The Hour

04 February 2010, 11:28

Greyhounds are known as racing dogs, but they also make loving, gentle pet, but unfortunately, once they’re too old to race at just five-years-old, many are abandoned or put to sleep.

Greyhound Rescue Fife is a sanctuary for unwanted greyhounds in Kinross and Cupar, where Celia and Jimmy Fernie work tirelessly to re-home homeless dogs with new families. 

Speaking about why so many greyhounds are left without homes, Jimmy explained: “The specific problem with greyhounds as a breed is they’re generally bred not as pets, they’re bred as racing dogs, commercial dogs if you like, to make somebody money.

“Sadly if the greyhound is not making somebody money they’re not interested in them as pets and there is a distinct possibility the greyhound will be put to sleep.”

He added: “Unfortunately there are not enough people re-homing greyhounds to stop  that happening universally, so it says to me that in a year maybe 10,000 greyhounds are put to sleep that would make great pets.”

Greyhound Rescue Fife has saved 352 dogs and re-homed 124 last year, but there are many more still needing good homes to go to.

Some people think the dogs will be aggressive pets because they are bred to race and catch animals, but Jimmy explained that this is not the case.

“Greyhounds are bred to race which means they are trained to chase and catch and sometimes they would kill but this is only if they are let of the lead. They then change from being bred to race into a pet, if you like we de-train them and we try and make them good pet dogs.”

Greyhounds often have a long and healthy life, and with their career over at just five, they still have many good years to offer their owners.

Celia said: “We have one that’s 16-years-old, and (they’re) over the hill for racing at five, so the other 10/11 years of their life and beyond, what happens to them then? You’ve got super pets, loving creatures and that 10 or 11 years when they can be wonderful in someone’s home.”

An ideal owner for Wilma the greyhound, who Celia and Jimmy showed off on STV’s The Hour, would be someone who is home a lot, who has a 6ft secure fence in their garden, to stop the dog from running out and racing.Homes with cats aren’t ideal, but Jimmy and Celia have re-homed trained greyhounds to live with the pets before.

If you’re interested in giving Wilma or another greyhound a good home, make sure to get in touch with Greyhound Rescue Fife to find out about any opportunities.
 
Boxer Welfare Scotland is also looking to give some of their dogs a new home. Find out more from our article on the charity and the Scottish SPCA is trying to re-home various other animals too.

Last updated: 05 February 2010, 15:27