AN UPDATE FROM THE BOARD OF GREYHOUND RACING IRELAND IN RELATION TO REHOMING OF GREYHOUNDS

GRI

Greyhound Racing Ireland would like highlight to members of the industry and the wider public the effects of recent world events on rehoming of greyhounds through the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust (IRGT).

In 2021, the IRGT rehomed 2,234 Irish greyhounds. However, since the end of 2021, the global landscape has, for many people, irretrievably changed. Global events including the conflict in Ukraine, the apparent end of the Covid 19 pandemic and Brexit have comingled with profound effect on the rehoming landscape. These effects are not unique to the IRGT. They are unfortunately, similarly being experienced by rehoming charities, both here in Ireland and across Europe. The overall effect is that rehoming facilities are being stretched to capacity which has in turn a knock-on effect of increasing the length of time that greyhounds must wait between placing them on the rehoming list and them being taken into IRGT care.

The Board of Greyhound Racing Ireland understand that there may be a degree of frustration with the process as a result but wish the greyhound industry to understand that these delays are unavoidable and are entirely outside the control of the Board. The Board also wish to remind greyhound owners that, notwithstanding the efforts of the IRGT in rehoming dogs, greyhounds remain the responsibility of their respective owners who need to have a plan in place for the entirety of a greyhound’s life, not just to the end of its sporting life.