The Beastly Beasts

11/05/2024

Dash did donation #4 with Pet Blood Bank UK this afternoon.

One of the things we get asked about dogs giving blood is "Do they mind doing it?". We'll let Dash answer:

When dad put me bandanna on I figured where we was goin', an' sure enough I was right. Once I was certain I wanted dad to get a wiggle on, an' I couldn't get in the door quick enough. Bit of poncin' about takin' me weight, but they insist, then it's on to the good stuff: loads of treats and fuss in room 1, wiv a lie down, cuddles, an' more treats in room 2. An' everyone tells me how good I am an' that I'm a star an' stuff. Then it's more treats an' pose for a pic, an' more treats to take 'ome.

03/05/2024

It's a grey rainy day at Beast Barracks, but Milo is as snug as a dog in a duvet

30/04/2024

Today is very nice warm day so I spend lots of it outside in sunshine ☀️

13/04/2024

Today nice day so l lay in sunshine.

Dad say he might change my name from Faith to Venus. I think maybe because I heavenly and beautiful, but dad say it because I good at catching flies.

20/03/2024

Cooper & Dash did their thing at Pet Blood Bank UK on Saturday.

It was Dash's 3rd session and he was fab - even though it took two goes to get the cannula in so blood flowed; he took it all lying down and totally chilled.

Cooper, 5th milestone and Dash - well done both!

05/03/2024

It's the second B3 Day in as many days - and this one is a very special one because ...

It's 10 years since Milo arrived at Beast Barracks.

Milo came here aged about 18 months having apparently been in 9 homes under a number of rescues, with quite a few people saying it would be best if he was PTS as he was a bite risk. The reality is that you were - and still are - far more likely to get your tonsils tickled as Milo gives you a full on Staffie style snog, because Milo is a Staffluki; yes - he's a designer Lurcher!! Milo has lots a Staffie traits and got the bat-sh*t-crazy Saluki gene, so to say he was full-on active when he arrived is an understatement (not much has changed); but all he wanted to do was please, and being very young he did like to mouth - but a bite risk? No.

Milo was a blood donor and as the pics show, very proud being one; he made over 20 donations. But for all his confidence in other ways, he always needed dad to be there while he donated.

So, has Milo slowed down now he's 11½? The last two pics - which are tracks from the trackers some of The Beastly Beasts wear - give the answer. The first one shows the walk that most of us did on Hunsbury Hill a few days ago, the second is Milo on the same walk. If a well known battery manufacturer ever decide they are done with bunnies Milo will happily take on the role 'coz he just keeps on going.

Happy 10th Becoming a Beastly Beast Day Milo - don't slow down any time soon.

04/03/2024

Early March 2018 saw The Beast From The East - aka Ty - arrive at Beast Barracks; in the middle of all the cold and snow of The Beast From The East.

Rescued by Candy Cane Rescue (now Candy Hound Rescue International), Ty came to the UK sooner than planned when another dog couldn't travel and he got the space on the flight. When he arrived here he didn't know any English so the lovely lady at the local Chinese take-away taught dad some basic Chinese commands; the one that got used most was 没有 (no, stop that); surprisingly, using Chinese followed by English worked and Ty is now bilingual. Ty's nickname when he arrived was To Hung Lo, but after a trip to the vet he became Nun To Hang; these days Ty has a plethora of nicknames:
* Mr T - though he doesn't have any bling or bazookas
* Xi Jinping
* Chairman Mao
* Captain Chaos

When Ty first arrived he really didn't like being touched - hardly surprising after everything he'd been through, but these days he loves his cuddles and, once he's got to know someone, will actively mug you for a fuss.

Six years on, Ty is a happy hound who knows life is good. He can still be a bit of a k**b, but a very loveable k**b. Happy 6th Becoming a Beastly Beast Day Ty.

25/02/2024

Cooper and Dash will be donating in March - will you?

If you are already registered you know what the deal is; if not, read on.

Donating is not for every hound, but for most it's fine; Sketch has never done it and would hate it, but those of us that can have - even those of us that arrived here with issues.

