Sep 12, 2025 | News
Rehoming
Strays
These two beautiful boys were picked up as strays. They need out of the stray kennel now as they need new homes.
Please contact Cliffe kennels on 01226 762391 direct if you can help.
Ned
His racing name was Diamond Ned, and this boy is a diamond through and through. A lovely, happy, friendly 3 year old who is a joy to be around.
You can tell by the smile on Ned’s face how much he enjoys being out and about, and you can sense his happiness as he practically skips along on his lead.
A really lovely boy who is excited to see what his future holds.
Will
Will saw his kennel mate, Helena, head off to her new home last month, and we’re sure he’s missing her a bit. Their trainer used to describe the pair as an old married couple, and kind soul Will would even let Helena eat out of the same bowl.
Great with other hounds, Will is a lovely, friendly fellow who enjoys his outings with our volunteers. He has started to recognise their cars, and gets giddy and excited when he sees them arrive! He’d love to find a home where he can be going on walks & adventures every day!
Will is four this month and just another black boy looking to find his place in the world.
Boost
Lovely Boost is on the hunt for a couple of things.
Firstly – and most importantly – he’s looking for a home. Having retired in May 2024, he’s been patiently waiting for over a year, hoping someone will pick him out from the deluge of black boys. The second thing Boost is looking for is his left ear… which appears to have gone missing!
We, like Boost, hope both are found quickly so that this gorgeous boy’s life can be complete.
If you can offer these – or any of our rehoming dogs – a home, please get in touch at rehoming@tia-rescue.org. Thank you!
Tom and Marley
Tom went off to his new home last week…
As did Marley…
Be good boys…
Sep 4, 2025 | News
Langley
My Way Longley
1/9/2012 – 2/9/2025
We cannot put it any better than his sponsor dog write up.
Langley raced at Belle Vue until he was nearly four years old. He wasn’t very good really, just an honest card filler. When he was no longer of any use his owner left him at the trainers with the instruction “put him to sleep” and promptly stopped paying the kennel bill. That happens more often than you think.
Fortunately the trainer and a “greyhound friend” arranged for him to come here one evening. Just another black dog, slowly making his way down to the sponsor end of the kennel block like so many others here. We doubt if his owner could have picked him out of a line-up of three anyway.
This older lad has been here for some years, he is a big gentle black hound with mesmerising eyes. Langley is settled and happy. Nobody ever chose him to go and put his feet up, he also remains as keen as mustard towards all things small.
Langley has left us for the bridge. The big dope started to fail a few days ago, and as a treat he spent a few hours in the garden. A sleepover with Lana and Focker would be on the cards perhaps. Lana was thrilled but it didn’t work out. First time in her life she has been friend zoned. He spent the entire time standing by the gate, looking wistfully at the kennel block. We took the hint. Langley never gave us any drama and was an absolute gentleman. The old letch enticed dozens of new girls to come and see his caterpillar. The least of our troubles, and the least lauded yet will be deeply missed. He made it to thirteen and had lots of edible presents, like ham and chicken slices. He ate like a greyhound, right up to his last breath.
That’s number six this year and we are raw from the losses.
Our thanks to his loyal sponsor family who supported him to the end.
See you kid.
Aug 30, 2025 | News, Uncategorized
We will have a stall at Pudsey Scarecrow Festival next Sun 7th Sept at Pudsey Park, 10am to 4pm.
Also, on Sun 12th Oct we will be having our ever popular Tia Dog Walk and Stall at Cannon Hall, Cawthorne, near Barnsley S75 4AT, 10am to 4pm. The dog walk around the country park will start at 11am from the stall.
Aug 16, 2025 | News
Rehoming
Ruby (was Helena)
The lovely Helena went off to start her new life last week with a fabulous family. She is settling in and is now known as Ruby, although her Mum tells us her nickname is “nutty”…. as she is absolutely “nuts” about playing with her new toys!
Racing greyhounds do not have the same early experiences as most dogs, and things we take for granted – such as toys & treats – are often a complete first. So it’s lovely to hear that after a long 5 years, Ruby is now enjoying life as a much loved pet, with the opportunity to do normal doggie things.
Hope
Many of you will be familiar with Hope who was found as a stray at the beginning of May. She was only 18 months old… imagine how confusing, scary and lonely that must have been.
After spending the last few months with a fabulous foster family, Hope moved in to her forever home last week and has quickly settled in!
PJ
We had a sneaky suspicion it would be love at first sight when PJ met his new Mum and Dad… and we were not proven wrong!
