Nine former racing greyhounds have recently been taken in by a local dogs and cats home — and staff say they’re in urgent need of new families to take them in.
Gables Dogs & Cats Home in Plymouth, which cares for close to 1,000 unwanted or abandoned animals every year, is feeling the strain. The shelter, which has 76 cat pens and 71 dog kennels to keep warm, has seen its energy bills soar during the colder months. According to staff, their winter heating costs alone climbed to more than £15,000, prompting them to ask the public for donations and to encourage potential adopters to consider giving one of the greyhounds a fresh start.
General manager Claire Sparkes explained that each of the nine newcomers has something special to offer.
“Every one of our greyhounds has their own unique personality, and they’re all now hoping to find their forever homes,” Sparkes said.
She added that many people misunderstand what greyhounds need in terms of lifestyle.
“Despite what people may assume, they’re actually very low-maintenance dogs. They don’t require loads of exercise — just a short burst of running, and then they’re perfectly happy to lounge around like couch potatoes for the rest of the day,” she said.
With their gentle, laid-back nature and the shelter under mounting pressure, staff hope that the right adopters will step forward soon.