Stop Greyhound Slaughter Members Needed Now More Than Ever!

Hi all and sorry it's been so long. Things have been absolutely manic here but hopefully I'll be on and posting updates, news and articles regularly from now on. I'm posting the newest notice posted in the Stop Greyhound Slaughter Facebook cause today. Please join if you are on Facebook. Otherwise, check out the link and spread the word!

Hi all,

As usual with all of these messages, thanks so much for joining this cause and your continued membership. Also, thank you for all the wonderful donations that we have had in recent weeks. Every penny and stamp is very much appreciated at the moment given the dire state of the economic climate worldwide. Every donation is vital and every voice that is added to this cause is one more voice towards saving the Greyhound from diabolicle treatment that the breed in no way deserves.

I have two favours to ask of everyone today.

First of all, please take a look at this link - Stop Greyhound Slaughter. I put it on the blog this morning and it decribes the way in which one Greyhound was starved, thrown into a deserted factory and left to die. Please send it to all your friends and let them know just how cruel these "people" are.

Secondly, we now have a little over 18,000 members. Please please please keep inviting all your friends, post the link on blogs and get people joining up to make a stand. Can we try for 20,000 by August 15th? That's 2000 more members in a month. Come on people, we can do it!

Finally, I will be setting a donation target in the next few hours. If you can spare even $5 it would be very much appreciated. I haven't included this in the favour list because I know how tight many people are finding their finances at the moment. If you can thenplease do, if not just invite as many friends as you can to the cause today and help us boost the numbers. After all, 20,000 members would be an absolutely fantastic achievement.

Thanks again guys for all your hard work. You will never have any idea how much I appreciate it.

Lou x

Another Stop Greyhound Slaughter Cause & Stamp Appeal Update

Hi all,

Hope everyone is enjoying the run up to Christmas and is almost ready for the festivities. Sorry I have been absent from here for a while but I have a few personal problems to deal with recently.

This is just a quick update to say a big THANK YOU to everyone that has joined either of the causes because I can't quite believe how successful it is! Every single person that has joined is making a difference because it is one more person that knows about what happens to greyhounds when they retire or if they will not chase as a pup. Although some do find homes, they are in the minority and this has got to stop.

Also, thank you to those that have signed the petition. There are only 2,157 signatures on there at the moment and we could do with a few more before Christmas if possible. You can stay anonymous if you wish but it takes a few seconds to sign and will all contribute to the voice against the appalling slaughter of these beautiful creatures.

Please keep inviting friends to the cause and spare a thought for greyhounds during this cold and cruel weather. They may not be warm and cared for this winter unless they are lucky enough to have been rehomed. Some ex-racers or those that will not chase will have been abandoned, others left to die in this weather and will not survive for long. It is important to help those rescues that work hard all year round wherever possible to ensure that thay can continue to work.

I am still running the stamp appeal, although interest has died off in recent months. If you have any used stamps from Christmas cards or letters then please ask me where to send them so they can help to fund rescues and rehoming. I'm willing to send an SAE if you do not want to pay to send them to me but we desperately need used stamps to fill credit crunch fund deficits so if you can help then please please let me know.

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If you do want to join either of the causes or sign the petitions, the URLs are as follows:
Facebook Cause
MySpace Cause
Stop The Greyhound Slaughter Petition

2,000 Members For Stop Greyhound Slaughter!

Hi all,

Today I write with happy news - I am massively pleased to announce that we have hit 2,000 members of the Facebook cause, Stop Greyhound Slaughter! In fact, today has been a good day for the cause overall. Since midnight BST we have had 10 members join thus far. Now that may not be a huge number for some of the cancer causes out there but it is for a smaller cause like this.

I am so proud that so many people are getting the message that something has to be done to help these wonderful creatures. Please keep on inviting as mny friends as possible to join so we can continue to grow and make our voices heard.

The petition is also doing just fine at 1,844 signatures although we could do with many more signatures so please sign if you have yet to do so. Also, pass the web address onto anyone you can think of that may want to help our cause. The URL for the petition and the cause it at the bottom of this post.

I am still collecting used postage stamps and foreign coins to help out greyhound rescues facing financial difficulties with the credit crunch in full swing so any and all used postage stamps you could send would be greatly appreciated. We can accept them from all over the world.

The response to this has not been as good as expected in recent weeks so if you can contribute then please request the address to send them to. If you live in the UK then I can send you an SAE to send any used postage stamp and foreign coin contributions in. If you would like to do this then please send me your address. Unfortunately, our funding does not stretch this to abroad but we would still like to accept stamps and coins no matter where you are.

The roll of honour to the side of this blog is going up today so check in to see your name on there after contributing.

Thanks again all! Keep inviting and supporter. God knows, these beautiful creatures will need it this winter and for many long years to come.

