Charity Norfolk Greyhound Rescue pleads for help re-homing neglected Irish dogs

Hayley Pattrick from Norfolk Greyhound Rescue. Picture: Courtesy of Norfolk Greyhound Rescue (Image: Archant)

But a Norfolk-based charity is battling to cope with the number of greyhounds needing new owners in the UK.

Norfolk Greyhound Rescue, which was founded in September 2015, has called on more dog-lovers to consider adopting or fostering one of the canines, or getting involved in the charity to help save the lives of as many dogs as possible.

Hayley Pattrick, who runs the charity with her husband Richard, said they focused on finding new homes for dogs from Ireland, where thousands of greyhounds were bred for hare coursing or racing before being discarded.

Mrs Pattrick said greyhounds were not counted as domestic pets in Ireland and so owners did not need a dog licence to keep them.

Members of Norfolk Greyhound Rescue. Picture: Courtesy of Norfolk Greyhound Rescue (Image: Archant)

She said: 'They're seen as working dogs - but because they don't come under agriculture laws and they don't come under domestic pet laws they fall into a very wide gap.

'And they're often treated really appallingly by breeders who breed as many as they can so they can then pick the cream of the crop.

'A lot of the time they're bred for racing but coursing is becoming more and more popular in Ireland.'

Mrs Pattrick said many of the dogs were left to die, and very few ended up as house pets in Ireland.

She said: 'I don't think people realise how many greyhounds go to waste.'

Mrs Pattrick said the charity found new homes across the UK for 86 dogs last year, and had so far re-homed 48 this year.

She said: 'We focus on Irish greyhounds because that's where our passion lies, but we do rescue other dogs as well if we feel that we can re-home them.

'In return for re-homing one of these gentle and affectionate dogs you will be rewarded tenfold by their calm and kind nature. They are great with children, many work as pets-as-therapy dogs and some can live happily with cats.'

Mrs Pattrick said the charity did not have any kennels, but relied on people to foster the greyhounds once they arrived in the UK. She also said the charity had just sponsored the Lakeford Rangers Juniors Football Club.

For more information visit norfolkgreyhoundrescue.co.uk. To get involved email Mrs Pattrick at hayley@norfolkgreyhoundrescue.co.uk or call 07470 931758.