Retired racing greyhounds rehomings pass 1,000 mark for 2018

The Irish Retired Greyhound Trust (IRGT), established by the Irish Greyhound Board, has celebrated the milestone of over 1,000 greyhounds being rehomed with IRGT assistance in 2018.

The IRGT, with the support of the Irish Greyhound Board, has helped to rehome over 5,600 racing greyhounds since 2008, with 1,021 rehomed between January and December last year.

A number of volunteers and trustees gathered at Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium to mark the achievement – a first for the IRGT.

The Irish Greyhound Board contributed €106,000 to the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust’s total income of €242,000 in 2018.

The main source of funding for the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust continues to come from greyhound racing owners, through a 2% deduction of all winning prize money which is then matched by the Irish Greyhound Board.

Retired Irish greyhounds have been rehomed as pets in Ireland, the UK, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Slovenia, France, Sweden, Canada and the US.

Welfare Manager with the Irish Greyhound Board, Barry Coleman, commented: “Exceeding 1,000 greyhounds being rehomed via IRGT assistance in 2018 is a special milestone. Greyhounds make for excellent pets and have an uncanny ability to transition to the family couch with ease. They are best known as couch potatoes, needing very little exercise or special diet. Many families with an interest in racing will keep their greyhounds into retirement. We will continue to promote the image of retired racing greyhounds as pets throughout 2019 and, more importantly, give each of these greyhounds a happy and healthy ‘forever’ home.”

CEO of the Irish Greyhound Board, Gerard Dollard, added: “I wish to congratulate the IRGT and all organisations who receive support from the  IRGT, on 1,021 greyhounds being rehomed with its assistance last year. The IGB’s Strategic Plan 2018-22, targeted excellence in industry standards in the areas of welfare and regulation. Continuing to increase rehoming numbers is a priority for us and shows our strong  commitment to a ‘whole of life’ approach with racing greyhounds. With greater public awareness, we can ensure these prized athletes get the retirement they deserve and equally bring happiness to many people’s lives.”

The Trust provides financial assistance to private rehoming agencies in Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Kerry and Belfast.

111 retired Irish greyhounds were rehomed with IRGT assistance in January 2019. A further 85 greyhounds on the IRGT rehoming list have been reserved for rehoming by private agencies.