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BeastBlog: January 2006

About The Beastly Beasts - By The Beastly Beasts

This is where we, the Beastly Beasts, tell you all about what we've been up to.

We love hearing from you too, so please leave us a message by clicking on "Post a Comment" at the end of the story.

Love and licks,
Kai, Monty, Jack, Troy, Lucy, Mack, & Rosie - The Beastly Beasts

24 January 2006

Back Home

posted by Kai at 20:03

Back home this evening after a restless night at the vet. They had me on a fluids drip all night and took some blood samples.

Turns out the fact my tummy was hurting put me off my food and water, which made my tummy hurt, which put me off ......, you get the picture. After a night on the fluids I felt loads better and just wanted to go home, but was told that the vet couldn't see dad 'til the afternoon. When dad came to collect me we got some special food that I'm to have for the next few days, and that's it.

When we got home Monty went a bit mad and shouted - he wanted to know where I'd been. I told him the vet and that he really didn't want to go there as they lock you in a cage like you're an animal.

Then we went out for a walk up Hunsbury and 'coz I'd been cooped up all last night, went for a really good explore. Monty came too, we always go round together up there. We could hear dad calling but we were having such a good time we carried on. We know he won't go home without us. Mind you, I think he might have been getting a bit worried as mum turned up too. Still, it was fun.

Then back for tea and now we're all ready for a sleep, so that's all for a bit.

Kai

PS: You might have noticed that the Beasts have taken over BeastBlog; look out for posts from all of us.

23 January 2006

Kai at the Vet Tonight

posted by Chris at 19:41

Kai's been a poorly lad over the weekend; being sick and bit of diarrhea. Most worringly he's been right off his food - most unlike him - and worse, not drinking anything.

The vet confirmed that he is dehydrated, and Kai seems to have tenderness around the colon.

Long and short is, Kai is spending the night at the vet on a drip to rehydrate him. Hopefully this will get his intestines moving again, and get him back to normal. However, he is also having his bloods done to eliminate (hopefully) anything untoward.

With any luck I'll be able to pick up tomorrow; it seems odd with only three.

18 January 2006

BeastBreak 2006 - Booked

posted by Chris at 09:26

We have booked our BeastBreak for this year - in January - for September. Those that know how we normally work will now surely be agog with astonishment (assuming they haven't fainted). However, when you find somewhere that looks good, seems to be popular, and is pet friendly, you've got to go for it.

So where is it we are going? Swallows Dance in Pembrokshire. Gill found it; it looks really nice, and (very big AND) it's pet friendly: like all four of them - which as anyone with a pack of beasts will know, it's difficult to find places that accomodate more than two.

And Carol and Trevor (the owners) must be a bit mad 'coz they have a Blog for Waljan, and only slightly mad people do blogs for dogs. Waljan (Welsh for Chosen - great name) is their greyhound/deerhound cross, and will probably need to be kept out of our way when we come home, or he might just be in the car with us.

And ReikiAnge has been there. ReikiAnge from DogPages, Irish Animals, and other dog forums, sponsored Monty during his rescue, and as such, is a very very nice lady. It is a small world sometimes.

Anyway, the Beasts got so excited this morning when I told them the BeastBreak was booked, that they've now had to go and have a lie down.

14 January 2006

Tree Walk

posted by Chris at 21:15

You may remember I mentioned that Salcey Forest was absolutely heaving with people earlier this month. I found out why; the Tree Walk is now open. So today we went to see it for ourselves.

Salcey Forest is enjoying a renesance at the moment. At one time there was nothing there; not even loos. Then the loos arrived, then the Forest Cafe, then nice paths went in, and now there are bridges over ditches and the Tree Walk. We have watched the Tree Walk being built over a few months, and it opened on New Years Day. Essentially it's a ramp that rises up into the tree tops; the very last bit to take you above the tree tops is up some steps, but in some ways, being high up among the trees is the best bit.

I guess 'coz it's still a novelty there were a fair few people about again today, despite the rain; and just like last time we got stopped by just about every child. The Beasts were not overly impressed; they like to go somewhere, and of course this is just up to the top, take a look, then down again. Afterwards it was their bit.

Their bit is of course off the leads, and in and out of the trees, ditches and (especially) the puddles - of which there were many as it had been, and was, raining. This inevitably meant that the Beasts got just a bit muddy. And after the fun of Salcey there was the ignominy of being washed.

The greyhounds seem to accept being washed with an air of resigned acceptance: Kai on the other hand is a professional soap dodger, to the point that you get about as wet as he does.

After the wash there's the rub down with the towel, a treat, and drying off in front of the fire - mmmmmm, the smell of gently drying damp dog - followed by tea, and crash out.

Jack had managed to hurt one of his front paws while out. He didn't let on while we were at Salcey, but he'd cut between his pads. But even though he was limping around the house, he still had a wag. The wound was clean, and he's had a dose of paracetamol with tea, so all should be OK with a few days gentle exercise.

13 January 2006

Back Home

posted by Chris at 15:14

Every now and then I need to travel with work, and have just spent three nights in the business district of Velizey (just South East of Paris).

As Gill was also away with work, the Beasts had to go to kennels, and this time that meant Lynne as Claire was not opening until next week.

