A Greyhound's Tale

On this page, we’d like to introduce you to two beautiful greyhounds who’ve been helped by Animal Lifeline Wales.

Please say hello to Callie and Mick, two very special elderly greyhounds. Mick, pictured below, is now eleven, and was originally born in Ireland before coming to the UK to race and eventually retire.

Very healthy for his age, Mick now has a  little bit of arthritis in his hips, making him a bit stiff. Mick likes people and loves to snuggle on the sofa, though he can be a little wary of strangers, especially men the first time he meets them.

Callie was a hard working racer who ran in nearly seventy races during her racing career.

Both dogs found a happy retirement home with a kind, caring owner. Each day, they’d have a beach walk. At home they had a comfy sofa for snoozes and plenty of time for snuggles.

However, sadly their owner began to have difficulties with their health and was not able to access family support. Matters came to a head when their owner was hospitalised suddenly, and asked the charity to help take care of the dogs. Initially, the dogs stayed at a local boarding kennel while arrangements were being sorted out. Care at the kennel was excellent, and the kennel owner was able to provide regular telephone updates on the dog’s progress and welfare to their worried owner. Charity volunteers visited the dogs regularly, took pictures and then visited their owner in hospital with updates and news. This provided a much needed boost, and helped to reduce a source of worry. After a while, the dogs were able to be moved into a foster home. The foster home was experienced with greyhounds and the two dogs now joined two others, making a happy family of four hounds.

By this stage, Callie was in need of dental treatment and the charity made sure she had a necessary operation and aftercare. The dogs were able to visit their owner at the hospital premises (a wonderful boost and a big help in aiding recovery). It was reassuring for their owner to know that they were well, happy and being cared for together in a home with other greyhounds.

Plans began to be made to return the dogs to their owner but sadly fate intervened. An unrelated health matter to the original illness occurred, leading to further hospitalisation and the realisation that health matters were going to be   uncertain for a while. After consultation, their owner took the difficult decision to permanently relinquish the dogs to the charity. As the dogs had by now settled in so well at their foster home, a decision was made that the two dogs would stay there for the rest of their lives. This way, they could remain together, and could enjoy a stable retirement.  

Since then, the charity has made sure the dogs needs are being met. All vets bills are met, and Mick is now on regular medication for his arthritis, though both dogs are otherwise very healthy for their ages.

Mick was found to be reactive with other dogs when he was first fostered, so the charity helped by funding some sessions with a local trainer. Mick has been using a technique called BAT which has helped build his confidence around other dogs and he is now much more relaxed and happy when socialising. He loves meeting other greyhounds and has mastered the art of persuading the nearest human to give him a treat or make room on the sofa.

Callie has proved to be a very sociable, confident dog. She regularly takes part in charity events such as store collections, sponsored walks etc and goes regularly to sighthound playgroups. She has entered several dog shows and has a growing collection of rosettes. She is shortly going to be doing some dog training classes locally. Her favourite meal is chicken.  

We’ve shared Callie and Mick’s story because it illustrates several key points about how we can help animals and their owners. Firstly, the charity was able to be flexible when first asked for help – initially, it seemed as though respite care was needed and this was provided – both through using a local boarding kennel and by the use of an experienced foster home.

Secondly, the dogs were able to stay together and avoid entering a local dog pound. Elderly dogs would have had a very poor chance of being adopted from a dog pound, and with only seven days to find a home, would probably have been killed if they had not been successful in that time. Even less likely would be the chance of them finding a home together – the charity has made sure they will now be united for the rest of their lives.

Thirdly, long term fostering has been able to provide a happy ending for these dogs. The charity provides essential support by meeting veterinary bills and similar expenses while the foster home provides day to day care, training and enrichment. Regular reports, photographs and information are provided to the charity trustees on the dogs’ progress. Very happily, the original owner of the dogs is also kept updated and is able to meet up with the dogs and be sent regular pictures, updates etc.

If you would be interested in helping other dogs like Callie and Mick, or other family pets, the charity would love to hear from you. We are always looking for both short and long term foster homes. We provide lots of support and back up to our foster carers, and the charity will meet the expenses incurred such as vets bills, etc. It’s also a very rewarding way of helping both animals and their owners.

To find out more, just This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..    

Annual Dog Show Results

Below are the results of our annual Dog Show which was held on 14th July 2013 at Ffos Las Racecourse. See our flickr stream of photos from the event.

