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Advice pack launched for adopters of retired greyhounds
The Welcome Pack is available online as well as from GBGB-approved homing centres.
GBGB hopes the pack will help dogs transition to retirement.

A welcome pack to support people adopting retired racing greyhounds has been launched by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB).

The pack contains advice on how to support their transition to living in a domestic environment as well as their ongoing care, including how to deal with issues such as osteoarthritis and separation anxiety. It also includes general information about the breed and its history.

The new pack is part of efforts by GBGB to optimise the welfare of the animals involved in greyhound racing through its long-term welfare strategy, ‘A Good Life for Every Greyhound’. The sport has received criticism from animal welfare charities in recent years, including calls for it to be banned from the RSPCA, Dogs Trust, and Blue Cross.

The pack is available on the GBGB website and has been sent to all homing centres approved by GBGB’s Greyhound Retirement Scheme (GRS).

It is a requirement for all greyhounds registered at GBGB-licensed tracks to take part in the scheme, which has supported more than 11,000 greyhounds to find a home after retiring from racing.

Paula Beniston, GBGB welfare manager, said: “Our ambition is that every greyhound leaving our sport goes on to enjoy a happy, healthy retirement after their career on the track.

“We hope that this literature is useful for our approved homing centres to share with new owners and will complement the excellent advice and ongoing support they already supply to ensure successful retirement placements.

“This is the first stage of our aim to increase the breed-specific advice and support offered to owners of retired greyhounds.

“We will continue to add to this Welcome Pack and, in time, we hope to develop this into an online support platform which will be a central information point for anyone welcoming an ex-racer into their home.”

Image © Shutterstock

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."