Greyhounds from track to couch!
THE Irish Retired Greyhound Trust, represented by Drogheda-based trustee Brenda Powderly and her retired greyhound Ted, joined hundreds of other exhibitors and thousands of visitors at the 2018 Pet Expo this weekend.
She was there to remind us that racing greyhounds are ‘fabulous pets’ who can transition from the track to the couch with ease.
The IRGT has helped to rehome over 5,300 racing greyhounds since 2008, with 853 rehomed between January and October of this year, and the message from Brenda and the rest of the volunteers is ‘couch potatoes like greyhounds make great pets”!
Greyhounds make for excellent pets and have a canny ability to transition to the family couch with ease” added Racing Operations Manager with the Irish Greyhound Board, Barry Coleman. “They are best known as couch potatoes needing very little exercise or special diet. Many families with an interest in racing will keep their greyhounds into retirement. With greater public awareness, we can ensure these prized athletes get the retirement they deserve and equally bring happiness to many people’s lives.”
The Trust also provides financial assistance to private rehoming agencies in Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Kerry and Belfast.
The main source of funding for the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust continues to come from greyhound racing owners, through a 2% deduction of all winning prize money which is then matched by the Irish Greyhound Board.
The Irish Greyhound Board contributed over €100,000 to the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust in 2017.