘We try and laugh about it though because if we didn’t we’d probably cry.’
In total the pair have destroyed a leather armchair, a Mulberry handbag, a Jimmy Choo handbag, two pairs of kids Timberland boots, two pairs of Ugg slippers, two pairs of desert boots, three pairs of Adidas trainers, a pair of work boots, a pair of Dubarry boots, two leather wallets, a sun lounger as well as dozens of socks, books, t-shirts and bins.
Ms Forbes has to make sure her bins are secure so Reg and Ron don’t break in.
She also keeps their food under lock and key as the pair frequently like to help themselves to extra treats.
But despite their naughty streak, Ms Forbes insists the pair are loyal and loving.
She said: ‘Everyone we meet loves them. Reg and Ron will sit outside the front gate of the house each morning and wait for the kids from the primary school down the road to come up and stroke them.
‘Like the other Ronnie and Reggie they love their mum and I know they would do anything for me.
‘Sometimes all they want is a nice cuddle from their mum and a good old stroke.
‘They’re loving and cuddly and always excited to meet new people.
‘They’ll do anything for a belly tickle. It’s hard to believe the little demons they turn into when your back is turned.’