The Pet Blood Bank UK team are fab and won't make anyhound donate if they don't want to. On the day you'll get loads of fuss and treats and cuddles while actually donating. You'll get a check-up - like at your vet - to make sure you're OK to donate, then you get to lie down for a few minutes while you do the deed.

Hopefully this will never happen, but our view is - what if it was one of us that needed to be given blood? Somehound needs to give it, so might as well be us.

And there is something in it for you:
* You get an "annual" health check each time you donate - up to 4 times a year
* You get a dog's danglies blood screen the first time you donate and yearly after that; on donations in-between you still get a blood screen. And that picked up a problem with Monty that at the very least saved him becoming very ill and needing an operation, if not saved his life.
* You get rewards:
- a toy at each donation
- a bandana at your first
- then as you do more you get more cool things

So if you can give blood (get your human to check on the PBBuk website to see if you can), go do it.

Could your dog help to save a life this March? 🐶🩸

We are in need of more dogs to come along to donate at the following sessions. If your dog is a donor in one of these areas and you are available to attend the session, please book via our app or give us a call on 01509 232 222.

• Elizabeth Smith Veterinary Practice, Bedfordshire - Saturday 2 March
• Millcroft Vet Group, Cumbria - Saturday 2 March
• City Vets, Perthshire - Sunday 3 March
• Pool House Veterinary Hospital, Staffordshire - Thursday 7 March
• Mobile Unit at PBB, Loughborough - Tuesday 19 March
• Daleside Vets, Flintshire - Sunday 24 March

Please also spread the word to anyone you know with suitable dogs in these areas who might be able to help. Thank you so much ❤️

15/02/2024

Faith has been at Beast Barracks for 2 years - and what a difference from the girl that arrived here.

She'd had her leg amputated a few weeks before and while she probably wasn't in any pain she definitely remembered when she had been. She'd been found in China with a broken leg. That got fixed and got her to the UK where she had a home waiting. Unfortunately the break in her leg grew excess bone and because she was in pain became snappy, and after being in her home for about 3 years she went back into rescue; by then the only option was to amputate her leg.

Now she is a very happy girl with a mind of her own; she might live with 7 blokes (plus a human) all of whom are bigger than her, but she doesn't care and tells them all what to do.

Faith loves her walks and is in to anything and everything while out and about. If she decides that something is worth sniffing it will be sniffed for as long as Faith thinks it should be sniffed; she might be small and on 3 legs, but she can summon extra gravity at will and becomes immovable.

Faith is feisty, funny, and fabulous, and is very much a Beastly Beast.

Happy Becoming a Beastly Beast Day Faith.

03/02/2024

Sketch has been banged up at Beast Barracks for 11 years.

He was almost certainly a Christmas present, but was kept outside, on his own, in all weathers - winter 2013 was very cold and very snowy. A neighbour got him into BGP (as Greyhound Protection UK was called at the time) and we were asked to take him. Originally a foster, he went to a home but only lasted a couple of weeks there before he was handed back - and he's been here ever since.

Sketch's super-power is looking like he's never been fed. He sit's with one paw raised, head down, and looks up with big "Woe is me!" eyes. And it works every time; on walks he will get treats off everyone that has them, and he even gate crashed a wedding reception and blagged loads of sausages.

Sketch is the Senior Beastly Beast - he's been here the longest - and one of the oldest, but on walks he runs around and goes exploring.

Happy homecoming day Sketch.

18/01/2024

It cold outside for few day, but when we go for walk I refuse to wear coat; dad try to make me wear coat, but I tell him I no wear coat. Boys wear coat - I think they soft. I no feel cold and enjoy walk.

Dad keep touching me on walk and say he surprised I feel warm. He say I must have Geordie girl ancestor.

08/01/2024

Our 2024 calendars arrived today and have been posted out. Apologies for the delay, but hopefully you'll enjoy a year with The Beastly Beasts when they get to you.

To try and avoid any issues for 2025, we have told our design department to get next year's calendars ready soon on threat of muddy paw prints over clean clothes; the plan being to get our order in to the printer before the Christmas rush.