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3/11/09
Temporary foster homes needed now
VERY URGENT- Swansea Greyhound Track Closure in Wales (UK)- PLEASE HELP- FOSTER HOMES NEEDED NOW
It has been formally announced that racing will come to an end at Swansea Greyhound Track this Saturday, November 7th. Greyhound Rescue Wales has immediately implemented its prepared action plan, named 'Operation Greyhound'. In partnership with other leading charities, greyhounds that have raced at Swansea will be taken in by these charities for re-homing.We have already accepted four greyhounds into our care. We are confident that by working together, the partners in Operation Greyhound will be able to provide for any and all greyhounds that are now unwanted. Please find attached our media release. Feel free to use all or any of this information, including contact details, and circulate as you wish.
Many
thanks Penny Hard, Chair, Greyhound Rescue Wales
MEDIA RELEASE
On behalf of: Dogs Trust, Greyhound Rescue Wales, Greyhound Welfare, RSPCA
Cymru, RSPCA Llys Nini, Swiss Valley Greyhound Rescue.
Embargo:
WELFARE GROUPS COMBINE TO HELP GREYHOUNDS FOLLOWING
TRACK CLOSURE
Six leading animal welfare groups in Wales have joined forces to find homes
for all greyhounds who will need them as a result of the forthcoming closure
of Swansea Greyhound Stadium. The groups have named the initiative “Operation
Greyhound”.
The organisations involved are: Dogs Trust, Greyhound Rescue Wales, Greyhound
Welfare, RSPCA Cymru, RSPCA Llys Nini (Swansea) and Swiss Valley Greyhound
Rescue. Swansea Greyhound Stadium and the City and County of Swansea are
also working closely with the partnership.
Penny Hard the Chair of Greyhound Rescue Wales, and a spokesperson for Operation
Greyhound said:
“Once the Swansea track closes there will no longer be a greyhound
track in south-west Wales and many people who currently frequent the Swansea
track may well decide to retire their dogs.
“We know that many of these owners will want to keep their dogs as
pets but also, that not everyone will be able to, particularly in the current
economic climate.
“The six organisations involved have therefore pooled resources, as
a one-off exercise, to make sure that we can find good homes as family pets
for all the greyhounds retiring from Swansea who need them.
“The greyhounds will be taken into the care of one the partner organisations
until a home can be found, and all homes will be checked before homing to
make sure they are aware of the responsibilities of dog ownership”.
If anyone who has raced their dog mainly at the Swansea track in the past
wants us to find a home for one or more of their dogs all they have to do
is telephone 0300 0123 999 or email info@greyhoundrescuewales.co.uk. Operation
Greyhound will not ask for any payment for this service because our only
concern is to help all those dogs who need a home.
If anyone wants to offer a home to a greyhound retiring from Swansea they
can use the same number and email. Operation Greyhound is also looking for
foster homes who could take in one of these dogs on a temporary basis until
a permanent home can be found.
EDITOR’S NOTES
Greyhound racing is divided in two: the Registered Sector and the Independent
Sector.
The Registered sector is governed by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain
(GBGB) This was formerly the National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC).
The Independent Sector is not currently regulated. However, three of the
organisations in this partnership (Dogs Trust, Greyhound Rescue Wales and
RSPCA Cymru) have been working with the National Assembly for Wales and
the Welsh greyhound tracks to prepare regulations to assure the welfare
of greyhounds racing in Wales in the future.
There are about 30 GBGB Registered Tracks. All of these are in England and
Scotland, there are none in Wales.
Independent tracks have been closing steadily in recent years. Once the
independent track at Swansea closes there will be one other independent
greyhound track remaining in Wales, ‘Valleys Stadium’ at Ystrad
Mynach near Caerphilly.
The welfare organisations estimate that around 100 greyhounds may need homes
as a result of the closure of the Swansea greyhound track.
All six welfare organisations have committed finance or help in kind (kennelling,
transport, neutering vaccination etc) to assure the welfare of greyhounds
retiring from Swansea.
For more information please contact Penny Hard. Chair, Greyhound Rescue
Wales.
penny@knightsofarkley.fsnet.co.uk
07772 999851 - 01269 861001
For more information about the partner organisations:
Dogs Trust www.dogstrust.org.uk
Greyhound Rescue Wales www.greyhoundrescuewales.co.uk
Greyhound Welfare www.greyhoundwelfare.org.uk
Swiss Valley Greyhound Rescue www.swissvalleygr.co.uk