GRWE Removes Link...

The GRWE Trustee team are increasingly frustrated by the slow progress being made by the Greyhound Racing Industry and, in order to continue to operate independently and effectively, believe it is time to remove the formal link... click here to read the latest Press Release.

Raw Deal for Racing Greyhounds...

The RSPCA is calling for the Government to regulate the greyhound racing industry ... click here to read the whole story!

Dog Stolen in Gloucestershire...

A winning greyhound champion has been snatched from a Dursley home by a woman posing as an animal inspector. Four year old Sweep... click here to read the whole story!

Annette Crosbie Brings Greyhound Welfare into the News Again...

Annette Crosbie OBE, one of GRWE's Honorary Friends, appeared on the Jeremy Vine show on Radio 2 on 5th July to speak about greyhound racing and greyhound welfare. As we all know, Ms Crosbie is a great champion of the greyhound cause and she spoke passionately about her love of greyhounds and her abhorrence of their treatment.

If you missed this informative interview, or wish to vote on the Radio 2 poll regarding greyhound racing, then please click here.

There was also an article in the Daily Mail on the 7th July and you can click here to read it. After the article you can also post your comments online.

Greyhound racing and the welfare of the dogs, both while racing and after retirement, was also debated on the BBC's 'The One Show' on July 12th. Annette Crosbie spoke passionately and clearly on the subject in a debate with Lord Lipsey, Chairman of the British Greyhound Racing Board.

Click here to follow the link and add your comment - thanks.

Animal Welfare Act 2006...

Alarming Story on BBC Wales Site...

There is an alarming story on the BBC Wales website, which serves to show the plight of some greyhounds. Please be warned that there is an horrific image on the page, so be prepared.

Urgent Spanish Galgo Appeal - 11/01/07...

Please follow this link for information about how you can assist in rescuing a large number of Spanish Galgos - Please note that this is time-sensitive, so please act soon, thanks.

Seaham 'Greyhound Executioner' Case Ends...

The welfare of greyhounds has been placed in the spotlight by the case of David Smith from Seaham, who killed racing dogs with a bolt gun and buried them at his home. The builders' merchant was fined £2,000 by a court on Friday after he admitted disposing of the greyhounds without a permit. Click on this link to read the full story from the BBC.

Please Sign This Petition...

A new petition has been set up to ask the the Prime Minister to Stop allowing the racing greyhound industry to abandon/murder their dogs if they become unable to race. All dogs should be entitled to a pain free and happy retirement this may mean a limit to the amount bred each year. Please visit this address, and join in - thanks.

Petition to Stop Kennel Closure...

Last year Ruth and Rob Boswell took over a kennels based in the Midlands area to allow them to rescue rehabilitate and rehome greyhounds leaving the Perry Barr track. The kennels has run for 25 years before as a training kennels for greyhound facilitations with no problems. Someone has now made a complaint regarding noise and the kennels faces a closure possibility. Ruth and Rob aim to save 350 greyhounds this year that if closure is forced will be adding to this problem and have no safe haven to go to.

There is now a petition online (which runs until the end of May 2007) where you can sign and show your support for the work to continue there with the greyhounds being housed and rehomed. Please take the time to sign and support.

RSPCA Firework Survey...

The RSPCA are again collecting data on the damaging effects of fireworks to all creatures. This is your opportunity to give them ammunition to fight for much more stringent controls on use of fireworks. Let them know your own experiences of dogs, cats, horses or any other of your animals that have been adversely affected, also any wildlife you have observed as distressed by the fireworks. If you have direct, personal knowledge of pets or other creatures that have been killed or injured as a result of fireworks then you could recount this to them as well. Follow this link to submit your experiences.

ANVIL Petition Needs Your Signature...

Animals Need a Voice In Legislation, Ireland (ANVIL) is a new lobby group, formed to raise the profile of animals in the Oireachtas thus ensuring adequate legislation for their protection. ANVIL does not support any one political party nor is it a vehicle for any one welfare or interest group.

They have created an online petition calling for Ministerial responsibility for the protection and welfare of ‘pet’ or companion animals as a matter of urgency. You can sign this petition by following this link. Thanks. If you would like to visit their website, follow the link on our 'Links' page.

A Chance to Voice Your Opinion...

The Dogs Trust are seeking public opinion on greyhound racing, and are asking for views on whether it should be banned or better regulated. Of course the Dogs Trust are part of the Greyhound Forum, as is GRWE and other welfare charities throughout the country. The Forum exists for welfare groups to work alongside the racing industry in an attempt to improve conditions for greyhounds everywhere, from the cradle to the grave. The Dogs Trust give figures of 10,000 greyounds bred for racing every year, but in essence we feel it is likely that this the real figure greatly exceeds that number. The sad fact is that no-one really knows how many dogs are bred for racing, and this fact in itself speaks volumes.