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If you do want to join either of the causes or sign the petitions, the URLs are as follows:
Facebook Cause
MySpace Cause
Stop The Greyhound Slaughter Petition

Stop Greyhound Slaughter Cause & Stamp Appeal Update

Just a quick note today to highlight how well we are doing with the MySpace and Facebook causes and the petition. I am absolutely thrilled that we are doing well and raising our voices against the cruelty.

Firstly, the "Stop The Greyhound Slaughter" cause is doing magnificently.We are currently at 1,978 members, 366 of which were recruited via MySpace. Of course it is available through MySpace and Facebook so if you are a member of either and wish to join our cause then please do. The petition is also doing OK with 1,839 signatures, although I had hoped that would be doing a little better now. We need 20,000 signatures so if you have signed it and know anyone else that would please send them the URL.

If you do want to join either of the causes or sign the petitions, the URLs are as follows:
Facebook Cause
MySpace Cause
Stop The Greyhound Slaughter Petition

Also, the stamp appeal I am currently holding for the Italian Greyhound Rescue is going fairly well. I have tried to raise awareness and the responses have been limited as yet but those people that have sent me stampshave sent an A5 envelope full so it is much appreciated. A roll of honour will be coming soon on here so if you do want to be recognised for very little effort please drop me a line for the address to send the to.

I have also been approached by another greyhound rescue on the back of this appeal and asked if I would like to highlight their plight as well because they need foreign coins (non-UK coins) that people have bought back from their holidays and cannot exchange. If you have any of those lying around then please send those too. Again, please email me for the address.

These beautiful creatures need your help and are in for a long hard winter as their donations are reducing as a result of the credit crunch. Collecting stamps from envelopes at home and finding out one or two coins takes no time at all and yet they need them. Please help them this winter.

Update: How You Can Help The Fight Against Live Skinning

Just a quick follow up to the post I added yesterday about live animal skinning in China...

If you were as disturbed as I was about the live skinning of cats and dogs and unimaginable animal cruelty in China then you can now help lend your voice to the fight against such barbaric acts in another way. Of course there is the petition but if you are a member of the social networking site Facebook then you can also add your voice to the cause that has been set up against it on there.

The link to the cause is here: Stop Live Animal Skinning. I am fully backing this cause, along with my Stop The Greyhound Slaughter cause.

Please spread the message. oin if you are on Facebook but if you are not then please forward this to people that are members so they can add their voices. We need to do something now to stop this barbaric animal cruelty. There is no excuse for it so add your voice to the outrage today.

An Awesome Greyhound Adoption Group To Support

Hi all!

Just a quick update on the Stop The Greyhound Slaughter Facebook cause today - It really is doing incredibly well! As of this minute, we have 1,163 members. Please keep on inviting everyone you can and take a look at the aims if you have yet to join.

There was another great comment written on the wall a few days ago from a wonderul lady called Karen. It is written below in full:

Hi, I have 2 ex racers and they are fab, I also volunteer for a trust that works hard by trying to educate the public what wonderful pets they make when they have finished their racing career. The trust also has tight guidelines on how the dogs are kept and their welfare whilst in the racing enviroment. Also we dont put dogs down they can stay in the kennels until a 'forever' can be found. We are also do homechecks and follow up visits and phone calls.

Please support the cause of re-homing more greyhounds and hopefully the suffering of greys may stop one day.

This is close to my heart as Perry Bar is local to me. It is located in the West Midlands just a few miles up the road. Take a look at the great work RGT does day in, day out and you'll see just how much they need our support.

NB - This is more of a personal request because the people that work there do a great job of looking after the greyhounds and finding homes for them. However, The RGT in general is responsible for misrepresenting figures to suit their own ends and support greyhound racing. Anyone wishing to help should be aware of that on a more national level. It pays to remember that you should hear all "facts" from both sides before making your own mind up.

Adopt A Greyhound!

It's been a while since I updated you all on the progress of the Facebook cause, Stop The Greyhound Slaughter, and I am delighted to say that it is going extremely well. We now have 1,136 members, which is the highest number of any of the greyhound causes on Facebook at the minute! We have also recently taken the cause onto MySpace as well so no matter which social networking site you are on, you can join! Just click on the links for the relevant one: MySpace or Facebook.

A comment was posted on the wall of the Facebook cause a few days ago to highlight a fantastic website that is concerned with greyhound adoption. Here was the post:

I used to volunteer for and still support 'Greyhounds in Need' in the UK. Galgos are adorable dogs and its just so sad and heartbreaking how they they are treated. I've had the pleasure of meeting one Galgo called Pedro, such gentle dogs - it truely is heartbreaking. I now work for this charity - Adopt A Greyhound. I still fully support and love Greyhounds in need. Galgo's 4 ever!

I've taken a look at the site and it is definitely worth a few minutes of your time. The work they do for greyhound adoption is fantastic! Thanks for the link Kelly!

