2007 has been quite an eventful year at BeastBarracks; here's some of the highlights - and lowlights - from The Beastly Beasts and me.

January

Chris:
We got our first sale on the Vet UK affiliate program. This has now raised £118.53, all of which goes to greyhound rescues. Thank you to everyone that has bought their vet supplies using our link.

Troy:
We got our own motor with the arrival of The BeastBus.

February

Kai:
Our website was selected as Dog Site of the Day for the 1st Feb.

Shaggy left us - he'd been staying with us for a bit - to go and live with Sam.

March

Jack:
One of de quieter munts. Oi clocked up me two years as a Beastly Beast on de same day as de Whoite Lodge walk.

April

Monty:
April was an eventful month. The 1st of the month saw us up at White Lodge where Kai, Troy and I became blood donors for Pet Blood Bank UK. For me that had some consequences, but more on that later.

Kai:
While we were at the Lodge we asked Dino if he'd like to stop with us for a while; he said yes.
Turned out it was only for a week as Dino went to live with Nancy and Roberto where, by all accounts, he is living the life of Riley. At the White Lodge walk that month we met up with Hooch again along with Lucy. And seeing as Dino had got a home, we asked Dick if he would like to come home with us, which he did.

Jack:
De big walks are usually whit de Whoite Lodge, but in April we met up whit some udder hounds from de Greyhound Gap at Coombe Abbey. One of mums mates wanted to meet us, so he came too whit his puppy Mia. T'was a grand day.

Troy:
Dis mumf 'ad the saddest fing of the year, and it still gets us down when fink about it. My cousin Maple celebrated 'er first year wiv us. To be 'onest, I reckon she'd 'ad the 'ardest life out of all of us, but in that year she 'ad a great time, and, after a bit of shaky start 'ad well an truly learnt the being Beastly Beast is a larf. Only for 'er to drop dead a few day later. Where ever you are darlin', we still fink of ya and still miss ya.

Kai:
However, there was some good news; Dick got himself a new place of residence and a new name - Sarraf, and we asked Hooch and Lucy if they would like to come a stay with us - which they did.

May

Chris:
We made our first donation from the Vet UK affiliate program to Greyhound Gap.

Kai:
Over the first holiday weekend we were at Salcey Forest raising money for Greyhound Gap; it chose this weekend to rain for the first time in ages. We were helped by Greg, Sol, Mille and Bess, and Skye on the Sunday and Patch and Mikey and their humans Sally and Ewen on the Monday.

Monty:
We'd had our results from the PPBuk blood doning. I'd got raised ALT levels and a test at our vet confirmed it - not good.

Chris:
The APGAW report on Greyhound Welfare was published. For the first time an official report and the greyhound racing industry admitted that greyhounds die in huge numbers.

Kai:
On the Sunday of the late holiday we went to the Greyhound Gap show.

June

Lucy:
We went to Bowood. Ace day out and I got to lie in a load of beds - neat.

Kai:
June saw most of us doing our second blood donation. Due to his enzyme levels Monty was unable to donate this time.

Monty:
My enzyme levels went from bad to worse and I got worried.

July

Lucy:
First big news story for July was that me mate Hooch got himself a home with Sandra and Mat in Shepshed.

Second big news story was I became the Beastly Babe.

Mack:
And the third was that I came to stay with The Beastly Beasts.

August

Monty:
My enzyme levels were back to normal and for the first time in ages I didn't have to worry.

Kai:
Rosie came to stay. Despite her somewhat unconventional greeting when we first met we have become really good friends.

Lucy:
We got our Grey Sweaters. I just love mine; they look cool and keep you warm.

Troy:
Yours truly became the face of Grey Sweaters.

September

Chris:
Our next donation from the Vet UK affiliate program went to Tailends.

Monty:
We were at the second Greyhound Gap show selling Greyt Sweaters, and I entered the fancy dress as Dennis the Menace.

Troy:
Dad got the BeastBus sorted; now we're motorin'!!

Kai:
But the best thing this month was that we went on our holidays!!

October

Kai:
We got our own bank account.

Chris:
We registered with easyfundraising to raise more money for greyhound rescues.

Monty:
I broke my leg.

Mack:
Rosie and Oi becayme blood donors; all the other Beasts - except Monty - did it for their second or thirrd toime.

Rosie:
I tried agility and thought it was just fab!!

November

Lucy:
Me old mate Hooch came to stay for a couple of weeks.

Jack:
Me, Kai an' Troy went along to de collection for Northants Greyhound Rescue. Dey raised nearly a tousand pounds, only to need it de very next day.

Chris:
The Donoughue Report - titled "INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF THE GREYHOUND INDUSTRY IN GREAT BRITAIN was published. This one paragraph shows that it will be business as usual and that the whole report was a complete waste of time and money:

"Given the numbers of greyhounds retiring from racing each year, it seems unlikely that all can be re-homed and therefore some euthanasia may be inevitable, as is accepted in the NGRC Rule 18 as a last resort. But it is important that this be done professionally and humanely."

December

Jack:
We was at Coventry to help Rory and his mates rasin' some money for Greyhound Gap. Den we went to Syston to do some more, and den we had our own Meet an' Greet in Northampton. Dem tree days raised £1,200 for hounds what is needin' de help - dat's grand.

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From me, Gill and The Beastly Beasts - thank you to everyone that has supported us this year. Have a great Christmas and we hope 2008 is everything you want it to be.