Plymouth charity’s plea to get greyhound rehoming back on track

They might be the world’s fastest dog but when it comes to finding a forever home, greyhounds are being left behind by other breeds at a Plymouth animal charity.

Woodside Animal Welfare Trust at Elfordleigh is inundated with requests from greyhound rescue organisations asking if it can take in more ex-racers.

But with each greyhound typically spending months at the charity, their face-paced start to life quickly comes to a halt when they arrive for rehoming.

Woodside is now hoping to get these animals’ lives back on track by putting right the many misconceptions surrounding this gentle, low-maintenance breed.

Assistant manager Lisa Darcy said: “There are something like 3000 ex-racing greyhounds across the UK that don’t have homes, and we are asked continually if we can take more.

“People looking for a dog are often put off because they think greyhounds are big dogs, but they are gentle, lazy and don’t need a lot of exercise.

“So many people have lazy lives yet they tend to go for the dogs that need lots of exercise and do not cope so well with being left. Greyhounds only need a couple of short walks a day and are then content to laze about on the sofa. They are oversized lap dogs!”

Woodside currently has three greyhounds in its care and more on the waiting list. Among them is Ronnie, a brindle greyhound who came into the charity last autumn.

After an unfortunate accident while playing, Ronnie broke his hock and has had to endure surgery and medical treatment costing £1,500, paid for by the generosity of the public.

Ronnie has recovered well and is now ready for rehoming alongside greyhounds Laundy and Fawkham. But how long it will take to find the dogs loving homes is anybody’s guess.

Lisa said: “It can take a bit of time for greyhounds’ personalities to come out, so they’re often overlooked. But if you give them this time they are loyal, loving dogs.”

She added: “Some have been raced and others have been trained but not made the grade. The majority arrive with us when they are 3 to 4 years old and will not have lived in a house before.”

Lisa said greyhounds typically walk well on a lead, are good with children, calm in the home, affectionate, loyal and often live happily with other dogs - but not cats or small furries.

Due to their racing backgrounds, she stressed that greyhounds rehomed by Woodside would need to be muzzled when out and about due to their high prey drive, and kept on a lead, at least initially and possibly long-term.

For more information contact Woodside on 01752 347503, email generalenquiries@woodsidesanctuary.org.uk or find the sanctuary on Facebook.