We are the rescue and rehoming charity for greyhounds and lurchers in Wales.
Our Vision and Mission
Our vision is a Wales without greyhound racing, where every greyhound and lurcher has a home and receives the best possible care.
Our mission is to improve the lives of greyhounds and lurchers by:
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- Rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming greyhounds and lurchers
- Supporting the movement to end greyhound racing in Wales
- Raising awareness of the issues facing greyhounds and lurchers
- Promoting greyhounds and lurchers as pets
Our Values
We have a set of governing values that guide us in everything we do:
R
Respect
We treat others as we wish to be treated.
E
Ethics
We care about our social and environmental impact.
S
Self-Discipline
We act lawfully, honestly and safely.
C
Compassion
We care deeply about rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming, and act kindly and considerately to all we come into contact with.
U
Unity
We work collaboratively towards a common goal.
E
Excellence
We are sector-leaders in sighthound welfare, always striving to expand our knowledge and expertise, to deliver excellence in all that we do.
Organisation and Structure
Greyhound Rescue Wales is a membership organisation. It is a democratic organisation overseen by a board of trustees, who are elected annually at the Annual General Meeting of members. All members and supporters are kept in touch through the twice-yearly magazine “Greyhound Express” and our occasional e-newsletters. Each year we also produce an Annual Report.
Our work is led by our CEO. We employ a highly-skilled staff team who form the backbone of the charity, keeping things running all year round. They are supported by nearly 200 dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers, without whom we simply couldn’t do what we do.
Funding
We have to raise all our money ourselves and we make sure it goes a long way. We pride ourselves on our cost-effectiveness and this is only possible because of the dedication of our trustees, staff, volunteers and members. We receive no funding from government or the greyhound racing industry.
Where do our dogs come from?
Most of our dogs are given to us directly by their owners. Our dogs receive all the loving care and veterinary treatment they need for as long as they are with us. All are also neutered, vaccinated, wormed and microchipped.
We work hard to spread the message that greyhounds and lurchers make wonderful pets and companion dogs. We continue to work with key partners to make sure that all greyhounds in Wales receive protection in law in the future.
Why are there so many hounds in need of help?
Although many owners of racing hounds take their responsibility towards the breed seriously, some are not so thoughtful, and see dogs as commodities, discarding them once they are no longer profitable. This could be after a racing career, but it can also be young greyhounds that simply don’t have the temperament for racing, ending up ‘surplus to requirements’ or as the industry calls them, ‘wastage.’
There are similar issues with lurchers in that they are often bred and/or used for hunting activity, but can be discarded once their usefulness runs out.
Origins of Greyhound Rescue Wales
Greyhound Rescue Wales began in 1993 with a small group of people trying to rescue Greyhounds and Lurchers in the Swansea area. Over the next few years, the organisation grew quickly and attracted support from many parts of Wales. Greyhound Rescue Wales became a registered charity in 1996 when it covered the whole of Wales. Greyhound Rescue Wales is the longest-established Greyhound charity in Wales and the only all-Wales charity dedicated to rescuing and re-homing Greyhounds and Lurchers. GRW is a charitable company limited by guarantee, company number 08411721, charity number 1152650, and was established in this new form on 2nd June 2013.