Stop Greyhound Slaughter Cause On MySpace

I've mentioned the Facebook cause I am involved with, Stop The Greyhound Slaughter, before on here. I am extremely pleased to announce that we now have over 900 members. A huge thank you to each and every one of them!

I am even more pleased to announce that the cause is now available on MySpace as well so you can now join if you have a MySpace profile instead of a Facebook one. You can join or take a look via this link. I believe you have to click on the "About Causes On MySpace" button at the bottom to join. The link to the petition is also on the homepage so please take the time to sign it, anonymously or otherwise, if you get a moment.

Thanks again, and keep up the good work!

Sweden's Greyhound Regulations

As previously stated on this blog, I believe we all have to work together to prevent greyhounds being brutally tortured, cruelly treated and mindlessly slaughtered. Swapping ideas, experiences and opinions can only be helpful to the cause. I know many people will not agree with that but whilst we are all pulling in different directions it will be impossible to find a suitable solution that will benefit the very animals that we are trying to save - the gorgeous greyhound.

As a result of the above, I wanted to publish this comment by Sofia. It was left on the Facebook cause a short while ago. In it, Sofia draws attention to the existing system in Sweden and highlights just how it works:

Actually, you're not allowed to race a greyhound here without being a member of the racing hounds organisation and follow their rules. And those rules include that every dog that races must have one licensed owner who will take responsibility for the dog until it's at least ten years old. If the dog is put down before that age, the owner must report to the organisation showing a statement by a veterinarian confirming that it was so ill or injured that there was no other option. Otherwise the owner will be expelled from the organisation and further racing.

My impression is that most people who competes in greyhound racing actually see their dogs as pets and the racing as a hobby. I've met and talked to a woman walking her seven racing dogs of various ages, the oldest one twelve and long since retired, the youngest one just one year old... I got the impression this is the usual way to keep racing dogs around here, you just keep them as pets after retirement.

For a LONG TERM solution, it seems better to me if one would force owners of racing dogs to take responsibility for their own dogs until they're old, than just relying on other people rehoming them... Even if adopting an ex-racer is great for that individual dog

I would like to thank Sofia for bringing this to my attention because I hadn't actually come across this system before. What does everyone else think? All comments are welcome!

More Cause Comments...

The Facebook cause is still thriving and generating attention, which is never a bad thing. I thought I'd post some more of the comments I'd received on the notice board for everyone to read because they tend to reinforce the point that greyhounds make fantastic pets and advocate greyhound adoption!

Thanks to Marc-Andre for this one:

I just adopted my second ex-racer and helped with the arrival of a load in Canada. These are wonderful creatures that simply wants your affection and a nice comfy bed to lie on. One thing that is for sure, is that there will always be greyhounds in my life. I also experienced the arrival of a load and helped prep them (bathing, clipping, etc) for their new forever home. If you haven't adopted a grey yet, what are you waiting for?? Or if you have never interacted with a grey, you should strongly consider making that effort. Spend one minute with a grey and you won't want to live without them.

And Kim for this one:

I just recently aquired an Italian Greyhound and I am SO happy to see a cause such as this. It's horrible to think of my baby in such a position, or even dead. It breaks my heart to know that these loving and gentle creatures who, through no fault of their own, have no apparent use are treated. I'm looking to adopt another and I urge others to do the same. Thank you so much for creating this!

A Comment Shared...

The Stop The Greyhound Slaughter cause on Facebook seems to be extremely popular at the moment, which is a fantastic achievement for greyhounds everywhere. As one of the little known forms of animal abuse, which it is because it largely ignored when you compare it to dog fighting and the fur industry for example, it does not really enter the conscious of the majority of society. The plight of other animals that endure cruelty is no less important, but the abuses of greyhound racing largely go unheeded because of the money that it can make owners and its popularity as a "sport" amongst other reasons of course.

There was a comment in response to one of my posts on there recently and I felt the need to publish it on here. Heather's comment highlights just how loving and gentle a greyhound can be as a pet and why we all need to take action.

Here's Heather's comment in full, completely unedited:

"My sister recently just adopted a Greyhound. Shes the most delicate, gorgeous greyhound ever and i did i mention the biggest couch potato ever!!

Her raciing name was 'Ratface' my sister renames her Bindi. Took Bindi a few weeks to remember her new name. She fits in very well with my sisters young family. My sister has 2 small children of the age 4 and 5.

When ever i look into Bindi's eyes i can only just begin to imagine what it was like for her, all the training she enjured for her first 4 years of her life and now she is retired at the small age of 4. It just rediculous that people are using these animals in sport and when they are considered "no good or too old" there discarded of like a peice of rubbish someone throws out there window when there driving.

It makes me really angry."

Thanks Heather! If you have any causes, auctions, fundraisers, websites, comments, content or anything else that you want to share then please email me at savegreyhounds at googlemail.com. This is the place to be to help save the greyhound!