Sep 16, 2021 | News
Just an update.
The farm has now been sold, we are renting it back from the new owner so it gives us time to find somewhere suitable. We have been looking everywhere but as yet haven’t found the right spot.
The shops are suffering from staff shortages so some of them are on reduced days. Please look on the shop pages which we will try to keep updated.
So that is the short version. It has been a nightmare to be honest and it has made me realise that although the shops are our main source of income, they are absolutely of no use if we can’t staff them. We really need other ways to make money so in the next week or so we will be looking to employ a full time fundraiser.
Obviously we are keeping the shops and live in hope that when furlough ends we will be able to staff them up again.
Especial thanks to my friend Linda who has come back to open the Halifax shop three days a week and to Julia one of our best long term volunteers who will be opening the shop Thursday, Friday and Saturdays.
And we had 10 dogs in last week….cos there isn’t a problem with the Greyhound Retirement Scheme is there!!
Sep 5, 2021 | 25/25, News
Velvet Rebel was a top-class racer – no less than 53 wins in a career of 109 races – who came in to Tia in 2010, emaciated with open sores. Despite a truly illustrious career he found his way to Tia through the ignominy of a free ad. What’s of interest here is the subsequent careers of some involved in Velvet Rebel’s story – one ended up with an OBE ‘for services to greyhound racing’, whilst another became the
CEO of the Retired Greyhound Trust before, earlier this year, progressing to be
Director of Operations for Battersea.
Taken from a post by ‘Greyt Exploitations’:
One has to wonder how on earth does an ex greyhound trainer – who once trained a champion dog that was later found dumped in an emaciated and in a severley neglected condition – manage to secure the position of Director of Operations for Battersea Dogs Home?
Peter Laurie was not the last trainer or breeder to exploit Velvet Rebel – the dog was passed on to Charles Lister OBE and then a breeder. Regardless – Peter Laurie still earned money from this dog and still supports a racing/gambling industry that is responsible for the suffering and deaths of thousands of dogs every year.
Sep 1, 2021 | 25/25, News
There is no doubt that the racing industry is in decline, five runner races due to shortage of dogs are becoming the norm. Trainers, unable to stomach the injuries or the bills any longer are hanging up the leads and going fishing. Younger trainers tend to employ accountants and read the runes. A few rising stars have called it a day.
On the 1st September 2020 the Greyhound Retirement Scheme was launched – you can read the GBGB’s leaflet on it by clicking here. On the face of it, it sounded wonderful and to be fair it is a start. In order to race in the UK a bond of £200 must be paid and upon the greyhound’s retirement, that money and a further £200 from the GBGB is passed to approved rescue centres upon proof of their safe arrival, they don’t even have to be registered charities. All greyhounds would now go on and live happily ever after. However there are conditions, lots of them, such as assessment tests at the larger rescue centres where failures are destroyed. Many all breed dog rescues understandably have jumped on the band wagon to claim their £400 bond. It sticks in our throat a bit but that is their business.
The owners and trainers don’t have to follow the scheme though, they can just give them away to anyone they want. Several of those have turned up at Tia in the last few weeks, some in dire condition. Their records state that they have been rehomed as a pet. Sure, amazing how many owners do this and don’t start me on the syndicates.
Tia has long been courted by the GBGB for this scheme and Christ it has been tempting at times. Click here to see the spreadsheet that lists the 114 arrivals at Tia since the scheme’s starting date. Tia’s dogs rarely come straight from the track. We take the dogs that fall through the cracks, the ‘useless’ like Roger and Etta, those raced purely in Ireland like Edie and strays like our latest arrival Edward. Take a look at the list, 114 since 1st September 2020. That is a hell of a lot of money. At least, it would be if it wasn’t for the fact that of these dogs only 33 qualified for the GBGB’s rehoming scheme. The other 81 would not have qualified. Where will those dogs go when there’s no financial incentive to take them?
There’s another snag to the scheme. A velvet gagging order, and with our mouth it is never going to happen. Racing is to be portrayed in a more positive light so no more stories of hat racks like Twirl and Wallace. No more Sheffield 13’s like Mr Mole or stray of the day stories like the brilliant courser Glencoe. If you take the Kings shilling…you are the King’s man. Nope!
Sorry guys, the wedding is off, the dowry was tempting but it wouldn’t work. Tia is sure you will find someone else.
Pictured below: William and Wallace when they first arrived at Tia.
Aug 31, 2021 | News
Simba came to Tia on Thursday the 19th of August, a lovely cream saluki x greyhound. It was obvious that he didn’t look well so the next day he was taken up to Donaldson’s vets.
A couple of days later he took a turn for the worst and it was confirmed that he had parvovirus. A horrible disease that kills most dogs. However over the years we have used a drug which always seems to work. It comes at a massive cost but any animal that ends up at Tia gets whatever they need. So the vets got it, which in itself was difficult, anti virals in a pandemic are not easily come by.
11 days later and he is due to come home. The only thing is we don’t have enough staff to look after him. We are desperately in need of a foster home who has the time to look after him. But it will need to be someone with no other pets at the minute. Preferably in the Huddersfield area, near the vets.
Please ring me 07974960684 Deb
Aug 28, 2021 | News
The nationwide staff shortages are seriously starting to affect us too. We are really struggling to find the right staff.
We need a kennel assistant and a yard assistant here at the farm, 4 days a week, own transport is ESSENTIAL and a part time shop assistant at the Pickering Charity shop.
If you are interested in any of the jobs, please email me, debra.rothery@btinternet.com
Thanks Deb
Aug 28, 2021 | News
Cullen…Ballymac Glen bn 21/06/15 101 races at Belle Vue
Yesterday Friday 27th August it was his turn to leave us. He was just mooching around in the paddock, then he was gone. Most probably a heart attack. Sleep tight big fella….
Aug 16, 2021 | News
We are happy to announce that Tia have been invited to run a traditional sweet stall at the Great Northern Food Festival, to be held at Scampston Hall near Malton (YO17 8NG) on the bank holiday weekend of 28th-30th August. We will be selling a huge range of traditional sweets (as well as other Tia merchandise), so come and pay us a visit to support our charity, and hopefully make the event a success.
Also: the event is dog friendly, so bring your Greyhound or Lurcher along (other breeds are available). We hope to see you there!
More information about the festival is available on their website at https://greatnorthernfoodfestival.co.uk/.
Aug 14, 2021 | News
Just to mix things up a bit. Did you two rehome him as well?
He was rehomed on Pets 4 Homes, he was dropped off with bowls and food and a collar and lead. You took £100. Sadly the new owner didn’t want him so he sold him on Facebook. Thankfully a very decent person bought him and rang us. There is a pattern emerging…
I bet you want to know his name….i bet you want to know his name.
Oh and if you are in any doubt. There are more……..
Deb
