With a waiting list of a year, Kevin Stow, who runs the Lincolnshire Greyhound Trust, believes that the industry needs to embrace some innovative thinking if it is to take control of its current re-homing crisis.
Since starting out in 1998, the Lincoln based charity has expanded to four outlets and had grown to a point of re-homing in excess of 150 ex-racers per year until the pandemic struck in 2020.
Since then the numbers have been in freefall with Kevin’s target for 2023 set at a mere 90.
Despite common perception that ‘Covid overload’ is to blame, Kevin believes that the post pandemic economy is the most significant factor.
(A statement backed up by the figures – right – showing continued decline well after the end of the pandemic)
He said: “I have no doubt that the economic downturn is the biggest single issue and solving that isn’t down to the greyhound authorities.
“It is true that a lot of people took on pets during the lockdown, and some of them were returned.
“We had one recently where a guy had been working from home but his employers suddenly decided that they wanted staff back in the office and the dog had to come back.
“There were also people that lost their jobs, or switched to different jobs afterward Covid, but it didn’t result in huge numbers returning.
“What Covid did do was brought forward a lot of people’s plans to have a pet, so there were less perspective owners in the following couple of years.
“It doesn’t seem that long ago that we were phoning around the trainers asking for dogs. I really never thought we would get into this situation again.
“We have around 20 waiting to be rehomed in the different kennels. Sarah Spillane and Dave Lee give us kennel space, so obviously they have priority, followed by certain trainers that have always supported us.
“I have heard some resentment from owners when a trainer wants to move a dog on after its racing career. But who can blame them? The dog is a financial burden and they need to move it on.
“Sometimes trainers get irritated with us. But we can only cope with a limited number. Believe me, I would take every available dog in if I could.”
“As it is there are probably 70-80 on our waiting list. Looking at the numbers currently going out it doesn’t taking any working out why the waiting list is nine months to a year, particularly for a male greyhound. For females, a bit less, but not much.”
So are there any solutions?
Kevin said: “I don’t believe that setting up a big kennel for 150 ex-racers is the answer. You will soon fill it up and be back to square one. The only answer is to find homes for them and that can only be done with a lot of hard work.”
Kevin has been very proactive in his area in the past and admits he is overdue to launch another publicity drive. The Lincolnshire Greyhound Trust website is also very informative and even has its own animated film.
He said: “I would say to anyone who has greyhounds, ask if you can put a leaflet up in the local shop or anywhere else there is a notice board. It only takes the right person to see it and there is another dog homed.”
Could GBGB be doing more to raise awareness of greyhounds making great pets? Possibly run a project getting in touch with provincial newspapers and websites and making them aware that there is a kennel in the area.
Kevin said; Absolutely! We try to do that ourselves, and have had some reasonable success from it. But some branches don’t have the people or resources in place to do it.
“I realise that the Greyhound Board put addresses on their own website, but how likely are members of the public likely to be reading that?
“My biggest concern is that unless this issue is addressed by the greyhound authorities, it is only a matter of time before a trainer becomes so desperate that we end up with another welfare tragedy.”
