Try contacting a Beagle rescue group. They'll foster the dog until a suitable family can be found.
www.norcalbeagles.com/
If you take this dog you need to know what you are getting into...I love my Beagle and my wife has worked with a local rescue. We've fostered half a dozen Beagles so I can render an opinion on this one...
First...he needs to get fixed. The PO may have wanted to breed him but he'll mark all over the house and may not be good with other dogs until he gets fixed.
Beagles are food motivated...that can be good and bad. Good in that you can easily train him but bad in that he will counter serf looking for food. Last month my wife's friend came to stay for a few days. My dog lifted a pound of red vines from her suitcase and ate it in the yard. Stealthy little son of a *****.
Beagles can be loud. More than once I've had to go out at 11PM and quiet a BBBAAARROOOOO in the back yard.
Beagles are stubborn. Again this is charming and frustrating. If they get on a smell and want to follow it you are along for the ride. Hope you have a lease on him.
All that said...I love the breed and will likely have one the rest of my life. I think they are a great size and have short hair...both requirements for me.
I have two boys and so far no issues...my six month old can pull on his ears and get all over him before he growls. My oldest has hit him before with out a reaction.
If you can put up with thousands of years of breeding to be a smell hound and make the investment in him he'll be a great dog.
Leading potential names so far are: Conway, Leroy, Rufus (all from my human family tree), Bono, Archie. Other ideas?????