Lisa73

I have to say a huge thanks to Jane and Raiye today for rushing and grabbing this girl and meeting me at kennels. Its a long time since we intook a dog and I cried but im not ashamed to say today I broke down and sobbed like a baby. Vixen is earmarked and 9 year of age. Her teeth are green and pussing and the gunk is just falling off of them and the smell is horrendous. Her poor broken beak is awful and if you feel down the nose you can feel where the bone is missing from whatever type of hit she took. Her pitifully thin body is covered wherever you look and feel in old scars and fresh ones, the fresh ones are tight and infected and just so hot to touch and need re opening to allow the infection to drain. The mammory tumour on her stomach is a little bigger than a golf ball and if all that wasnt enough she is also in season and the chances are she could have been mated whilst on the streets. Still despite all this when we got to my house she greated my dogs like old pals and was so loving and endearing she made me sob again and again! Im due to go on holiday in two weeks so she has moved to my wonderful foster carers Sandra and Will and believe me she is now safe loved and in the very best hands whatever we can do for this girl we will. She had an emergency vet visit tonight and is now on abs for her mouth and skin and also eye drops as she has an ulcer on the lens. This next week we need to get some weight on her then work on ultrasounding her to make sure she isnt in whelp spaying is out of the question for the next couple of weeks because of her overall condition but needs doing as soon as she is fitter enough. The mammory tumour and teeth also need dealing with. Thank you for your thoughts and any you can spare the next couple of weeks will be more than appreciated. She is a babe and deserves to have time to thrive.

Mods please remove or delete if felt in the wrong place or inappropriate.... On Saturday we had the pleasure of meeting up with the volunteers of the new Charity Pet Blood Bank UK which is also supported by the leading out of hours veterinary service Vets Now. They are aiming to do just as their name suggest up until recently it wasnt possible to store blood but things have changed. PPBuk aim to collect and store blood from donors the length and bredth of the UK to ensure that should someones pet become ill there is blood already safely available to help save lives. At the moment they are only operating within a two hour radius of their lab in Loughborough BUT the more they can get out their and build their service up the more these constrainted areas WILL increase. They will be setting up regular blood drives all around the country and are appealing for people to get in touch and register their dogs as donors. To involve your dog they should meet the criterias laid out below.... Good Temprement Between 1 & 8 years of age Be over 25kgs in weight Should NOT have travelled abroad Vaccinated for at least 1 month PPBuk need all the help that anyone can give. Even if your dog is not suitable to become a donor there are many other ways that you can help them. Please do take the time to visit their website at www.petbloodbankuk.org for more information. On Friday 10th March Gaps very own Arthur and Andywillows Willow were two of the first greyhounds to act as donors for stored blood. Slim & Bea other Gap hounds have donated directly through vets in emergency situations before. The procedure is not painful or detramental to the dogs well being and they simply have a shaved area and are required to lie still for around 15 minutes whilst blood is taken from the neck. The dogs are totally happy after and were spoilt with treats and a drink from the staff. Greyhounds especially do make good donors so please if you think your hound would be suitable and you are willing to offer your service do take the time to visit the site as above or call 0844 800 9925.

Cindy sending you and Snath all our love and good thoughts

Dya know when I saw the dog on the Discover Dogs bit I thought ohh that is like what Bonniebird has and will be taking this year By the end I was blubbing as one of the Gap dogs Billy was shown aswell in the Seniors class for Discover Dogs Scrufts last year. He was the one that Matt stopped to talk too. Not bad for a nearly twelve year old dog dumped on his neighbours by his owners when they got fed up with him and then in turn dumped on us. More fool them he is doing us and his owners proud

