Today I celebrate my first year as a Beastly Beast, and what a year; I can't believe how much my life has changed, though it's not all been a walk in the park.

Back in September 2000, at the age of 18 months, I did a race; and came last. From what I know now, that could have been the end of me, but as I have some champion racers in my pack tree it was decided I could be used to breed from. It seems that having the dog to have puppies from is worth money to humans, and so I was handed over to different people over the next five years, and eventually ended up in England.


Me

The thing that that gets us all girls is time - no Age RePerfect Pro Calcium or Daily Regenerating Serum for us hounds. Even if there were, time still changes things and I got too old for having puppies (I do wonder what happened to them) and the humans decided to dump me in the hills that make up the border between England and Wales and let me fend for myself.

I found myself alone, in a strange place with no food in the middle of winter; I was cold and I was scared. I set about making myself somewhere to live; I found the hollowed out trunk of an old tree (that's how I got my name), and with a few soft things on the floor it wasn't too bad - it gave me shelter from the worst of the cold, and there was only one way in, so the things that come out at night couldn't get me so easily, not that it stopped them trying.

I could see humans around, and some tried to catch me, but after what had happened to me there was no way I was going to let them. So for a few months I lived on my own, got my own food, and just looked after me.

Then a lady came with a couple of dogs; I'd seen her before without them. I don't know about you, but I'd always found dogs much nicer than humans, so I went to say hello - and that's when she grabbed me; not in a nasty way, but I was caught, and scared again.

Looking back, I shouldn't have been as that's when my life started to change for the better in so many ways. I spent a few days in a kennel, waiting for some bloke that thought he was dogs gift to houndkind to walk through the door and do what they always do. But that never happened, and in a few days I found myself in a house with some other dogs and two humans that were nice to me. Of course I didn't trust them to start with, but gradually I came to. Turns out I was wrong not to have trusted them, but you can only go on experience; they were Dave and Sue, who look after dogs like me for GRWE until they find a proper home.


Me meeting The Beastly Beasts

And talking of a proper home. A few weeks later Dave took me outside where there were four other hounds; they seemed so at ease with their humans - like they were friends or something. We went for a walk and they told me they enjoyed being with their humans, they went out in the car for nice walks with them (humans need walking regularly), got fed and hugged. They also told me that the reason we were walking together was that if we all got on OK I might go to live with them. We did get on, and I did go to live with them, and became a Beastly Beast.


Snuggled up to Troy on the way home

Mind you, it nearly didn't work out. After a long ride in the car snuggled up to Troy (who it turned out is my cousin), and a nice walk round a lake, we got to where they lived. I had a look and sniff around, and after something to eat settled in a nice small room. The lady who is now my mum came in to give me a hug; but it was dark and I was very tired and a bit nervous being in a strange place, so I snapped and scared her and she wanted me out, which looking back I can understand. Dad, bless him, said to give me some time. Thing was, I was scared of mum and she was scared of me, and it wasn't until Auntie Claire arrived to help that mum relented and gave me another chance.


In bed

Then me and Monty had a bundle. I was only playing, and how was I to know he'd been abused and picked on as a puppy? He turned on me so fast I had to defend myself. I came off worse, and had to go to the vets. Now, Monty is my best friend, and we always explore together when we are out on walks.

Talking of walks - as I'm sure you know we go to Salcey Forest a lot, which we all love. But for me it wasn't always like that. Dad had been letting me run around with the boys, when on this one day we went to what, for me anyway, was a new bit of the forest. I just assumed I was going to be left there; I was off the lead and knowing what was coming wandered off into the trees. I could here dad calling me, I could even see him sometimes, but I couldn't work why he was calling if I was going to be left there. Thing was of course, I wasn't going to be, and when I eventually decided to go and see why he was calling me I got a big hug.


Coming back from a mission

Then the first time I'd been off exploring properly I heard dad call me and went back to find him. When I got there he reached down and I thought I was going to get a whack for not being there - I hit the ground and rolled on my back pleading with him not to hit me. Do you know what he did? Rubbed my tummy and told me I was a good girl (he rubs my tummy every night before I go to sleep too).

So now I know I can go and explore, and when dad calls all I have to do is go and see him, get a stroke and carry on exploring.

And the places we have been. We have been to shows and won stuff - which is fun, we have been on loads of walks and met loads of other people and their humans, but best of all we went to the beach. I had never been to the seaside; it's just fab - loads and loads of sand to play chasing games on, and sea to run in and out of. We are going there again, and I am looking forward to it so much.


Being chased by Kai at the beach

And of course there are the boys:
Kai is lovely; he's very private and very gentle (except sometimes when he's playing).
Monty is now my best friend. I go exploring with him when we are out and often snuggle up on the sofa together.
Jack is funny. When I first arrived (and he's done this to everyone) he struts around like he's the man. And the ladies - well, he's got the gift of the gab. But let's just say he's not in it for a long term relationship.
Troy, my cousin, is sweet. He's a big lad, and a very striking hound. Looking at him you might think he'd be full of confidence; how wrong you would be.

And we've had other people stay - which is always nice; Titch, who is now living with her family in Kent, Shaggy (ohhhh he was gorgeous) is now living with Sam in Leicestershire, Dino, who was only here for a week, went to live in Liverpool last week, and we now have Dick.

Oh, and I'm on the SOL calendar this month. So you can see how much my life has changed in a year: from living rough to pin-up girl.


My pic on the SOL calendar

I still get scared of the dark, and I am still wary of strangers; it takes a lot to loose your deamons from half a lifetime. But I am happy now, and I wake up every morning with the boys and know that everything is OK.

I had a brother, Traceys Judge - I wonder if he's been as lucky as me.