December 16, 2008
ASAP is offering these lovely collar charms and Christmas collars in aid of our “highways to heaven” appeal to help transport Irish greyhounds and lurchers to homes in the UK.
Collar charms are £3.50 each plus 50p P&P
Xmas collars are £8.00 each, plus £1 P&P
To order any of these items and help Irish hounds please email us at action4sighthounds@gmail.com
You can also paypal us at the same address for your order.
December 16, 2008
Four year old greyhound Harley was found wandering in the freezing cold in South Sheilds (Sunderland) last week and is now ready for a home for Christmas.
The Shields Gazette says: “HARLEY the greyhound was left wandering the streets alone after his previous owner gave him the brush-off. The four-year-old lurcher, who loves to be brushed, was found wandering around Temple Park, South Shields, on a freezing cold night earlier this month.
He was taken to West Hall Kennels in Cleadon, and now he’s looking for a new home. Kennels manager Sarah Wilkinson said: “He’s clearly been a racing greyhound, so he can’t be rehomed with any small furry animals like rabbits or cats. But apart from that’s he’d make a fantastic family pet.”
“He’s a gentle, loving, quiet dog. He’ll also only need two short bursts of exercise a day, and the rest of the time he’s no bother at all.”
To read the article and for information about adopting Harley click here: LINK
December 16, 2008
The “Save Our Stow” campaign to return greyhound racing to Walthamstow stadium has yet another plan in the pipelines!!
The Waltham Forest Guardian reports today: “As a church takes over Walthamstow Stadium for the Christmas period, greyhound lovers have a new glimmer of hope that racing will resume.
An American consortium which already owns dog tracks is poised to open negotiations with the site’s current owners, according to accountants and business advisors Kuhrt Leach.
Partner Richard Leach told the Guardian that the consortium is interested in turning Walthamstow Stadium into a greyhound racing track and a shopping centre.
The Save Our Stow campaign spokesman, Rick Holloway, welcomed the news.
He said: “This is a very promising development and, like all other true greyhound fans, I can now only hope that these talks lead to the return of greyhound racing at Walthamstow Stadium.”
To read the full article click here: LINK
December 16, 2008
Greyhound trainer Graham Calvert lost £2 million earlier this year during a five month gambling spree and is currently serving a two year prison sentence for possession of cocaine and firearms.
He has just lost his appeal to recover some compensation from William Hill, the betting firm through which he lost the £2M. The Chronicle Live reported: “Calvert, 28, a greyhound trainer from Houghton-le-Spring, lost the cash during a disastrous five-month betting spree.
The High Court rejected a damages action in which he claimed the firm failed in its “duty of care” by allowing him to continue betting after he asked it to stop taking his money under its “self-exclusion” policy. He challeneged this decision today but was again unsuccessful.”
December 16, 2008
Hinsdale Greyhound Park in New Hampshire (USA) annoucned bankruptcy yesterday.
The stadium has closed and the 30 or so employees have been made redundant. Luckily for the greyhounds ALL dogs have been relocated to several rehoming groups including Fast Friends.
The Brattleboro Reformer reports: “ They cited a struggling economy and lack of interest nationwide in wagering on thoroughbred and greyhound racing as the principal reasons. Officials at Hinsdale Greyhound Park announced Monday they have ceased business operations and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.Recently, greyhound racing was cut back to just 50 days because of falling attendance. The track mainly operated as an off-track betting parlor for racing and also offered poker games.
The gaming industry is in a bad place for the moment, and each day opening the doors meant losing more money, said John M. Sullivan, attorney at PretiFlaherty in Concord and bankruptcy counsel to the park. “We just don’t have the significant activity to be profitable,” he said.
Gaming officials say the facility opened in 1958 as a seasonal harness track before greyhound racing was added in 1973. The park is a part of the town’s history and has been a very good employer to generations of residents, in particular teenagers looking for a part-time job, said Collins.
“We don’t like to see any employer close their doors because that puts people out of work,” she added.
While new career opportunities may be difficult to find for outgoing park employees, the greyhounds have all relocated to several nonprofit groups, including Fast Friends based in West Swanzey.
Park officials had transferred control and care of all the greyhounds at the end of the racing season in October.”
To read the full article click here: LINK
December 16, 2008
Wonderful campaign group Action For Greyhounds UK have made an appeal for homes for the greyhounds in the care after they have become inundated with dogs in recent months.
Their appeal in the Norwich Evening News 24 reads: “Norwich-based group Action for Greyhounds say they have been swamped with not just dogs, but also cats and other pets, which have been left in their care by people who say they cannot afford to keep them or just no longer want them.
A spokeswoman for Action for Greyhounds, said: “We are paying private boarding kennels and even they have no more room as this is one of the busiest times of year for them, too. Many centres who take in stray dogs are full and AFG UK shares their concerns for what will happen to those dogs they are unable to help.
“All rescue centres seem to be in the same situation, the problem not just with dogs but all animals. We are hearing them say that this time of year is always the worst but this year is two or even three times as bad.”
Two of their greyhounds looking for homes are Patch, an 11 year old greyhound (upper picture), and 3 year old Billie (lower picture).
To read the full article and find out more about the greyhounds in the care of Action For Greyhounds UK, click here: LINK
December 16, 2008
The Sun reported yesterday on an extreme case of neglect to a lurcher in Bradford. The owners, Martin Fairclough and Kathleen Angyal were convicted and given four week suspended sentences and banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
“Striking images of lovable lurcher running around were taken after he was saved from his cruel owners show. Murphy weighed just 20lbs when he was taken from owners Martin Fairclough, 54, and Kathleen Angyal, 43. They had left him skeletal and covered in sores simply by not giving him a meal.”