We are one of the rescues that keep the dogs microchip details registered to ourselves. We do it from experience and not necessarily the straying view point although yes, if one of my dogs was getting out I would want to know why. I know from experience and working with pounds that *most* scan and ring the microchipping company, however, I have heard on numerous occasions they havent reported the dog missing via the chip company or come to look if we have the dog so ........ Our chips have my number on both home AND mobile plus email address and also our vets personal chipping and id number so three numbers they have the option to contact, one email plus a fax line for the vets. I also know from experience of the pounds that if a dog is scanned and the chip registered to a rescue they are on the blower and very quickly as they know the rescues that keep the chip details in their name do so to guarantee the dogs future. To me a dog with tag with owners details on, microchip with rescue and rescues vets details on gives that dog a much better chance of being re united and re united quickly. We had one dog go missing and the owners were out searching for her, they didnt have a mobile so only the home number on the tag. The dog was picked up by someone she went over too, they took her straight to the local vets who tried to ring the owner, couldnt contact her as out looking, they scanned her contacted pet log and called me. Thankfully as I was reachable via mobile we knew that she was safe and the vets held her till the owners touched base with me. What if they hadnt been able to get hold of me thought the owners werent answering the phone and she had headed off to the pound via the dog warden. As for the OP's question as others have said dogs we take in straying that havent gone through the dog warden have to quite rightly remain in our care for 28 days, we cant even administer treatment other than emergency care but that does give the owners a greater deal of time to look for their missing pet.

Hobo is back safe and sound little monster was watching tv on a sofa across town with three other lurchers after going home with someone! After a rest he also tried to escape from there aswell. Fingers crossed his wanderlust settles down soon (although he is castrated and has been for years so not sure how) and that he decides that he quite likes being where he is.

Please any good thoughts for this little lads safe return Hobo is one of Greyhound Gap's dogs who has only been in foster care for 24 hours. This morning he managed to escape from the foster careers garden giving them the slip and heading up over their garden back wall and has since been missing. He is missing from Lowe Street, Bardwell nr Bury St Edmunds. He is wearing a blue collar with a Hope Rescue Tag on and thankfully on arrival with the foster careers yesterday was microchipped, we are going to be informing the chip company of the details as until we do the chip wont yet be activated. He has been sighted at a local school playground Bardwell County Primary School earlier this morning so is believed to still be in the area. Hobo is around 23 - 4 Inches tall and has a band of white fur around his neck and his nose is a little rubbed. He also has half an ear missing and is blind in one eye around aged around 4 years. Any sightings please contact Lisa on 01782 544728 or Liz on 01473 623343.

Im saying nothing and just goes to prove what has been said for a longtime. Leigh So called Sanctuary Article..... Lets just hope that this ends the suffering once and for all and the place gets what is deserved closed down. I know one trainer who we took our very own precious Kelly from was using this place in GOOD faith as other trainers had recommended it to him. Thankfully I *think* I managed to talk him out of it and explained what the word on the so called street was. Ive also heard alot of trainers from a *Manchester Track* deposit there dogs there so lets hope that an investigation is also persued there.

Sorry cant edit my post for some reason what I meant about Alain is that after that email was received I spoke to him at length yesterday and the situation has moved on quite a bit from how it was then, hope that explains it a bit better Multi tasking yet again and not taking the time to explain myself properly

Hiya Galty long time no see. Sadly your statement is misguided! Here is a quote from an email circulated by Tony that im sure under the circumstances of your implication he wont mind me posting. We use the term "commercial greyhound racing" to distinguish between dog racing done to make money and that done merely as a hobby. We would like to see a ban on betting on dog racing and a very strict limitation on the value of prizes given to the winners. This would take the profit-motive out of dog racing and so massively reduce the number of greyhounds bred. People would still be able to race greyhounds as a hobby, rather like lurcher and whippet racing, but by and large the dogs would be well-treated, as they would not be considered as money-making machines. Wendy, im sure if Alain wanted his email posted on here he would do so himself The general gist is as I said GRW volunteers are happy to march as individuals as opposed to an organisation

No Danny, Vanessa has replied to thank SOL for their fabulously generous offer , costs are hoped to be kept to a minimum however, we expect their will be *some* small expense involved. So much work is happening at the moment behind the scenes to set wheels in motion and plans into concrete. Every step of the planning is being given the same amount of consideration and once this has been done we will *then* have some idea of what is invoved monitarily. I should imagine the most costs are going to fall for printing/leafleting etc for education purposes however, I feel that there are enough people around who would probably be willing to print so many at costs to themselves and allow them to all be posted to one central location.

