17) The dastardly duo

[MontyBeagle]

Dastardly duo.

Haven't posted on here in quite some time and there's a good reason for this. The reason has four legs, a penchant for petty theft and goes by the name of Wellington. Or Wellie for short. He's our latest (and final I must desperately impress) addition to family and he's a ten month old, lanky-legged little beagle.

After dad took on two rescue beagles (Milo and Harry: two slightly larger than life beagles. They remind me very much of a tough old mob boss and his cumbersome, slow-thinking but loyal sidekick. They are a whole story in themselves but isn't every beagle?) we realised that our little Monty was looking and acting a tad lonely. Having bought Monty from a breeder too, we were semi-reluctant to take on a rescue beagle but seeing the joy that Milo and Harry brought to my parents and knowing that there were two fewer beagles looking for a home, we started to investigate. Here in the UK, there's a great charity organisation specifically for rehoming beagles and they publish and update a weekly rehoming list. Week on week, the same handful of beagles still populate the list which can tinge the search with some sadness it has to be said. Had it been up to me, I’d take them all home but we were trying to find a younger dog than Mont so that he wouldn’t feel threatened in any way and sadly, a lot of these dogs came with issues that were far too tricky to undo.

Within a few weeks, Wellie appeared on the list and we trotted off to meet him with Monty. The two of them are now inseparable and seem to be content. Wellie has been with us for five weeks and, although he has a completely different personality to Monty and a few bad habits, he’s seems to have settled into liking his new situation.

What is becoming apparent, however, is that a bout of amnesia occurred since Monty was a puppy. It was after all only two years ago that we were locked in a constant game of chase after whatever Monty had managed to clamp between his jaws or apologise to neighbours for a beagle streak across their garden or try to stop any of the other bids for world domination that Monty could cook up. But then a miracle happened. Monty turned two. A new beagle emerged. A calm, only occasionally crazy beagle who neither of us could recognise as the beady-eyed little gremlin we’d brought back from the breeders that day. The gremlin, who upon stepping into the house, made a solemn and silent doggy vow to himself to keep his owners fit and healthy by chasing him and to help them constantly ponder the unimportance of owning material goods by trashing them. But after turning two years old, this gremlin had somehow reverted to the undeniably cute and innocent seeming ‘Gismo’. And we were fooled. We forgot it all. We were brainwashed by a beagle.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this was Monty’s plan all along. We forgot all of the hard work and somehow thought a second beagle was needed JUST when the first had become so pleasant. It was like Monty had used one of those Etch-a-Sketch contraptions on our minds and shook away any memories of misbehaviour. So when we returned from a two hour absence from the house (how dare we!), to find Wellie face deep in the contents of a recently knocked over bin on the kitchen floor (egg shells, coffee filters and all manner of grimy viscous bin juice splattered about the room), it was with a sickening, almost audible thud that the memories of Monty’s formative years came back to us and we realised exactly what we’d let ourselves in for.

Wellie continued to chomp through as much food waste as he could whilst we stood slightly too stunned to move for a few seconds. It was only when the motor neurones kicked back in and I leaned forward to engage in the most unpleasant game of tug o’ war with a beagle and a string of…whatever that was… that I noticed the unmistakeable features of Monty peering around the corner from the hallway. His face was one of indignation and joy that this had not been his doing and I couldn’t help but laugh at his attempt to distance himself from his younger companion who had actually managed to eclipse him in the naughty stakes. But whilst I congratulated him on being a good boy, I noticed that Monty’s belly was looking a little full and a little rotund almost like he’d just be dining on some yummy stale and rotten bin contents. And so, I can’t help but fear that the lull in Monty’s naughtiness was just a ruse. That all along his only objective was increase his numbers. The worst has happened. Monty has an accomplice.






Attached: a picture of Wellie. Do not be fooled by his calm and sweet looking appearance. Within this hound, the heart of a bin-tipper beats.






Just remembered that I have mentioned Milo on here before and don't think I can resist a little story about him and Harry especially given a recent picture that I managed to get of Milo which shows his true colours. Off to root out the photo and share with anyone who is interested in this quiet bizarre spot of rambling writing....

[monte1110]

Thank you for your story. We are considering finding an accomplice for our Monte (with an "e").

[kutyuska]

Great story and I had my moments with my own amnesia
. I don't see any attached photo, is it only me?

[MontyBeagle]

Go for it. Apart from looking like a crazy lady trying to walk two hounds on a lead and not dislocate my shoulder with their yanking, they have actually been great together. Monte with 'e' - perhaps you could have a Wellie with a 'y'!

[MontyBeagle]

Monty on left. Wellie (Boot!) on right. Hope this one works although I thought the first attached just fine....?

This photo shows where the loyalty lies too I think. I do most of the work and yet as soon as Daddy nips away for five mins, look at their longing faces!

[Luna]

They are adorable!

[MontyBeagle]

Thank you! Since writing I have discovered a talent of Wellie's. He can take apart a shoe in less than 5 minutes. Not sure how to put this to use however...

[Kiwi Beagles]

Great story and photos. They look really good togeather.

In one week we too are about to have a Dynamic Duo. Our Abby is 6 years and the newbie girl (yet to be named) is only 7 weeks.
Beagles must have an inbuilt ability to erase memories because it wasnt until I read your story I was reminded about all the 'fun' and expense that we enjoyed when Abby was that young. By expense I mean the mobiles, TV remotes, solid timber furniture that was sacrificed in the name of puppy-hood.

[Kath]

Originally Posted by MontyBeagle

This photo shows where the loyalty lies too I think. I do most of the work and yet as soon as Daddy nips away for five mins, look at their longing faces!

Lily is such a daddy's girl as well, but with us I work from home so she sees me throughout the day whereas my husband leaves for work every day so she doesn't get to see him as much so I am chopped liver once he comes home lol.