As some of you may know, I said goodbye to my beloved Ruby recently. She was a wonderful dog and companion for over 15 years. As painful as it was to lose her, I knew I had to move on and open up my heart to care for another dog. That search to find another canine companion brought me to discover Norfolk Greyhound Rescue (NGR) and its work...

What is Norfolk Greyhound Rescue?

This non-for-profit organisation, local to Fab Fleece HQ, does a magnificent job of finding caring people in and in around Norwich, in Norfolk and beyond, to look after Irish greyhounds, lurchers, strays and unwanted pets who are otherwise destined for a very unhappy ending.

The organisation is run by retired Norwich based couple Richard and Hayley, who spend all their time tirelessly working to save these poor dogs, travelling to Ireland and rescuing those who are at death’s door. They are also supported by a wider team of volunteers who generously donate their time to this worthy cause.

Why the dogs need rescuing

Norfolk Greyhound Rescue prioritises rescuing Irish hounds in particular, as thousands of dogs are bred for the track in Ireland every year, and a staggering number of them don’t make it. They are either discarded if they are just ‘not good enough’ to race, or if the dogs do make the race track, they are quickly abandoned when they stop winning and have outgrown their use.

Sadly very few of these hounds end up in pet homes in Ireland. The Irish dog pounds are so overrun that they will only hold dogs for a week before destroying the poor creatures. It’s heartbreaking.

New hope and a new home

However, that’s where Hayley and Richard step in to offer these condemned dogs a brighter future by bringing them back to the UK. The organisation has no central kennels like Battersea, as they prefer for the dogs to be housed in foster homes when they reach this country. This is kinder to the dogs, as they get to experience some of the love and luxury of life as a pet.

Whilst the dogs are in foster care, their fosterer can assess their personalities, start training, and be able to tell a potential adopter much more about the hound. Before being permanently rehomed, the charity arrange a home visit with the dog to see how both parties get on.

Meeting Bart

That’s why the lovely Bart (pictured top and below) came to my house for a visit. He was an adorable dog and quite the comedian too - we all laughed as he managed to make himself quite at home by wedging his bottom into the very small bed of my other dog Archie, a wee Jack Russell.

As lovable as Bart was, we weren’t quite the right fit for him, however another adorable greyhound should be coming to live with us soon. That’s another thing I really admire about what they do at NGR - they spend the time making sure that the dogs find an owner, and a home, that’s right for them.

How to help

The whole experience has made me determined to help this wonderful cause as much as I can, which is why I have chosen Norfolk Greyhound Rescue as The Fabulous Fleece Company’s charity to support on an ongoing basis. You can help too...

If you are interested in adopting a greyhound, they do make wonderful pets - being very gentle and affectionate. What’s more, they don’t need as much exercise as you’d think. So if any dog-loving Fab Fleece Fans out there could offer a rescued dog a new home, do get in touch with Hayley and Richard via the contact details on their website.

You can also help by fostering a hound, donating a one-off or monthly payment via the website, contributing quality unwanted items for raffles and tombolas. If you’re local to Norwich or Norfolk, you could also support their events such as walks, quiz nights, craft fairs and more.

Hayley also runs regular online auctions via Facebook so do follow their Facebook page.

The Fabulous Fleece Company has just donated some pet beds for an upcoming auction so do take a look!

For more information on Norfolk Greyhound Rescue, visit the website: http://norfolkgreyhoundrescue.co.uk