Ive spoken to Alain at length today via email. He is more than sure that *most* of the GRW supporters will there in an individual capacity as opposed to an *official* one which is the stance I feel most rescues will take. Purely for relationships they need to maintain on the other side of the fence to continue allowing dogs to pass to safety whilst improvements etc are implemented.

Commercial greyhound racing

Well the fact they have offered their support I would hope means that yes they will have sympathisers there on the day. If they are there on the day it will be because they believe that changes are necessary the same as everyone else. People will be protesting as individuals with one common goal and agree that changes are necessary, not everyone will have the same end longterm outcome in mind but that is not what this is about its about starting to get governing bodies to accept that self regulation let alone the industry itself does not work and does not have the welfare of the dogs at the forefront of their mind. Something that we ALL hopefully agree on. Mel thank you for the links. I should imagine that there will be a number of investigations held by many different bodies but of course the outcome of some will be more important than others.

Okay I lied ive just had this back but not actually from our member of parliament. As I had heard from her I got pro active and emailed other local MP's who dont have parliamentary weight but thought they may be able to help get our points across and he is going to email her again himself outlining that we have a point ... Lisa Thank you for bringing this issue to my attention. As a Stoke Councillor I can not raise a question in Parliament but I can forward your message to our local MP Joan Walley, who has that power, or possible alternatives. I will also give my support to the points you raise. Best Regards Neil

Totally agree Cindy and once again when concrete plans are in place I think we need a list of all MP's who have responded positively. We have had a postivie response via Gap from one of the Welsh Assembly members who deals with Wales West and this both has a track and a port taking ferries to and from Ireland so again a useful avenue. Other parties have shown interest. Disappointed so far at the lack of response from my own MP who I know has always called for welfare reforms within the industry.

I dont see where anyone is becoming irritated to be honest and I myself I can assure you arnt. As ive said whether I form part of the organisation structure or not doesnt worry me, im happy to help and lend any advice or indeed expertise I can bring. Im not a regular poster on the refuge but do occasionally contribute and offer help however, appreciate the sentiment of the forum Pingu took the time to set up and have acknowledged his open invitation, accepted and put forward my thoughts no more no less, there is alot going on behind the scenes with organisations who dont use the internet so could have quite easily declined. I do though believe in working with people who are keen to get involved and talking through situations as they stand. The infrastructure of the committee as yet is not something for me to comment on as nothing has been set in stone. As stated before and stated again I was asked if I was willing to participate and I answered yes because its something I believe strongly in. I also dont see where anyone other than yourself and Mel have questioned any infastructure of a committee either quite the contrary infact people relived that something is being worked towards and as this is a forum that was opened publically to talk about this either by name or anonomysly I dont see why these worries you state are being discussed behind the scenes havent been raised. Or indeed what elsewheres you even talk about? I can however say, that from once again a personal view it all seems rather counter productive and as Vanessa's email and address was publically printed have any of those with concerns tried emailing her directly to discuss any issues they have?