Having used Lynne Sketchley (Station Lane, Grendon) in the past with Phelan, and the Big Beasts, and Kai had stayed there a couple of times as well, this was the obvious choice.

When I dropped them off on Monday, Kai seemed quite happy, Jack thought it was brilliant ('coz everything is to him), but Monty was just not sure, and Troy was a bit hesitant.

When I collected them today, Lynne told me that Monty had settled in straight away - he was in with Kai; Troy took a day to settle, but was fine; Jack was - well - Jack; and Kai was Mr. Laid Back as usual. Her actual comments were that they eat well and obviously enjoy life, and that she had enjoyed having them. So looks like they have won another fan.

After picking them up we over to Sywell, where they all had a good charge round (Jack was especially up for it today) and a wander for an hour. Then home and to bed, which is where they are now.

Life is back to normal; it was weird coming home to a dogless house yesterday night. Although they don't get in the way, the Beasts are always "there", and without them home is not really home.

02 January 2006

Last Day of the Holidays

posted by Chris at 19:20

Last day of the holidays, so it was over to Salcey Forest to let the Beasts have a good run. Mind you, Monty and Troy had had their mad in the garden earlier on; Troy was really up for it today, having had a session with Kai and Jack earlier on. Over at Salcey it was heaving. The car parks were full up, and cars all along the road. We parked on the road - I was going to anyway as chances were we'd be back after they locked the car park gate anyway (we were - in fact we got stopped by a warden to make sure we were OK, which we were).

As we set off it became apparent that the majority of the people did not have dogs, but small children; must have been the family day out before back to the grindstone tomorrow. Anyway, sprogs (that's small children) meet four dogs and express wonder that there are so many in one place at one time; sprogs want to stroke dogs; parents look concerned; dogs couldn't care less.

So we spent about half an hour going a few yards at a time before being stopped by the next family. Of course people asked if they raced, so they got my views on Greyhound racing (you can take an educated guess at what they are I'm sure - not a fan). So perhaps today we have put a bit of doubt in some peoples minds about the racing industry, and perhaps we made a childs day. I hope so.

What It's All About

posted by Chris at 10:58

This morning is what taking on a rescue greyhound is all about.

Troy loves the garden (I'm lucky enough to have a fairly big garden), and spends ages mooching about out there, but usually on his own. Monty often tries to goad him into playing, but, to the best of my knowledge, without success. So while Troy seems perfectly happy to live with the other three, to date he has not really interacted with them.

This morning was different. Troy did not just mooch about, he went running. Then Jack joined in and we had a game of tag on our hands; a proper game - taking turns to chase and be chased. Divots of lawn were flying everywhere - they were really going for it, and I got a mud shower while I stood and watched (you can't do anyting else when two greyhounds give a display like that).

After a bit, Jack had had enough; Troy hadn't and just kept running round and round the garden. Then Kai joined in. Well, when I say joined in, more darted at Troy as he went past. Can't say I blame him really; Troy's a lot of greyhound to have charging towards you.

When they had all done Troy came up to me looking extremely pleased with himself; smiling as only greyhounds can.

Just in case you were wondering where Monty was in all of this - in bed. He doesn't do mornings.

Over the last few weeks there have been signs that Troy is really settling in; like not being quite as needy for attention, playing tentatively with toys, that kind of thing. But this morning was a big step in his integration with the others, and what it is all about.

01 January 2006

Have You Seen This Woman?

posted by Chris at 19:27

Have you seen this woman? She is wanted for a range of offences including sending out e-mails that make people go "Do Do, Do Dee Doody Dee Do" endlessly for days at a time over the Christmas period, and providing defective dogs to the unsuspecting - one supplied to us stands in the car constantly, and often smells when relaxed.

Wanted

Wanted

Under no circumstances approach this woman unless you are prepared to leave with a greyhound.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

New Years Day White Lodge Walk

posted by Chris at 18:51

With a few sore heads, and few more pointy dogs - and other flavours - today was the New Years Day walk at Burrough Hill (difficult to do it any other day of the year really).

Despite the hangovers and the rather grey day, it wasn't a bad turn out.

Pointy Dogs Invade Burrough Hill

Burrough Hill is one of the highest points in Leicestershire (210m above msl), and the wind proved it. Out of the wind it was fairly warm - in it it was piggin' cold.

Some hardy souls did the ramparts of the Iron Age fort, others - more sensibly? - stuck to the centre of the field.

Going Up the Walls

As always, such a collection of pointy dogs caused comment among the rest of the people there. One chap asked Gill and I if it was a hunt - well, it was New Years Day in Leicestershire. Another - more sensible group - stopped me to ask what was going on, and we had quite a long chat about greyhounds, racing and the result of it.

Back at the car park Claire handed out hot chocolate, Gill passed round the choccy biscuits, and all the dogs got their treats. It always amazes me that greyhounds don't seem to mind sharing treats - there's never any aggro from them. While chatting we met up with another slightly insane family; insane in that they also have four dogs - it's nice to know we aren't alone.

Jack

Jack Hoping the Camera is Edible

And, of course, those that hadn't met Kai before swooned at him.

Finally, the really good news - it's only 358 days to Christmas!! (sic)