In the Spotlight: Greyhound Rescue
I have been talking a lot about greyhounds on my socials this week. Whilst this is not uncommon for me, certain events have certainly left me feeling like this is a topic that needs to be voiced more often. It was recently brought to my attention that the Queensland Government and Greyhound Racing Australia have announced their intention to spend 40 MILLION DOLLARS on a new racing facility in Queensland. When I heard this, my mind was blown – after all the droughts, fires and storms we have been faced with, do you really think that $40 million is wisely spent on creating a facility to support animal abuse? How we could even be considering spending so much money on something so unnecessary and barbaric, when there are major infrastructure and environmental concerns facing our country, is just beyond me.
If you want to SAY NO and help put a stop to this disgraceful project there are a few things you can do:
Sign up to the Animal Liberation Queensland newsletter to keep up to date on protests and actions you can take.
Contact your state MP today to voice your opposition to this new track.
Sign the petition to stop the use of our funds going towards this track.
Let’s band together and tell the Government and Greyhound Racing Australia that we DO NOT STAND for wasting money on animal cruelty.
On a lighter note, I thought it was timely to spend a minute talking about an incredible organisation that DOES deserve to be in the spotlight – Greyhound Rescue. Greyhound Rescue is a charity that ethically rescues, lovingly rehabilitates and safely rehomes greyhounds, giving them a voice through advocacy and education. Since they opened their doors, Greyhound Rescue have found homes for more than 1,000 greyhounds which otherwise would not have had a life after finishing their racing career or failing to start one.
Why do they need rescuing?
The greyhound racing industry is a rough and bleak one. In fact, Greyhounds Australasia admitted that up to 17,000 healthy dogs and puppies are killed each and every year because of greyhound racing. This equates to a horrific 96% of all pups born into the industry being killed by the time they are 4 years old. Dogs are killed because they lack winning potential, get injured whilst racing or are quite simply no longer competitive. Injuries on the racetrack are common, and dogs often suffer from broken legs, cardiac arrest, spinal cord paralysis and broken necks. The off-track conditions can be harsh as well. They spend most of their time cooped up in kennels or small enclosures.
What can I do?
This is exactly why the work being done by Greyhound Rescue is so important. Greyhounds make incredible companions and they deserve to be loved, not treated as objects and exploited for financial gain. There are a bunch of ways that you can help:
1. Volunteer at the rescue centre
Greyhound Rescue are always looking for people to join their team. There are a bunch of tasks that need doing to help the smooth running of the organisation, and you don’t even have to commit to weekly shifts - even once a month is fine. There are over 100 dedicated volunteers supporting this charity and the amazing work would not be possible without them!
2. Help a Hound
Want to help support the charity but are short on time? A greyt (get it) way to do this is through the ongoing sponsorship of a greyhound. You might be surprised at the costs involved with rescuing a greyhound. Greyhound Rescue provides all medical care for the animals, as well as their toys, bowls, treats, collars and leashes. Not surprisingly, this adds up quickly. By supporting one of the beautiful dogs you have a chance to make a real difference in their life.
3. Organise a Corporate Volunteer day
Greyhound Rescue can arrange a rewarding day for your colleagues as part of their Corporate Volunteering Program. Activities include working with the greyhounds or taking on a specific project for your team. There are so many ways that you can help!
4. Adopt or foster: If you’re interested in adopting or fostering a hound, you’ve come to the right place! Greyhounds makes excellent pets – they are loving, gentle and don’t need a whole lot of exercise.
If you’re not located in NSW but are interested in getting involved and supporting this cause, please check out this link to other Greyhound Rescue centres around Australia.