PJ went off to start his new life on Tuesday. His Mum tells us he’s settling in well and has already been a tremendous help around the house! Wednesday was spent catching pesky flies in the conservatory, Thursday he took a potted plant for a tour of the garden, and on Friday he “helped” prepare dinner! When it comes to shredding cabbage, PJ could give Gordon Ramsey a run for his money! And after all that hard work it’s time for a well deserved rest!
Reeves
Despite sustaining a career ending injury back in February, Reeves is quite simply the happiest and friendliest boy! His enthusiasm for life is infectious and he is going to make someone a wonderful companion.
He absolutely adores his outings with our volunteer walkers; he literally jumps with joy into the back of the car and lays straight down. Loves being out and about and wants to say hello to everyone he meets. He has so much fun that he is always a little reluctant to get out of the car upon his return to kennels. Reeves loves all people and is great with other hounds. He is not familiar with other breeds but has shown very little interest in the other dogs he’s encountered.
It would be great to see him in a home where he could go for adventures every day.
If you can offer one of our beautiful dogs a loving home, please visit our rehoming page here or email rehoming@tia-rescue.org. We ask for a minimum donation of £350 to adopt a Tia dog.
Sponsor
Kiona and Vasco
Last week saw the birthdays of two of our sponsor dogs – Kiona (who turned 8) and Vasco (the big 1-0)! Here they are giving the new paddock a test…
Kiona came to Tia at the ripe old age of 17 months.
Although she was bred to race, she was absolutely terrified, and didn’t even make it through schooling. She has been here for over six years, and anything out of the ordinary results in her having serious panic attacks, the likes of which we have never seen before. She is absolutely fine in her own safe environment, and is now happily kenneled with Woody, keeping him company after we lost his previous kennel-mate Maha.
She was previously kenneled with none other than… Vasco!
This big lad won 7 races at Tralee and Belle Vue, last seeing the track in March 2019, with a less-than-stellar end to his career, finishing last in his final three races. After trialling a couple of days later and failing to qualify, he was at Tia a week later.
Vasco has been with us for over 6 years. He loves his life, no fuss, no drama. A lovely quiet big lad.
If you want to sponsor Kiona or Vasco, you can do so here for just £4.50 per month.
Squirt
These days, Squirt’s biggest dilemma is how to style her facial hair!
But life wasn’t always this way for Squirt; she was originally a children’s pony, but when the kids got bored of her, she was abandoned, tied up in a playpark in Doncaster and left to rot.
Thankfully Squirt was rescued by Tia and despite a grade 4 heart murmur and irreversible stomach damage from her awful past that means she’s on permanent medication, she keeps powering on.
If you’d like to sponsor Squirt to help with her continued care you can do so here.
Alternatively if you’re not in a position to sponsor why not send Squirt and her friends a much appreciated gift?
Halifax Show
Not long now until our show in Halifax, which will be held at Manor Heath Park next Sunday (24th)
Here are a few of the stalls you can expect to see…
Treats2sit4
Silver Peacock
The Craft Studio
Donaldsons Vets
Overgate Hospice
Waghounds
Whippet World
Bewitch Craft
Flossy’s Dog Goodies
Huddersfield Photogwoofy
L & M Sweets
R&R Cookie Kicks
We hope to see you there!
Aug 14, 2025 | News
Uriah
Toggle McQueen
12/6/13 – 14/08/25
We knew this family very well. We took in Uriah’s aunties, uncles, brothers and sisters for years until the trainer thankfully hung up his muzzles and went fishing. There was a sweepstake in the kennels as to when his mother would trot up the drive. Our pal came in with his brother and once Uriah’s nerves had settled, we believed both to be destined for their own sofas’ and quickly. Beautiful young dogs. We were wrong.
Uriah’s brother had bite marks on his wrists. We were on to it immediately but within weeks he had succumbed to an aggressive form of bone cancer that greyhounds are particularly prone to. He was only a few years old and a terrible waste of a beautiful young dog. Uriah was affected by his loss and it became obvious that he wasn’t going anywhere.
A glittering career as a sponsor beckoned and as a particularly attractive greyhound, Uriah proved to be popular. Apart from that he was just another straightforward dog, earning his keep with an endless succession of totties for company.
