Generous racegoers attending the first festive greyhound racing fixtures in Oxford for 10 years helped Oxford Stadium raise over £440 in support of retired greyhounds.
Bucket collectors were joined by their four-legged friends recently retired from the sport as part of the Cowley venue’s Loved in Retirement campaign at its recent Boxing Day bonanza.
The campaign was launched in September and exists to shine a light on retired greyhounds and educate people about the key requirements of owning an ex-racing dog.
A total of £447.23 was raised, all of which will be used to help Oxford in partnership with its sister venue Towcester Racecourse find loving homes for greyhounds when they retire.
Wayne Mazey, a volunteer at Oxford Stadium who helps find retired greyhounds suitable homes when their careers end, thanked everyone for their generosity.
“As a sport, it is our responsibility to ensure greyhounds can live happy lives away from racing when their careers on track end,” said Wayne.
“We’re in a privileged position at Oxford to be able to parade a retired greyhound in search of a home every week and allow our racegoers who may be interested in homing an ex-racing dog to meet them face to face.
“Unlike other working breeds, greyhounds require very little exercise and live comfortably in a family home. They respond best to gentle commands in a quiet and relaxed environment and are excellent around children.
“We’d like to thank all racegoers for their generosity – this support will help make a real difference.”
The funding boost will support the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) and its work to care for greyhounds currently living at GBGB accredited homing centres.
Centres must demonstrate their homing policy and provide suitable kennel space plus exercise, hygiene, food, veterinary, security and behaviour provisions to become a GBGB approved homing centre.
Spaces for retired greyhounds in homing centres are funded by the Greyhound Retirement Scheme (GRS). Launched in 2020, the scheme requires owners to pay a £200 fee which is matched by the GBGB to create a £400 bond which assists with homing costs when a dog retires.
Wayne added: “At the beginning of the millennium, only one in six retired greyhounds were registered to a new home.
“Today, 94% of retired greyhounds are rehomed in retirement and that figure is increasing every month thanks to the GBGB’s Greyhound Retirement Scheme.
“We will only rehome a retired greyhound once we are satisfied an interested individual or family can provide the necessary care requirements. Luna, formerly Savana Jackie, adores her new life in the company of our two other greyhounds Bangerz and Dash and hopefully we can see more greyhounds roaming the streets and hills of Oxfordshire in 2023.”
For further information about rehoming a retired greyhound attached to Oxford Stadium, you can contact Wayne direct on 07969 263560. Alternatively, you can email the stadium via info@oxford-stadium.co.uk.
