The tail-wags were epic last week as we joined the crew at HMS Excellent for the official opening of their brand-new Dog Compound! This project, which went from grant approval to grand opening in a little over 10 weeks, is a perfect example of military precision combined with a whole lot of love for their furry friends.
The NAAFI Fund 2025 awarded a grant of £11,245 for this brilliant initiative, and seeing the finished result—a secure, fun-filled area for dogs to run free was fantastic. NAAFI Fund’s Hannah McCourt and Assistant Marketing Manager Chris Rowe, were on hand to celebrate the achievement and, of course, they brought along some quality treats for all the special four-legged guests!
Many military establishments, including HMS Excellent, allow personnel to bring their dogs onto the base. However, for safety and security, the rules are clear: all dogs must be kept on a lead while out and about. This new compound changes the game for dog owners, while still sticking to those all important rules.
The idea was simple but brilliant: create a dedicated space where the dogs can stretch their legs, play, and burn off some energy without being restricted. The new compound is a sizeable 20m x 15m grassy haven, complete with two secure gates, dog toys, training aids, and even jumps to ensure both physical and mental stimulation.
Project Lead Gary Maskell, pictured above right, and his team deserve huge praise for getting this project completed so quickly. It’s going to make a real difference to the lived experience for personnel who live on base with their dogs, as well as those who bring their pets to work with them each day.
No opening is complete without some celebrity guests, and the dogs of HMS Excellent certainly stole the show! We were thrilled to meet a few very well behaved boys and girls at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, including the handsome Storm, a Black Labrador belonging to Project Lead Gary Maskell. We also melted over Meredith, a very cute dapple Dachshund who was enjoying the new facilities!
The ability for these wonderful companions to have a safe space to run and play truly supports the well-being of the personnel at HMS Excellent. Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this fantastic project to life!
If you have a welfare project in mind, we want to hear about it! Get in touch to find out how the NAAFI Fund can help bring your vision to life. Contact us for more info on how to apply @naafisocial