Actually I dislike the word *committee* anyway and would prefer to think it was a bunch of like minded individuals working towards a common goal coming together but with some element of organisation. How would it be proposed we voted a *committee* bearing in mind this goes alot deeper than the internet or internet forums and runs the length and bredth of the country, no one place is more important than another? Do we vote because in my minds eye that would warrant writing to ask every rescue in the country to nominate by post. Then lets have a fortnight of hustings which would need to be arranged. Then lets get every rescue to complete ballot paper and return by post. Voila we have a committee. However, not everyone is willing to be pro active and the fact is if we are aiming for September to time with the reconvene of paliment we dont have two months to sit around discussing a *committee* Im not sure what the relevance is and ive not seen anywhere where anyone has not been willing to consider other peoples views or discuss them As far as I can see Vanessa took this oppurtunity to become pro active, she has approached lots of other organisations who she feels can bring something into the mix to contribute and invited suggestions from not only themselves but others. Is there any reason why she shouldnt have grabbed the bull by the horns and started a momentum to run with it? Everyone is suppose to be in agreement that its an entity proclaiming under one voice so I dont see the need for politics to be brought into it. From a personal basis I was asked simply if I would mind helping, I quite simply said yes! The saying yes in my minds eye does not give me anymore kudos or personal acclaim than the members of the public who will be marching for a common goal. Im not bothered either way whether im involved or not but I agreed simply because I would like to think that working day in day out with ALL sides of the Greyhound broad spectrum I could have given a little back. Im more than happy to just turn up and march to be honest would be easier for me to save the little time I have being placed into any organisation but im not willing to sit back and let this oppurtunity pass everyone as a whole by.

Just an updated article from the North East that has been posted on Gap... http://www.sunderlandtoday.co.uk/ViewArtic...ticleID=1634846 Not sure how I feel about his addresses being printed but thought it was worth a read that the local industry are claiming they knew nothing about it which is ridiculous. Quote from Ben Bradshaw... "The Government believes racing greyhounds should only be put down by a vet. "We have long felt self-regulation within the greyhound industry is the most effective way of policing animal welfare. "If they can't clean up their act, Government will intervene." and this is the starting point. The industry has had a longtime to clean up its act and its now time for us to force their hand into intervention.

Its a lovely idea Allie and I did think last night about a *roll call* of dogs that we as a nation or even just the rescues know have perished at the hands of the industry, quite simply with the dogs race names and age read out. I know each rescue could tell a story of one they were too late to help and some that caused more of a stir at the time than others. I know White Lodge were at one point involved in a more high profile case, we have been and im sure every hound rescue in the country has been in this situation. Sadly though I think the reality is that with so many dogs bred into the industry each year you we could either be there forever *or* more likely most trainers will cover up and not be willing to speak out to us on a public level or have their dogs named for fear of peers in the industry breathing down their neck. This is where the whole good trainer/bad trainer scenario breaks down for me. So called good trainers sell on or auction their dogs and then they disappear. I wonder just how many of those so called good trainers dogs are now lying in the killing field found up North? Something again though that is worth considering.

