Problems of rehoming Greyhounds
THE AUTHOR of the book The Pet Owner’s Guide to the Greyhound, Anne Finch, has a special interest in Greyhounds, not only because of their gentle and loyal nature, but because of the unique problems presented by the huge numbers that require homing after their brief racing life.
For many Greyhounds, their life on a British or Irish track is followed by a grisly second stint in Spain. Here they will be raced, some in appalling conditions, until clearly unable to do so any longer. With no concept of a ‘pet’ Greyhound, their ultimate fate often makes for grisly reading.
However, Anne Finch has, over the last ten years, taken her charity ‘Greyhounds in Need’ abroad. It must seem like taking the mountain to Mohammed compared to homing British dogs in British homes (which they also do), but they have made considerable progress in exporting dogs from Spain
to be homed in Holland, Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland.
Just as significantly, perhaps, the organisation has also helped reshape attitudes within the Spanish dog racing world.
After so many years intensive work, the charity has built up a massive wealth of experience and knowledge on the requirements to be met, the overall care and the advantages to be reaped by adopting a Greyhound.
Tidy little volume
Anne has condensed this knowledge into a tidy little volume entitled The Pet Owners Guide to the Greyhound.
As the title suggests the book is aimed at the owner who wishes to adopt an ex-racing dog for a pet, rather than a working animal. However, information is clear and concise with excellent chapters on general health care and more in-depth information on medical ailments.
Anne’s experience within the racing community have given her an insight into an A to Z of ailments, many of which, fortunately, are much less likely to turn up in the home environment rather than the racing kennel.
Greyhounds are generally a very healthy breed without any genetic disorders. However, you could not accuse the author of painting an over-rosy picture. There is a constructive chapter on various behavioural problems which may be met when adopting an ex-racing dog.
There are many surprises in this book and, I have to say, they are all good ones. Firstly, the size of the book: It is a neat little A5 hardback with just 80 pages. Secondly, the amount of information packed into these pages is enormous. And, thirdly, the price, just £4.99!
This is a perfect gift idea which I would recommend to any lover of sighthounds. Even if you are not a great fan of reading, then do try this book, the text is brief, easily read and relevant, and is adorned by colour illustrations on most pages.
?Country Life Magazine