The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) has this weekend released a new short film to promote what fantastic pets greyhounds make in their retirement.
Previewed at the annual GBGB Awards on Sunday 26th January, the film was an important part of the evening, which celebrates the best of the sport’s canine athletes and teams of owners, trainers and apprentices. With fundraising underway to support national rehoming efforts, the film showcased the processes that many greyhound trainers go through to ensure the perfect homes for their dogs as they retire from racing life.
From the Track to the Sofa: Greyhound Retirement follows one of Assistant Trainer and Greyhound Ambassador Kelli Windebank’s recent rehoming success stories. Kairi Jem, or Jimbo as he’s now known, found his forever home last year at the Master’s Lodge at St. John’s College, Cambridge. The film follows Jimbo’s transition from his racing kennels to a life of the sofa. It also highlights the integral work which is done by greyhound fosterers who get the retiring greyhounds used to the sights, sounds and smells of life in a pet home.
The retirement film is the first of several that GBGB will be releasing this year, as part of its Greyhound Commitment. The aim of each is to highlight the hard work, care and dedication that goes on behind the scenes – from trainers’ kennels to the racing office. For casual fans or newcomers to the sport, they provide a glimpse into some real-life stories and the daily routines of those working within British greyhound racing.
You can watch the first film here and share on social media using #GreyhoundCommitment.
Mark Bird, Managing Director of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, said:
“Our commitment to the welfare of our greyhounds does not simply end when they finish their racing careers – we want to see them go on to enjoy a long and happy life in retirement. When we launched our Greyhound Commitment in 2018, therefore, this was one of our eight guiding principles and, as the film shows, it a commitment held firmly by trainers like Kelli across our sport.
“As anyone who has adopted a retired greyhound knows, they make brilliant pets and are suitable for all kinds of families and individuals, including first-time dog owners. This film proves how quickly and easily they can adapt to family life and I very much hope it will encourage more people to consider this amazing breed for their next pet.”
Kelli Windebank, Assistant Trainer and Greyhound Ambassador, said:
“We were delighted to be a part of this film and to showcase the work that goes on behind the scenes in kennels throughout the country to match greyhounds with the right homes when they retire. Our greyhounds are our pride and joy and seeing them go onto their forever homes is one of the most important, enjoyable and rewarding parts of my job.”
