Running for their lives- the greyhound industry needs to pick pace!

Hello my name is Lucy and thank you for taking an interest in my blog! I am trying to raise awareness for the Retired Greyhound Trust. (RGT)

I am trying to advocate for the RGT. I am trying to make people more aware of what goes on behind some of the doors of greyhound racing. Some dogs are dumped, beaten or even killed when they get to old to race, or if they never make racing standard. The reason. No one is sure but apparently keeping a greyhound that can’t race is a waste of money and time. My aims are to allow people to realise the neglect and cruelty these dogs go through and what the trust do to support them.

Know the facts!

Racing greyhounds is a popular sport; it attracts owners of greyhounds, punters and just people out for a good time. But many don’t know what can go on behind the scenes of this sometimes ruthless sport. Owners train their dogs up so they are fit for racing. Many owners have fun racing and training their dogs and sometimes win money from it; these greyhounds can also be kept as family pets when retired. But some owners are not like this. 25,000 greyhound puppies are registered each year, the actual number bred is much more but any weak or injured pups are killed.  Now once owners have done this they have to train their dogs up to racing standard. Obviously not all make it and then most owners just decide to keep them as family pets, which is perfect. But some owners can't be bothered to keep them at all! The dogs get dumped or even beaten to death and this is where the trust comes in. sometimes members of the public find them, sometimes volunteers do but once they have been rescued, the trust treats any illness or injury, and makes them fighting fit again and ready for adoption.  In reality not all dogs make it or are never found in time it is estimated that 10,000 greyhounds a year die in this way.

Even when they make it to racing, life isn’t always that simple. Here’s the story of one greyhound that was kept in a dirty dangerous back yard pen with hardly enough food or water to survive. Sam pictured right was a sorry sight when he was first found. His big brown eyes were full of fear and his bony, flea-ridden body had large bare, sore, cracked patches of skin from having nothing better or lie on than the concrete floor of the tiny, filthy, stinking kennel that had forever been his prison, the only freedom Sam received was when he was racing. Volunteers at the trust helped Sam settle in and gave him some much needed TLC. Sam was so nervous in his new home one of the volunteers decided to take him home so he could enjoy a peaceful new beginning he was very anxious and it took him a long time to settle in slowly Sam began to relax and realise that not all humans are cruel. Sam began remembering how to be a normal dog again going out for long walks having that affection that all dogs love. Once he was well enough to be re-homed he was sent back to the trust 4 weeks later he was re-homed to a loving family. 1 month on he has now put his dreadful past behind him and living in true happiness. Thousands of dogs are brought in every year just like Sam and they need you to find a place in your heart for someone like Sam. You can see a picture of him now further up on the story.

Thank you again for continuing to read my blog. Once you have finished reading this passage, I would be very grateful if you could post me some comments and opinions on the questions below. If you want any further information on this charity then the website www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk is of help. And if you post a comment and the questions please may you tell me where you come from .e.g. your home town and country!

• Before that blog had you heard of the Retired Greyhound trust before?
• Having read the blog do you feel you know all the truths of racing and what goes on behind the doors?
• Would you ever considered donating or raising money for the trust or even adopting a dog?

If you answer the following questions it would be of a tremendous help and would aid me with coursework in the future. Many thanks, again for reading this blog through and I am looking forward to reading your comments!