UPDATE

Sorry it's been awhile since the last entry but awareness season is starting to gain momentum and there just doesn't seem enough hours in the week. Congratulation to all the dedicated volunteers who organised a very successful Table Top Sale at Hagley Community Centre on May 7th and raised an impressive £284.11 on what had to be the wettest Saturday in months. And didn't the three  hardy volunteer dog walkers at the kennels last Saturday know it! But all the dogs got out for a walk so a big thank you to them and we hope you eventually dried out!
Thankfully the weather was a bit kinder for all of those who went on the Waseley walk on Sunday.

We are so pleased to be able to give advance notice of  a musical charity gig coming to Hall Green Stadium - The Trevor Burton Band, The Bev Bevan Band, Raymond Froggart, Quill and other special guests have all kindly donated their time and talent to raise money for Hall Green RGT on Thursday, September 8th. Ticket availability will be announced shortly, so dust off your dancing shoes and watch this space.

For those of you who have been following our sweet little Effie, we are really happy that Alison from the kennels who fostered her has now decided to keep her, wonky leg and all. Actually her leg is much better and Alison reports that she's almost fully recovered. Phew, what a relief! Just one of those greyhound things.

Bubbles our current foster dog was up at the kennels last weekend. She does herself no favours when being introduced to prospective forever families - she's so darn busy looking around that she forgets to pay attention to those interested humans who want to give her a home. Her foster carers, Andy and Leanne swear that she's a different dog when she's in the house and even have pictures to prove it - my favourite is of Bubbles pretending to be a lap dog, sprawled across Andy's lap  in armchair - surprised he can see the telly! Seriously though, we are keen to find Bubbles a forever home as she can't stay with them permanently; they are happy for you to visit them at home to see the other side of Bubbles.


Speaking of foster homes, Tom, our old boy is being fostered by Lynda, one of our volunteers, and as long as he behave himself with the budgie, Lynda will assess what he's like in the house, and keep hold of him until we can find him a forever home. Tom may be 11, but he certainly doesn't act like it. 
Lots of awarenesses coming up so contact us if you are interested in coming along to help. 

The blood donor people are up at the kennels tomorrow, now a regular feature. Greyhounds are so placid they make excellent blood donors - you can contact your own vet to find out how your own hound can become a donor.
Lastly many thanks to all of you who have been raising money for HG RGT in various ways - you're help is not only appreciated but crucial to our work.

Busy, busy, busy

March has been an incredibly busy month - but that's what we like - loads going on to help rehome greyhounds and raise funds.


Although the awareness season never stops it started up again in earnest in March with the better weather. (Check out the website for upcoming events). The Waseley and Stratford walks drew good crowds and Karen and Phil's new Worcester walk at the Country Park also had good attendance, so hopefully this will take off once more people get to know about it. It's pretty flat and a good one for less mobile greyhound oldies, however the more able can be up the front with our long-legged leader, Phil and his hounds.


Rehoming has also picked up (thankfully) after a slow start to the year. March saw 15 hounds go to their forever homes, whereas January and February combined saw 18 dogs go out. So onwards and upwards!


Chairman, Simon Gray and other volunteers worked their socks off organising and running the Sponsored Weekend ON THE SAME WEEKEND as the Midland Ball that also took lots of organising. The volunteers promised to sit on him if he makes the same suggestion next year having both events of the same weekend! But it was worth it in the end as they are both major fundraising events.


HG RGT volunteers put on their glad rags and attended the Ball at St John's Hotel in Solihull for a glitzy fundraising night out in aid of rehoming greyhounds. Pat Chan won volunteer of the year for the Trust in recognition of her years of dedication and service to the Trust. Well done Pat.


The Sponsored weekend saw the "all breeds" race which was hilarious with little Ruby (Jack Russell) running the wrong way down the track with the crowds at the stadium doubled up with laughter. Saturday hosted the human race with 6 runners and a late entry by a chap at the track who was there for his stag night dressed as a rabbit who volunteered to be the "hare". Priceless!


