As part of celebrating National Love Your Pet Day, we asked colleagues from across the University to send in their heart-warming, funny, or plain mischievous stories about their beloved pets – and you delivered!
First, we have Adel and Mason, two ex-racing greyhounds from Easington Greyhound Rescue. David Profit from Estates and Facilities shared this fantastic photo with us, and said:
"Adel (top) is very excited at new toys and loves putting things in her basket she finds on walks - like apples - and my socks and my cushions. She also empties cups of tea if left on a table, so all tea is placed at a high level!
"Mason (bottom) is so relaxed he is horizontal, and has no interest in toys or games. Nothing phases him, he loves to lie near me and watch TV. He ran six races during his career and the last one he went round the track backwards at one point!
"They both have such different natures, yet love each other greatly and me too."
Adel and Mason
Next, we have Ted, who, according to Nic Johnston from our Human Resources department, "started life as a small criminal."
Ted
Nic said: “When we first got him as a puppy, things kept going missing including a purse (which had all my bank cards in), a full-size tin of tomatoes and numerous socks. It took us a little while to work out that Ted was hiding his ill-gotten goods in his bed."
Adrian Bailes in our Strategic Planning Office also got in touch with us about his medal-winning labrador, Myla.
Adrian regularly takes part in competitive running events – so when he found out about ‘Canicross’ human and dog race events, he decided to enter them both!
Adrian and Myla
After winning their first race, a 10km course at Kielder Reservoir, Adrian and Myla recently ran their second event, a five-mile course at Wallington Hall. Adrian said:
“This time we set off at fifth place and we finished in second, behind last year's silver medallist at the European Canicross championships in Belgium… I was so shocked and proud (and shattered!) as a lot of the dogs racing were Eurohounds (dogs bred for sled pull racing) while Myla is your stereotypical labrador who loves food and sleeps 18 hours per day!”
Next, we have Ken the miniature schnauzer. Hayley Elvin from our PVC Colleges and Student Experience Office told us Ken loves to attend daycare when Hayley is working on campus, where his "favourite thing to do… is singing with his friend Jago".
Lord Kenneth
Hayley added that Ken, or ‘Lord Kenneth’ is “extra sassy and has the best beard in the land!”
We also spoke to Gillian Conn from our Business School, who sent us this picture of her dog Nina.
Nina
Gillian said: “When Nina was a puppy, she managed to take the wrapping off an unopened Christmas cake and ate all of it. Luckily, she had no ill effects from her munchies!”
Banner image - Zack the beagle and Rolo the cockapoo (Penny Hawley's dogs) with their best friends Billie and Otis both jack russell terriers.