Every day is a lesson, isn’t it. We had only been in Scotland for two days when Uriah let out the scream of death. Uriah was playing in the garden, and I knew immediately that he had broken his leg. I also instinctively knew that it was cancer, which the vets soon confirmed. However, I couldn’t let him go, not yet. I thought at best he might have a good summer, but I really felt that he wouldn’t be around much longer…
After nearly 30 years in rescue, we’re sceptical about higher powers but we all prayed for more time, particularly for Lana’s sake. Our prayers were answered and Uriah held on. Our vets have no idea how he has lasted over three years. Uriah began to fade after Xmas but with his best girl at his side, still enjoyed his life. We lost him today and the hammering we are taking is taking its toll upon us. Lana looks for him in between visitors and rabbits but will soon find solace in the next lodger. Besides, Lana has the whole of the Vetbed to herself though it won’t be so much fun without someone to annoy. The bed under my desk maybe be filled with another, getting in the way of my feet.
Thank you, Uriah. I shall miss holding the door for 15 mins while you make up your mind, also the heart stopping late rush as you decide to go for the gap.
We loved you very much.
Aug 8, 2025 | News
The future isn’t bright. Like most rescues, we are very close to closing, just at a time when we are really needed. We are aware of over 100 greyhounds in urgent need of a rescue place, dogs, we are simply in no position to help. We have the room for a few, more than most rescues perhaps, however the cost associated with any increase in numbers would quickly put us out of business.
We have brilliant, fully committed staff who care about the animals and also our little shop in Pickering keeps doing its bit. Our man in the office is holding the fort, and a small army of financial wizards keep the bills as low as possible. We cannot afford to lose any of these people, even if we can’t afford them!
The fixed costs are staggering. The list is endless.
Vets Bills; £54,908
Insurance; £10,654
Wages; £183,000
Financial services; £15,300
Utilities and rates ; £16,000
A trainer we have known for years, has just asked us to take twenty ex-racers. We have the capacity to take them all but dare not as it would be the final nail in our coffin. Another trainer has asked for help, she needs more racing strength as she needs to pay her mortgage! I may have told her to get a proper job.
Some news of our recent guests. Fern, the stray lurcher who came in a week before her brother (also straying) is trying her luck down in Yorkshire with Becca. There is more chance of her finding a home there due to her type. Sammy(Bandicoot Sammy) seems to have fallen on his paws, with two adoring whippet girls to look after. They were smitten. He went off without a backward glance and hasn’t found time to write. Tommy, (War Zone Tom) his old kennelmate still awaits his chance of happiness after four months. Someone will come Tom, trust me. Too beautiful to fail. Presley and Marley are plain, straightforward black dogs without a sexy back story.. They may meet their families in time, we hope though their colour is against them.
We have just said goodbye to Malcolm. Dumped after his last race in a wood three years ago. Malcolm arrived just in time to hop on the transporter to Scotland. He proved too lethal to re-home but lived out the rest of his life with us, swapping racing stories with the other wrecks. He slipped through our fingers a few days ago, joining four others this year Tinkerbell, Tarzan, Little Jack & Maha. When you provide a sanctuary for oldies, your heart strings better be in good shape. That is really what we are at the minute a sanctuary for all the animals that are lucky enough to be here. Uriah & Langley are really struggling and i doubt they will be here by the end of the month.
On a positive note Alison and a few volunteers in Yorkshire have taken on the the rehoming and are doing brilliantly. So now as well as having the farm, we are rehoming direct from the trainers…A new venture which is at least still getting some dogs rehomed but still has associated costs.
No real news on the horse front. Tallulah the teeth, continues to terrorise the rest of the herd, the old bat must be well over thirty by now. Her legendary disposition has not been improved for having been grounded through laminitis. Think Arya with a dash of Karen and a side order of Virago! Scottish air certainly suits Squirt, the gypsy pony who could only find ragwort to eat, effectively poisoning herself for life. Against the odds, she is still going strong but gives the foul tempered Shetland a very wide berth. Odin, may well end up the largest Clydesdale in the UK. Twenty hands so far and has still to fill out after his shaky start in life. Odin still isn’t too thrilled about his feet being touched. The first lot he had had been welded on so perhaps he has a point.
The empty kennels look like missing teeth in a dentist’s advert. They continually sharpen the stab of conscience. Truth is we have to look after the “family” for now. It is imperative we don’t let them down.
With your help we can do just that, please stick with us.
£1,111 a day it costs to run Tia, a staggering amount, even i am beginning to have sleepless nights.
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Next year Tia will have been going for 30 years.
Still there isn’t a problem with greyhound racing is there? Yes there is, a huge massive problem, still.