The Great Sponsored Dog Wash is underway as we speak to raise money to help cover Effy's vet bills (currently at £500 and rising). The vet is still not sure what's causing the problems but Effy is now comfortably fostered with kennel hand and HG RGT volunteer, Alison and her two hounds, Fletcher and Beau. Alison said that Effy is happy and doesn't seem in pain but her one side is still much weaker than the other and her leg sometimes gives way.


Thanks to everyone who booked their dogs in for a bath or for sponsoring a kennel dog to have a wash in aid of Effy and to Sara for baking cakes and selling teas and coffees to feed the crowds while they waited their turn. All the dogs looked (and smelled) great and wore their "I had a bath to help Effy" rosettes wth pride. And a huge thanks to Ele and all the kennel hands who rolled up their sleeves and washed, and washed, and washed and dried all those hounds.


Also thanks to volunteers Lynda and Mark Hill who sold Bric A Brac and greyhound merchandise at a Kinver Table Top Sale in order to raise funds to help with Effy's vet bill. They raised £74.73.


We are so fortunate here at HG RGT to have such a dedicated bunch of volunteers and helpers, thank you.

Hello everyone,

Just quickly to let you know about Effy.
One of our dogs, Effy, developed a neurological problem involving her right leg – it was wobbly and she was easily unbalanced. She had a course of steroids but this didn’t help. Effy was in no pain or discomfort and skips around the field with no problem. She has lost muscle along the spine and the osteopath who comes to see the horses on site suggested we have her spine x-rayed.
The latest update on Effy is really positive. The Willows have reported that the x-rays have ruled out a tumour. It is still not clear, though, what is causing the problem. The vet now wants to increase her exercise, a week of a half circle of the field and then next week a full circuit for a week. After that he will see her again. 

Her problem could be related to her toe injury and amputation. It certainly stems from that time. It could also slowly resolve. Fingers crossed for a full recovery and a long, health life ahead!

We would be very grateful if anyone would like to make a donation or organise a fundraising event to help the Trust with Effy’s vet’s bills – but no matter what we’ll continue to get Effy the help she needs. We’re just so please she’s getting better.
More news in a fortnight.

New Website

It's been a long time in the pipeline, but our new website has been launched today. There's still parts that are "under construction" as they say, but we felt that it was better to be up and running with the main business; that is, finding homes for our lovely greyhounds. We hope everyone likes it -  with its crisp, bright colours and clean lines - unfussy but easy to follow and interactive. Keep checking back and watch the new website unfold as it gets nearer to completion.
The new website, also includes a link to this blog - our tentative first dabble with blogging. We hope that this blog will keep readers up to date with what's happening at the Trust in a bit more detail than the "latest news" page of the new site or our Facebook page. Then of course, there's the bi-monthly newsletter, Kennel News, which is also published on the website and also available by subscription (£12 per year) if you'd like a glossy hard copy to share with friends or to leave in willing vet's surgery. So basically there's now plenty of ways to follow what we're all up to!

One thing that we want to make sure everyone knows about is the up-coming sponsored race nights at Hall Green Stadium on Friday, March 25th and 26th. It's one of our major fundraising events of the year and we depend on it to help us continue the work we are doing in rehoming ex-racing racing greyhounds. Basically here's how it works: sponsor a trap for £10 and if your dog wins, you get a bottle of wine. Sponsor a race, you get to name the race and present the trophy and your nanme appears in the race card. Why not club together with some friends or colleagues to raise the £100 needed to be a race sponsor? Both race and trap sponsors get in free and receive a complimentary drink. On the Friday night there will be an "all-breeds" race around a bit of the track, which is a hoot and makes you appreciate what amazing athletes greyhounds are and on Saturday night there will be human race - hats off to the runners for running in that sand! For more info phone the Trust on 0121-426-4810.