Tracks of their Tears

Sittingbourne

4 articles

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Swale Borough Council website march 2009 http://www.swale.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=5287

Abandoned greyhound gets hit by a car, found with broken leg in Sittingbourne



Grace the greyhound looking for a home

Swale Borough Council with the help of local veterinary surgeries have fought to save a rescued greyhound which was found abandoned in Sittingbourne.

The young greyhound, unofficially named Grace was found with a badly broken leg and was taken to Borden Lane veterinary surgery to be examined. Setting the leg in a cast to heal proved to be insufficient. This left the council with two options. These were to have Grace's leg amputated, or to fund the expensive procedure to have the leg pinned. The staff at Borden Lane veterinary surgery fell in love with Grace and spoke to Andrew Wills, a specialist in leg-pinning surgery at Toachim House veterinary surgery in Faversham. Andrew managed to save Grace's leg from amputation, and undertook the necessary work at a much reduced fee.

Grace is now making a promising recovery and is being looked after by one of the veterinary surgeons from Borden Lane surgery. Swale Borough Council is now looking to re-home the greyhound who is described as having a lovely temperament. Grace needs a home that is loving and caring and with owners who are able to be patient with her whilst her leg continues to heal.

Swale Borough Council's Animal Control Officer Tim Oxley said: "Thanks to the kindness of the nurses and surgeons at Borden Lane and Toachim House veterinary surgeries, Grace now has the opportunity to live a full and happy life. It was lucky Grace was picked up by Swale Borough Council's stray dog service when she was, due to the severity of her injuries. It's a great example of how valuable the service is."

Helle Vendelbo, Veterinary Surgeon and principal owner of Borden Lane surgery has been looking after Grace until she is found a new home, she said: "Grace is such a lovely dog; if I didn't already have three dogs of my own I would definitely adopt her. She is trusting, obedient and house trained and contrary to popular belief greyhounds do not need a lot of exercise, just two 30 minutes walks a days would be enough. I would be very happy to see Grace go to a loving home."

Andrew Wills, Veterinary Surgeon from Toachim House performed the operation on Grace, he said: "The surgery on Grace's leg went very well and she now has a good chance of having a normal leg. She currently has external fixators and pins but she's healing well and we are hoping she will make a full recovery as soon as possible."

Anyone who thinks they could offer a good home to Grace should call the Council's animal control officer, Tim Oxley on 01795 417298.
Swale House, East Street, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 3HT

Related Information Contact Dog Control (01795) 417850
csc@swale.gov.uk

GA comment: In response to the article below, Greyhound Action has written to the East Kent Gazette, pointing
out that, despite her ordeal, Grace was one of the lucky ones, to have survived at all, and calling
on the public to boycott the greyhound racing industry.

It is no coincidence that there is a greyhound track at Sittingbourne. If you live in or near the
area and would like to help our local supporters in their campaign to close it down, please contact
Greyhound Action at info@greyhoundaction.org.uk or on 01562 700 043.

Please feel free to forward/crosspost/circulate this message.


http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/news/Greyhound-Grace-needs-home/article-726036-detail/article.html

East Kent Gazette

Greyhound Grace needs a home

Wednesday, February 25, 2009, 10:34

A GREYHOUND found abandoned in Sittingbourne and nursed back to health with help from a Faversham
vet is looking for a new home. The young dog, nicknamed Grace, was picked up by Swale Council’s
stray dog service, suffering a badly broken leg, and was taken to Borden Lane Veterinary Surgery.

Andrew Wills, a specialist in leg-pinning surgery at Toachim House veterinary surgery in Faversham,
saved Grace’s leg from amputation, charging a reduced fee, and she is now being cared for by staff
at the Borden Lane Surgery.

Grace is described as having a lovely temperament and needs a loving and caring home with owners who
are able to be patient with her while her leg continues to heal.

Anyone who thinks they could offer a good home to Grace should call the council’s animal control
officer, Tim Oxley, on 01795 417298.
Sighthound Mail January 21, 2008

Last Saturday evening (19 January 2008) another greyhound ‘brokedown’ and was carried off the track and destroyed by the vet on duty. The stadium, on this occasion, was Sittingbourne and the greyhound a beautiful black and white female named Run On Jess. Whilst negotiating the first bend the greyhound suffered a horrific break of a hind leg. Instinctively she tried to keep running but had to be carried off the track and was put down immediately. Just another statistic to ad to the hundreds of thousands destroyed by the racing industry…all in the name of entertainment!
Racing Post 15/04/2005 (Sport)

Greyhounds: Heart positive down to kidney
Published: 15/04/2005 (Sport)

HEART RUMBLE's positive sample following his run in the Northern Puppy Derby at Sunderland last year - which on Tuesday led to his Irish trainer Paul Hennessy being severely reprimanded and fined £800 by the NGRC - came about after he was treated for kidney problems.

In a written statement, Hennessy explained that the dog had suffered renal failure and had been administered `laurabolin' by his veterinary surgeon in November 2004. He apologised to the Stewards for the positive sample, which was found to contain the banned substance nandolone, and stated that every precaution would be taken in future to ensure that there would be no recurrence.

In other inquries this week, greyhound trainer Stan Dow had his license withdrawn following the positive analysis of a urine sample taken from Billis Picture at Peterborough in November; while former trainer Dean Steward was fined £1,000 and made a disqualified person for failing to look after greyhounds in his care.

Romford handler Kim Marlow was fined £750 and severely reprimanded after the positive sample taken from Charity Case at the Essex track in November, while Sittingbourne handler George Andreas was fined £1,000 after the positive sample taken from Ill Get Him at the Kent circuit in January.

In a separate inquiry, the racecourse executive at Brough Park was fined £750 and reprimanded after Pocket Rocket ran as Pocket Power at the north-east track in January.


From Hove Owners Forum (pro Greyhound Racing), July 2003

 

"We once had a dog run at Sittingbourne and, from what I saw, the Owners Association and re-homing scheme were non-existant.......... I am sure Sittingbourne is not an unusual track.... it is the norm."