AU: Race on to find havens

[filou007de]

From www.inmycommunity.com.au

Race on to find havens

13/Jul/2012

Description: Group cares for |discarded dogsGroup cares for discarded dogs

AFTER a life running as fast as you can to earn your owner a few dollars, it
would be wonderful to think retirement meant a warm hearth in the home of a
devoted family.

Sadly, for an estimated 4000 greyhounds in WA each year, that is not the
reality as hounds bred for the racetrack, but whose services are no longer
required, are destroyed to make way for more productive earners.

For Rockingham animal lover Toni Donnelly, of Greyhound Adoptions WA, it's a
tragedy.

She is caring for six dogs (four girls and two boys) and says a severe lack
of foster carers at a time when a lot of greyhounds are in need of homes is
another sad reality.

The volunteer group manages to find homes for about 100 dogs a year and she
is co-ordinating about 20 in foster care awaiting permanent adoption.

Another four dogs were on death row this week and likely to undergo
euthanasia at Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital.

Thankfully, a Roleystone woman volunteered to foster two, giving them a
last-minute reprieve.

And there are other good-news stories too. Last weekend, after a cold day at
Fremantle Markets, Ms Donnelly managed to find homes for four "gorgeous"
dogs, and a mining consultant working in WA has committed to taking another
hound back to Victoria when he returns home at Christmas.

And Knocka, who recently featured in the Courier, found a new home as a
result.

"Greyhounds are so easy to look after. They are very affectionate and love
to be with their owners," Ms Donnelly said.