Must. Love. Dogs. Don’t get me wrong, I like cats too, but dogs just slay me! Recently I came across the cutest darn beagle on Instagram who stole my heart. Turns out Gertie the Beagle hails from Cranford, and she’s quickly becoming a little celebrity on the Internet and in town.

If you are on Instagram, have a gander at the account by the name of Gertie_The_Beagle. I dare you not to fall in love with this dog! Every time Gertie’s owner Nicole Caputo posts a photo of Gertie, I see so much personality come through the photos–it’s as if Gertie is looking RIGHT AT YOU. And clearly I’m not alone, since the account has more than 1,200 followers!

I recently spoke with Nicole about her beloved four-legged friend. Gertie had a rough start in life. Nicole said, “Gertie is three and a half years old. She was born in a testing lab. I adopted her when she was 14 months old from Happy Paws Rescue NJ, who specialize in taking in beagles after labs are finished testing on them. They are amazing at what they do.”

As many of you know, adopting a rescue dog has its challenges. According to Nicole: “When I first adopted Gertie, she didn’t know how to be a dog. She didn’t know what grass was; she didn’t know how to walk on a leash or anything, so I basically had to teach her how to be a dog.” It pains me to think of any dog treated the way Gertie had been treated, and thankfully there are people like Nicole who’ve given Gertie and other rescues a second chance at a REAL life.

What is Gertie like now, a couple of years after living with Nicole? “She loves going to the park and seeing her dog friends, and she absolutely LOVES cheese and chicken jerky. She enjoys car rides except when they are to the vet. She’s a very happy girl. My favorite quirks of hers are when she begs, because that means she wants to be picked up and held like a baby. She also sings when you sing to her and when she doesn’t wanna do something she plays dead. It’s quite hilarious because she won’t move for anything and I have to pick her up and carry her home.” I knew this dog had serious personality!

Nicole went on to say, “Gertie loves to go the bank, to Pizza House Pizza Chef in Cranford, Pet Valu in Garwood . . . basically anywhere she can see people and greet them. She is so friendly to everyone.”

Gertie is also part of the “Grumpy Beagles United” group on Instagram. “They are actually not all grumpy, and it’s like a family. They send gifts and mail and positive thoughts. It’s a great family to be a part of.”

Nicole was born and raised in Cranford, and she currently lives here with her fiance and Gertie. In the two years since Nicole adopted Gertie, they’ve formed the unbreakable bond that we dog owners know and cherish. “She is my baby, my love, and my best friend. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for her in this world. I’m grateful every day that I have her, and if it’s even possible I love her more and more every day.”