I'm also very glad to see you raise the issue of potential problems with AR extremists, sadly the reality is that you cannot overlook or fail to plan for any attempts to in some way to hijack any march like this for their own ends, have you any thoughts on how that can be avoided or handled? Whilst I do take your point about public forums, the fact of the matter is that even with total "secrecy" the information is going to leak, after all they won't necessarily identify themselves to the organisers. It's a difficult one, but I personally would feel better if this were kept in the public view to ensure that the momentum continues and to capitalise upon the publicity, the more people can see whats being proposed and the more "involved" they feel the more likely it is that they will support the protests on the day. I would envisage that the problems caused by *die* hard animal extremists would be minimal. After all what defines a die hard animal extremist? Some would love to say I am because it suits them but im far from violent as are most. The ones prone to violence are a *very* small minority and safety issues would need further looking into and addressing. More contact with people who have been involved in organising the big animal related marches is necessary to address every issue thoroughly but of course this takes time which I will address later on. I don't agree that a big march in London is the only or best way to go, London has all kinds of logistical problems, and whilst I can see that you are talking to people who have organised events like this in the past, I have also been involved in campaigns in London and with the current security issues it is likely to take time to get permits for anything like this, and you then risk losing the public and media interest. On the contrary there has always been issues relating to greyhound welfare in the press and I dont buy into this whole loose the momentum approach To my minds eye it is better to take the time to prepare for a well organised protest that gets the message across than to rush into there here and now. Press interest will be easily generated when concrete plans are put in place. This is based on feedback and research that ive been taking the time to look into the last few days. A key factor that hasnt been mentioned is that Parliment goes into recess this week until the 9th October (and they say teachers have good holidays eh?). Therefore in my minds eye it would be better to hold the main protest shortly before they reconvine so that once again after their Summer break its fresh back in their mind. I take your point that people given the choice could opt for the local "easier" option, but for some that could well be the only way they can participate and you risk alienating them if they can't be included as part of the wider protests. Also getting local media coverage is often a lot easier than the major players, who'll pick it up anyway if enough people turn out all over the country. A good point and maybe something to be looked at to happen over the country over the next couple of months to keep it in the public and media eye until the main protest is held? There is nothing stopping groups of individuals looking to arrange a vigil or protest outside the local town halls or stadiums in the meantime and a good oppurtunity to keep it fresh. One of my concerns with a "stop the slaughter" banner is that it possibly sends a mixed message and the general public may assume that you are merely campaigning to prevent recurrences of the recent investigation, rather than the wider issues about breeding and culling in the industry as a whole. You'd then need to be very clear about exactly what information is given to the media and that they can't twist the message to something it's not. Again a plan that I would hope would come to fruition with the media coverage, something like this would command enough media attention for every group to have their say. Groups, organisations, individuals can follow up the march with their own press releases and media interviews making the points clear. BUT for the main on the day the message needs to be loud and clear, Stop Industry Slaughter!! So who knows maybe that is a better banner heading that could be considered/ I am also concerned about ensuring that you capitalise now on the public interest if you wait too long to organise something on a grand scale you could well miss the boat. As stated earlier parliment isnt due to reconvene not till October, so maybe a push forward would be to look towards smaller stage demonstrations between now and then the length and bredth of the UK? Then to culminate together just before they come out of reccess for one mass voice to be heard? I messed up my quotes of Snows Post will go back and try and make Snows bit bold

I dont think it would affect the turn out apart from perhaps dog owners who have multiple dogs and cant organise care. I would hope that most people who are dog owners would realise its a common sense approach to welfare of their own dogs and that its not a suitable situation to put them in. I also think it would be harder to get permission which is going to he hard enough in itself anyway without outlining we could have a 1000 dogs on the day. If you look at most protest marches relating to animal rights that are taken to parliment or held in and around, animals are never there in vast numbers on the day and only token animals taken to help get a point across. On the days more have been in attendance there has been problems and the fingers are then pointed with the they say we treat the animals cruelly but look at them with all those dogs in a) the sun b) lying on the concrete c) dog fights breaking out. Its a point I feel very strongly about and one that I think needs making. Its not about taking the dogs to parliment its about taking the PEOPLE to parliment and would feel saddened if people felt they needed to place dogs in this environment to make a point

The Bookies do actually pay taxes to the government still. Years ago you would place a bet on greyhound racing and would pay your tax on top. This was abolished BUT the government still tax the bookies themselves which generates a government income. "The scraping of a 9 per cent government tax which came into effect in 2001 was replaced by a 15 per cent tax on bookmakers gross profits."