Please email your thoughts to the Dogs Trust via this link, and let them know your views. Would you be happy for greyhound racing to be more tightly regulated, or do you feel an outright ban is needed?

Please Sign This RSPCA Petition...

The RSPCA is calling for a better life for all racing greyhounds. Each year at least 10,000 greyhounds are retired from racing. The fate of many greyhounds is unknown and huge numbers ‘disappear’. The greyhound racing industry must reveal the true extent of the problem.

Racing greyhounds may face a number of welfare problems during their lives including: Over breeding of greyhounds leading to thousands of unwanted dogs; Injury caused by inappropriate track surfaces and design; Being abandoned and killed when they don’t make the grade because they are unsuitable for racing. Sign the petition now! Ask the Government to introduce regulation to protect the welfare of all racing greyhounds throughout their lives. Thanks.

Sunday Times Article - Not for the Faint-Hearted...

If you don't already know the plight of greyhounds in the Racing Industry, then follow this link to an article in the Sunday Times, be warned though - it does contain graphic descriptions!

GRWE volunteers and others involved in greyhound welfare across the country as a whole, were appalled to read the Times article last week concerning the fate of ex-racing greyhounds. The news of the execution of 10,000+ greyhounds who were no longer wanted when their racing days are over has rocked the nation, and brought to the fore the plight suffered by so many dogs. Welfare organisations across the country have called for a full investigation by the Police, RSPCA, and the Racing Industry itself into the practices of David Smith, dubbed the "Greyhound Executioner", and await the outcome of their enquiries. As a rescue, we support a full investigation into NGRC practices, what happens to the massive numbers of greyhounds bred for racing every year, and Greyhound Welfare as a whole.

GRWE is one of 50 members of the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH). We are also members of the International, and UK Greyhound Forums. All of these organisations are concerned with the welfare of greyhounds, and what happens to them when they are no longer required by the Industry. Although GRWE is one of the largest greyhound charities independent of the racing industry, as a charity, we are very small compared to other welfare organisations on these Forums and currently we do not have the funds or the resources to take the lead on trying to change such issues. We therefore rely upon and back the larger welfare groups in trying to make changes towards independent regulation and improvements in welfare. We are doing this whilst not loosing focus on our primary activity of rescuing and re-homing the greyhounds who need our help.

Today the Chairman of the ADCH has written to Ben Bradshaw, the Minister for Animal Welfare, urging the Government to reconsider its position with regard to regulation of the Industry.

Clarissa Baldwin, Chair of both Greyhound Forums has written to Ben Bradshaw urging for an enquiry, on behalf of all members of the Forums Follow this link for further details.

Another Forum is scheduled later this month where we hope that due to the recent publicity, a way forward towards better regulation can be achieved. We will try and keep you informed of progress.

Update 23 July 2006 - There has been another article in the Sunday Times today (Sunday 23rd July 2006), follow this link to read the latest.

Another Desperate Story from the Sunday Times...

Follow this link to read a story, which appeared in today's (17th September 2006) Sunday Times. Be warned that it contains horrific details of the suffering of greyhounds. Like the previous stories, this is not for the feint-hearted.

Daily Mail Article by Jilly Cooper...

In the Daily Mail today (Sunday 23rd July 2006) there is an article by Jilly Cooper about her new rescued greyhound, that anyone who might be considering adoption, should read. Please follow this link.

Royal Veterinary College...

Greyhound Alopecia - Updated 11 April 2007

You may almost have forgotten, but last year all of you were so kind as to help me with my greyhound baldness project, by distributing hard and electronic copies of my questionnaire to owners of rehomed dogs, putting an article and/or questionnaire on websites, spreading the word, and probably even filling out questionnaires yourselves.

I am very gratefull for your participation in this study. The study consisted of actually examining hundreds of greuhounds in racing kennels and rehoming kennels, in addition to the questionnaire, and some of you also helped with those parts of the study.

Overall, around 2000 hard copies of the questionnaire were distributed with your help. I received 464 completed questionnaires in total, amounting to a response rate of 23%. This is average for postal questionnaires, but of course uncountable electronic versions were circulated additionally, and quite a few returned surveys were obviously sourced that way. Thus overall, the response was reasonable.

Data collection and transfer is now complete, but analysis will take a few weeks, and once a manuscript describing the results has been accepted for publication, I will provide an article with a summary of the findings for your information, and publication in newsletters, websites, etc, as you wish.

Many thanks again, Anke Hendricks.