Mr Monaghan revealed the two were so determined to hide their sickening neglect, they even put out a false appeal in their local newspaper with the RSPCA asking for the ’real’ owners to own up. But information received through the appeal eventually revealed Fairclough and Angyal to be the dog’s true owners.
Both eventually pleaded guilty to causing him unnecessary suffering by failing to provide him with an adequate diet and failing to meet his needs. Vet Graham Roberts examined the poorly three-year-old pooch and found he weighed only 9.3kg – 50 per cent less than what he should have measured. Mr Roberts, who has practised as a vet for 24 years, said it was the thinnest dog he had treated.
“There’s no doubt this dog was way below what would have been considered normal,” said Mr Monaghan.
“The vet concluded that the only reason the dog was underweight was simply because it had not been fed.”
The needless abuse of cute Murphy was made clear after the pet made a full and quick recovery – by just having a meal. His weight soared to over 16kg in three weeks.”
Murphy after his recovery“Speaking after the case, RSPCA acting chief inspector Rachel Oprysk said: “This was one of the most shocking cases I have dealt with as an RSPCA inspector.
“When I first saw Murphy he was skeletal, certainly the thinnest dog I had ever seen alive, and was suffering from sores all over his body which must have been incredibly painful.
“For an owner to ignore their pet’s suffering in this way is unacceptable enough but to then hand them over as an abandonment and relinquish all responsibility is shocking.
“Murphy can look forward to the kind of Christmas he deserves this year, in a loving new home with a family that adores him.”
Read the full article by The Sun here: LINK
December 16, 2008
Wildlife documentary TV channel Animal Planet are having their annual “hero of the year”. One special lady from Connecticut has been nominated for the award for her amazing work with greyhounds, saving over 5,000 dogs since 1973!!
Congratulations Eileen McCaughern 
Animal Planet reports: “She huddled alone in a borrowed tent, tears, mingled with soot, streamed down her face. The smoke-filled air burned her eyes and lungs. She had just watched her home completely burn; yet she was thankful because she saved her 15 cherished greyhounds. Saving greyhounds isn’t new to Eileen McCaughern. She’s rescued over 5,000 greyhounds, one at a time.
Eileen pioneered greyhound rescue. In 1973, greyhounds were routinely destroyed because there were no greyhound rescue groups yet in existence. Eileen formed REGAP of CT and established this nation’s first matching funds greyhound retirement home. Eileen’s efforts gained the attention of national and local television networks, magazines, newspapers and radio. Most times, REGAP had more greyhounds than finances, but Eileen persevered, even when she lost her job. Eileen lobbied for, and received, state grants. Her home was rebuilt and she found new employment. Things were improving, or so she thought.
In 2005, the Plainfield Connecticut Greyhound Park announced it would close forever. Approximately 800 greyhounds had nowhere to go-an almost insurmountable challenge until Eileen became involved. Eileen, with support from volunteers and the media, found homes for 200 of the approximately 800 dogs. State grants, funds from the American Greyhound Council, assistance from businesses and individuals recently enabled Eileen to open a kennel. Eileen works a full-time job and two part-time jobs to help defray the costs incurred in rescuing greyhounds.”
December 10, 2008
News just in from Greyt Exploitations:
December’s Greyhound Star reports a dismal end to 2008 for the greyhound racing industry and predicts tracks will be facing an even tougher time in 2009.
Many stadiums have recently recorded a decline in attendances in excess of 20% with even the more profitable tracks such as Sheffield and Nottingham struggling with the credit crunch, along with Perry Barr, Newcastle, Romford, Brighton and Hove.
An industry insider has said “There will be some tough decisions being made after Christmas. The general feeling is that many tracks will dispense with their midweek meetings altogether during the early part of 2009”
Peterborough have already taken the decision to close on Tuesday evenings throughout January with a possible extension through to February.
The Greyhound Racing Association, who own six stadiums – Wimbledon, Belle Vue, Portsmouth, Perry Barr, Hall Green and Oxford – are also experiencing serious financial difficulties.
December 10, 2008
Earlier this month a lurcher named Mikka just missed out as top dog in this years RSPCA Championship Trophy.
Mikka at his home in Brynhyfryd with owner Pamela Lewis.
Swansea Evening Post reports: ” MIKKA the lurcher may have missed out on the Dog of the Year title, but to Pamela Lewis he will always be top dog. The charismatic canine, who less than a year ago was fighting for his life, was one of several rescue dogs bidding for the RSPCA championship trophy. He had already won the regional title and it was hoped he might bring the national prize home to Swansea.
Mikka moved into his new home with Pam in Brynhyfryd a year ago, after being discovered close to death in a Swansea park. And his full recovery has been capped by the decision of judges in the national competition, who named him highly commended.
He received an engraved glass trophy although the top silverware went to a Newfoundland.
“I was the champion from the day I had him,” said his proud owner. “I won such a beautiful dog and he will always be a champion to us.” Readers of a national newspaper were invited to vote for Mikka along with five other dogs in contention for the RSPCA title celebrating rescue dogs. Even though he was denied top spot, he will always be Pam’s top dog.
“When I first saw him it was love at first sight,” she said.
“He is a loving, loyal, elegant dog who has made lots of new friends.”
A year ago Mikka was found collapsed and dying in a park behind Cwmrhydyceirw Rugby Club. He was so ill he could not stand. Vets from St James Veterinary Group based in Uplands, Swansea, fought hard to bring him back to health.”
Congratulations Mikka