Right for my own take ive spent a few days saying nothing and taking the time to read everything posted on all forums and put together a few ideas so people who have made suggestions may see their own in here. Any March/protest/rally should be held under the one banner Stop the Slaughter. To me that covers a broad range of spectrum and by simply using it I would hope on the day that anyone taking part is pensive and thoughtful enough to be marching for themselves and their own personal beliefs whatever there end objective may be. I *personally* believe that if we petitioned the government for an outright ban they have the chance to look at it consider it and then dismiss it and are more likely to with a full on extremist approach. However, maybe im cynical BUT if we petition the government and call for them to make changes to how the industry is run and we can get enough public outcry to push their hand then they are going to have to order a deeper inquiry when they realise not just AR people or rescue people, animal welfare people are outraged but also the general public, which is why we need everyone singing from the same hymn sheet. Alot of people feel that anything less than a cry for an out right ban is defeatist but think of it this way. The taxes that the government receives from betting on *greyhound* racing alone are not that much in the big ocean that makes up Britains taxes. To start to regulate the greyhound industry knowing that this government always seems to go for the most complicated and expensive approach to making changes might just be the straw that broke the camels back. If to regulate means to spend the income they are currently receiving then all they are left with for their time and effort is nothing or even out of pocket. Maybe they may opt for a gradual outlaw on the sport itself, especially if we were lucky to get them to be willing to make those changes. If they are willing to make those changes they will need to involve welfare groups and to involve welfare groups means again it will be made more difficult for them. My own personal stance is I would rather see them decided its to much hassle, stamp a ban on breeding, no more greyhounds registered for racing and track closures over a period of years to allow the rescues to help as many as they can. Of course this all sounds idealist now BUT we have a good chance we can force their hand. IF they only choose to get involved with the regulating that means that we have somewhere other than the NGRC to go to if we have concerns about a track, kennels or trainer which is more than we have now. Again the rescues could make reports week in week out keep up press and peer pressure and again it would make it to costly and time consuming and will keep pushing us one step further. As for the march/rally/protest. We have already been contacted by someone who is involved with both Regents and Hyde Park and who is a sympathiser, an avenue that will be followed up. There are a number of ways it could be approached once permission is granted and thoughts that will be put towards the committee. Either a morning march with an afternoon rally allowing people to set up their own stalls and to meet the public and give out their own documentations. Or maybe even an afternoon rally and then an overnight candlelit vigal. This would allow people in attendance to light a candle in memory of those who have suffered and lost their lives at the hands of the industry. There has been alot of suggestion about other events being held around the country on the day. Great idea and maybe worth considering peaceful demonstrations outside local town halls, however I have one reservation. The public all though sympathetic if given an easier option may just opt to turn up locally as opposed to taking the time and effort if they feel strongly enough to travel to London. We need the numbers at the main event or its not going to have the necessary effect. A couple of hundred people in a London park would not make the impact and the statement we are aiming for. Something for everyone to consider? Also something else that ive given alot of thought to is the dogs on the day!! Ive read in lots of places it would be wonderful for everyone to march with their dogs be it greyhounds or other breeds/mixed breeds. This gives me cause for concern. There has been alot of interest from organisations that have been approached who are willing to get their supporters rallied for the day. If we have the turn out we could hope for is it going to be fair to have what 100's maybe 1000,s of dogs in attendance in the midst of crowding situations? We also do not know how volitie it could be and the more public we make our plans such as on open forums before long its going to get back to the AR extremist people. We would hope there was no trouble on the day but is it fair to have a vast amount of dogs in the midst should anything unsettled happen? Would it not be more sensible to consider each organisation taking with them a token dog? A dog that they know is use to being socialised and these dogs and their owners could lead any march? Perhaps deck them all out in a sash with one side saying "saved from death row" or "abandoned on the streets" the other side simply having the organisation name? The main aim in this is to make sure that whatever we organise is safe for both hounds and humans alike. Other protests that have been carried out in the past with a vast number of dogs in attendance have been fraugth with problems, nobody knows how the dogs are going to react on the day and it only takes one person to turn up with one dog that gets loose and all manner of problems could arise. I feel that this leaves us more than open to hypocrosy should a dog be injured. Back to the banner itself. As said on the day general banners kept to Stop the Slaughter would be preferable, it would be lovely to think these were the only banners carried because again it gives across one general message, we are not willing to accept it any longer and changes need to be made. However, it would be lovely on the day to see organisations wearing their own clothing to let people know who they are or even what would make me happier would be to see some people wearing t shirst that said "Nora Jones, from Hilltop Chippy, Knotty Ash and Stop the Slaughter on the back!" This would again give out a strong message that we are ordinary people campaigning to end this attrocity. Those are just a few of my own personal thoughts and would appreciate constructive criticism.