Meet a very special dog. His name is MacPherson (Mac for short), and he is an 11-year-old lurcher I met in Islington this Sunday.
I was thrilled to meet MacPherson for several reasons. First of all because lurchers and greyhounds are my favourite breeds. Secondly, because Mac is an ex-racer, and his story is one of immense suffering and abuse, with, fortunately, a happy ending. Lastly, he is a beautiful dog with a lot of personality and charm.
MacPherson was adopted from a dog rescue in Ireland. His owners made an appointment with the rescue a day before visiting and were told that there were three lurchers up for adoption. On the night before their visit, however, the dog home was broken into and the thieves stole two of the lurchers. The one they left was Mac. He had hardly any hair left on his flea bitten coat, only one eye and a sore paw. All of it the result of long-term abuse before he ended up in the rescue. Mac's owners took one look at him and knew he was the one. They nursed him back to health and, five years on, Mac is in a fantastic shape, with his paw healed and his coat smooth and silky – a scar where his left eye used to be being the only reminder of his harrowing experience.
Mac's plight is, unfortunately, that of many greyhounds across the UK.
Greyhounds and lurchers are sight-hounds bred for outrunning the prey during a hunt. They are also used in sports racing, as they can achieve speeds up to 45 mph and are the fastest dog breed in the world.
Unfortunately, the world of greyhound racing has a dark side. Animal Aid - an organisation dedicated to animal welfare reports:
About 25,000 greyhound puppies are registered every year in the British Isles. The number bred is substantially more, but thousands of young dogs are killed because they fail to make the grade as racers. Annually, at least 10,000 greyhounds are 'retired' from racing at an average age of just two and a half, due to injury or because they are considered no longer good enough to race. The fate of only 20% of these animals is recorded. The other 80% effectively vanish. The greyhound racing industry itself admits that 500-1,000 retired greyhounds are killed every year but the true figure is, sadly, far higher. Unwanted greyhounds are frequently drowned, poisoned or shot. Others have been found abandoned with their ears cut off to prevent them being identified by their tattoo. Very few are rehomed to adoptive families. [Source: Animal Aid]
The British Greyhound Racing Association has acknowledged this situation is unacceptable and is working in association with the Dogs Trust to improve it. It has also pledged money and support towards re-homing retired greyhounds.
Mac was lucky enough to be adopted by a pair of lovely, caring people who gave him the love and attention that greyhounds need. Contrary to popular opinion, greyhounds do not need lot of exercise. Mac's owners tell me that he is actually a bit of a couch potato. Greyhounds are gentle, loving and benevolent dogs, with a unique graceful physique that makes them so special.
So, special thanks to Mac's owners for letting me take photos of him and telling me his story. Big thanks also to MacPherson, who posed patiently, although he was tired after a long walk and wanted to get home and lie on his sofa!
Support Greyhound Rescue or re-home a greyhound (click on the names to go to the web page):
Tia Greyhound Rescue
Greyhounds In Need
Greyhound and Lurcher Rescue
Greyhound Rescues Directory
Greyhound Rescue Wales
