Wincanton Runner Turns the Tables for Retired Greyhounds
Wincanton resident Shaun Andrews has a new angle on dog racing, with his ex-racing greyhounds becoming the spectators. On 1st March Shaun will be running the Bath Half Marathon to support the charity Greyhound Rescue West of England (GRWE).
This is Shaun’s second half marathon, having taken part in last year’s Neolithic Half Marathon at Stonehenge. He injured a calf muscle training for that event, but despite being told to rest it for eight weeks he soldiered on. He’s hoping this time he’ll be injury free.
Shaun’s wife Laura is a full time volunteer Rehoming Officer for GRWE, and Shaun, when not working as a Commissioning Engineer, works with Laura as Assistant Rehoming Officer. They have been with GRWE for five years, responsible for the Dorset and Hampshire areas.
Shaun and Laura are serious dog lovers in their own right with their dogs, Benji the greyhound, (pictured), Dylan the doberman and Georgie the lurcher.
Shaun runs regularly, accompanied by Dylan. In the picture Benji is wearing Dylan’s doggie trainers. They were bought for Dylan to protect his paws from damage during Shaun’s training runs. Shaun said that the only downside to running 13 miles with Dylan, is that when Shaun needs to rest afterwards, Dylan is raring for more.
Shaun said “I first fell in love with ex-racing dogs about five years ago. Like most people, all I knew was they ran fast around a track, but after being asked to help walk greyhounds at our local rescue kennel, I found out there is much more to them than just running”.
He described the rescued greyhounds as good natured and gentle, and said that it’s a shame that a lot of these dogs are just thrown away when they have finished racing. He told Wincanton Window, “A lot get put to sleep, or disposed of inhumanely, so it is really important to me to do this race; to help prevent at least a few more from facing this fate”.
Shaun’s dog Benji is supported by GRWE’s Sponsor-a-Dog scheme because when GRWE rescued him, he had been homed direct from a now banned trainer to a member of the public. He had been spooked whilst out walking, got off his lead and was hit by a car.
GRWE were asked if they could help try to catch him. He wasn’t one of their dogs, but being a greyhound, of course they offered to help. Shaun said “It still took us 57 weeks to capture him, as he strayed the fields of Dorset. Due to the fact Benji had suffered greatly during his racing career and was now feral, GRWE offered him a rescue space and we offered him a loving, experienced home for life. But now even Benji has put his boots on to help me raise money for his brothers and sisters.”
Started in the West Country, GRWE operates from Cornwall to Cheshire, and has grown so much that it’s now the leading independent Greyhound Rescue Charity in the UK, relying totally on donations.
The charity exists mainly because of the greyhound racing industry. Greyhounds are bred for racing, but not all dogs will make the grade. Some are responsibly re-homed or relinquished by their trainers, but many don’t make the grade and are discarded. Some disreputable breeders dispose of the dogs in a more permanent way, depriving them of the chance to find their forever sofas.
GRWE forges links with breeders, trainers, and owners so that where possible, discarded greyhounds are taken aboard and safely re-homed. The also campaign to improve dog welfare, and its mission statement says it “works towards a day when every greyhound or lurcher is free from risk or need”.
You can support Shaun in the Bath Half Marathon, and donate by going to www.justgiving.com/Shaun-Andrews4 or by phone. Text DOGX51 to 70070.
For more information about the work of GRWE go to www.grwe.com or ring 07000 785 092.
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Reply #1 on : Thu February 26, 2015, 13:28:09
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