Pedigree Classes: Judge Mr Neil Thomas

Class 1 Any Variety Puppy

Class 2 Any Variety Junior (12 – 18 months)

Class 3 Any Variety Gundog

Class 4 Any Variety Hound/Terrier

Class 5 Any Variety Toy or Utility

Class 6 Any Variety Working/Pastoral  

Class 7 Any Variety Open

Class 8 Any Variety Veteran (seven years or over)

Best In Show

Non Pedigree and Novelty Classes: Judge Mr David Boast

Class 5 Best Greyhound Dog

Class 6 Best Greyhound Bitch

Best Greyhound 1^st and 2^nd prizewinners in classes 5 and 6 to compete

Class 7 Best Whippet Dog

No entries 

Class 8 Best Whippet Bitch

Best Whippet 1^st and 2^nd prizewinners in classes 7 and 8 to compete

Class 9 Best Lurcher Dog

Class 10 Best Lurcher Bitch

No entries

Best Lurcher 1^st and 2^nd prizewinners in classes 9 and 10 to compete

Class 11 Best Terrier Dog

Class 12 Best Terrier Bitch

Best Terrier 1^st and 2^nd prizewinners in classes 11 and 12 to compete

Class 13 Best rescue Dog

Class 14 Best Rescue Bitch

Best Rescue 1^st and 2^nd prizewinners in classes 13 and 14 to compete

Class 15 Best Cross Breed

Class 16 Best Rough Coat

Class 17 Best Smooth Coat

Class 18 Best Veteran Dog (7 years and older)

Class 19 Best Veteran Bitch (7 years and older)

Best Veteran 1^st and 2^nd prizewinners in classes 18 and 19 to compete

Non Pedigree Best in Show First Prize Winners from Classes 5 -19

Class 20 Child Handler 8 years old and under

Class 21 Child Handler 9-14 years

Class 22 Scruffiest Mutt

Awaiting results                                                   

Class 23 Dog Judge Would Most Like to Take Home

Class 24 Fancy Dress

Awaiting results.

Class 25 Dog Not Yet Won A Prize

Animal Lifeline Wales Charity Shop

Please support our Charity Shop in Burry Port, we are next door to the vets on Station Road. Our address is 43 Station Road, Burry Port, Carmarthenshire, SA16 0LP

Our shop has moved just a few yards along the road, to much larger premises. You will find here a wide range of books, clothes, china and glass, an area for children’s clothing and toys, and our new ‘Vintage Corner’.

The address of our shop is: 43 Station Road, Burry Port, SA16 0LP

Clothes, books, china, glass, bric-a-brac and household textiles always needed, we regret that we cannot accept electrical items or used duvets. Our shop is also the information hub for our charity and we are a very friendly group. Come in to say hello and find out more about our work and what’s new.

Our Shop Opening Hours

The shop is currently closed for Christmas and New Year.

We will reopen on Monday January 11th 2021, subject to any further changes to Covid-19 restrictions.

We will then be open every Monday and Wednesday from 10am to 4pm.

Animal Lifeline Wales

We are a small local charity based in Carmarthenshire that aims to provide support for the pets of the elderly, the vulnerable and those living alone, at a time of crisis. Examples of the ways that ways that we can help are, providing safe accommodation in local licensed boarding kennels and catteries, both short and medium term, for vulnerable pet owners who are temporarily unable to care for their pets at home, careful and loving rehoming of a pet, its owner has died, and, most importantly, a friendly, listening ear.

We Provide the Following Support

Our aims are to support local and regional animal welfare initiatives and organisations, to help lost, stray, or injured pets and animals, and to offer support and advice to less well off or elderly local pet owners. We work closely with a wide range of local services and charities, and with our local hospitals, to provide vital help and support for elderly and vulnerable pet owners.

You can read about some of work in a Greyhound's Tale and our donation to Gower Bird Hospital both of which were funded through our Charity Shop.

Our Charity Shop

Our shop has moved just a few yards along the road, to much larger premises. You will find here a wide range of books, clothes, china and glass, an area for children’s clothing and toys, and our new ‘Vintage Corner’.

The address of our shop is: 43 Station Road, Burry Port, SA16 0LP

The shop is currently closed for Christmas and New Year.

We will reopen on Monday January 11th 2021, subject to any further changes to Covid-19 restrictions.

We will then be open every Monday and Wednesday from 10am to 4pm.

Clothes, books, china, glass, bric-a-brac and household textiles always needed, we regret that we cannot accept electrical items or used duvets. Our shop is also the information hub for our charity and we are a very friendly group. Come in to say hello and find out more about our work and what’s new.

Gower Bird Hospital

Animal Lifeline Wales donated £1,060 to the Gower Bird Hospital in May 2016 towards the refurbishment of their CCTV system for monitoring injured and sick birds and other animals.

Gower Bird Hospital, based in Pennard, was founded in 1996 to care for sick and injured birds but now has a wider remit as a wildlife rehabilitation centre. They have treated over 25,000 injured birds and animals such as hedgehogs and bats in the last twenty years. They pioneered the use of CCTV to monitor sick birds, thus reducing stress by observing their patients without constantly disturbing them. Their present CCTV system is over fifteen years old and requires refurbishing and this donation will allow them to carry out this vital work.

The photo shows Dr Iain Ferris, Trustee and Vice Chair of ALW, handing over the cheque to Karen Kingsnorth of the Gower Bird Hospital in our Charity Shop.