New Mersey greyhound charity gets off to a great start 

A new charity set up to re-home and care for greyhounds has found new families for 18 dogs in just two months since it started.

It means on average around two dogs every week have been found a home, says Jo Johnson, who’s manager of Home Run Hounds which covers Merseyside and Cheshire as well as the whole of the Northwest.

And she’s delighted at its success.

She said:

“It gives us all a sense of achievement, and that’s just what we’d hope for,”

“It’s our mission is to find the perfect, loving home for every greyhound in our care.  We want to make sure each dog is matched with the right owner, so they can foster a lifelong bond built on understanding and companionship – and be happy.

“Most – although not all – of our dogs are formerly racing dogs, and we want to find the best home for them in their retirement.”

And Jo adds:

“We will never put an animal down.”

Jo has around 16 years’ experience of looking after greyhounds, including having three greyhounds and a lurcher of her own.

Home Run Hounds was opened on August 1 in Rixton, Warrington, and it’s run entirely on volunteers who rely on donations and public support to fund the work they do.

“Our volunteers work really hard,” says Jo. “And it’s all about the dogs. It’s all about the greyhounds.

“Although we take strays or dogs from homes where people can no longer care from them, we work with the racing industry to take dogs and care for them from them.

“Our first volunteers take our dogs out at 7.45am, check and wash their bedding if it’s needed and feed them, and we have more people come at 9.30am.

“They are taken out again around 2.30pm and have their teas, and they’re let out finally before bedtime.”

Although the charity is given a fee for taking the dogs, it has to provide food, kennel fees, vets’ bills, toys, and anything else needed to look after the animals while they try to find them new owners.

As well as a Christmas Fair organised for December 7 at Burtonwood Community Centre, Home Run Hounds has already held other events to raise money and, as well as more volunteers, food help and one-off donations, is looking for people to sponsor those in its care.

“Kennel fees are £24,000 a year, vets’ bills can range from about £400 a month to £2,000 a month, so we welcome any help that people can give us.”

But Jo and Home Run Hounds aren’t just concerned with their needs.

“Dogs are very therapeutic, so we try to be inclusive with everything we do.  We work with adults with mental health concerns who might come along and walk a dog, children with complex needs and learning disabilities, and we work with young people who perhaps need to volunteer for something like a Duke of Edinburgh Award.

“We have one young man who is non-verbal who comes along with his support worker.  He couldn’t hold the lead himself, so we have one that he can hold part of and his support worker the other. We’re firm believers in the positive effects of dogs, and it’s lovely to see.

“We organise walks. The next one is in Sefton Park, Liverpool, and it’s a Howl-oween Spooktacular Greyhound Walk on Sunday, October 26. There’ll be about 60-70 dogs, and we’ll give a prize for the best fancy dress and things like that.

“Greyhounds know their own breed, and they love getting together with other greyhounds.”

Jo says greyhounds make excellent pets and, contrary to opinion, they don’t need the huge amounts of exercise that can deter pet owners from having them or adopting them.

“They are built for speed, not stamina,” says Jo. “So they don’t need as much exercising as people think. They’re content with a couple of short walks a day and plenty of snoozing on a soft bed. They are gentle, quiet, and incredibly adaptable.

“Greyhounds make wonderful pets for all people, families with young children, disabled people, or elderly people.  They are very chilled and relaxed, and the majority are very affectionate.

“It’s just about getting the right dog with the right owner.

“That’s our role – and that’s what we’re here to do.”

Anyone interested in adopting a greyhound or who can offer food, a donation, or more, can contact Jo on 07510 172178, or email homerunhoundsnorthwest@gmail.com

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