As a small rescue charity, run entirely by volunteers, we rely on the kindness and compassion of dog lovers for help.
Perhaps you are looking to foster or adopt a GRACE hound – please see guidelines below.* If you don’t want the commitment of looking after a dog, there are plenty of other ways that you can get involved too.
We are always grateful for any support from volunteers. This might be to walk or look after dogs at our meet and greet days; to transport dogs to and from fundraising events; to take photos for our website; to design or print leaflets or to create things we can sell to raise much needed funds. Whatever your talent, we really appreciate your help!
And we are alway grateful for financial donations too.
Donations
Every single penny we raise goes to the welfare of the dogs in our care. As well as paying for food, treats, toys and bedding, it helps to cover veterinary costs, such as neutering, vaccinations, worming, flea treatment, plus any surgical procedures some of the greyhounds in our care need. You can make a financial donation as follows:
Direct bank transfer
Account name: GRACE Greyhound Rescue
Bank: HSBC
Sort code: 40-33-01
Account number: 83893448
Via paypal
Pay directly to: greyhoundrescue@outlook.com
Via cheque
Please post cheques payable to: ‘GRACE Greyhound Rescue’ to Tracy Cook, GRACE Greyhound Rescue, 29 Pine Road, Guisborough TS14 6JH
In person
If you have some loose change, or want to make a bigger cash donation, please bring it along to one of our events. Or feel free to get in touch with us and we will be happy to collect it from you.
Via our fundraising page on Facebook
As well as our main Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/RescueAGreyhound/) why not follow our GRACE fundraising page on Facebook too (https://www.facebook.com/GRACE-Fundraising-Page-366323137129848/)
Via ‘easyfundraising’
Please help G.R.A.C.E when doing your online shopping. All you need to do is access the web page you want via the ‘easyfundraising’ app or webpage. It’s just a few extra clicks and costs you nothing!
Over 7,500 brands, including eBay, John Lewis, Argos and M&S will donate to G.R.A.C.E for FREE when you use ‘easyfundraising’ to shop with them. This means you can raise donations for us when you buy anything from decorations and festive food to gifts like toys, jewellery, technology, experiences and much more.
These donations really help us and all you have to do is use ‘easyfundraising’ when you’re ordering the things you were buying anyway.
Please see the link below for more information and how to sign up:
https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/gracegreyhoundrescue/
Fostering*
We always need foster carers to help look after and rehabilitate our dogs. This involves taking a dog into your home and providing love, affection, walks and fun, rolled in with a bit of socialising and training. The cost of food, bedding, vet bills etc. are all covered by GRACE. If you can offer a temporary home to a greyhound or lurcher, you will be rewarded by seeing these beautiful dogs gain in confidence, learn new things and give you love in return for your time. The rewards are many and you could be helping a dog to regain their trust in humans. A sense of humour is needed, along with common sense and a love of dogs. Apart from that, we will guide you through caring for a sighthound and will always be at the end of the phone to support you.
Creative skills
If you can knit, we have a small dedicated team making knitted greyhounds and other items to sell. We are also looking for people with other crafty skills. For example, can you sew and able to make dog coats, collars or soft dog beds? This is your chance to show off your creative talents and help the GRACE dogs!
Prizes and items to sell
We need items to sell, plus good quality things we can use as tombola and raffle prizes. So, if you have unwanted presents, or cupboards stuffed with items which are too good to throw away, why not donate them to GRACE?
Fundraising
Perhaps you would like to hold your own event to raise money for GRACE. Check out the ‘fundraising ideas’ to see how other people have helped through events such as coffee mornings, cake sales, sponsored walks, toy stalls, car boot stalls or selling items via Ebay.
Admin
If you are more computer literate, perhaps you could help with selling items via Ebay. Or perhaps you could help to write a blog.
Whatever your talent, a big thank you for caring. Any help you can give, or ideas you have, please let us know.
*Guidelines for fostering/adopting with us
Firstly, thank you for considering a GRACE hound. So many greyhounds find themselves in rescue every year. Finding good foster homes and permanent homes is really important for us to be able to carry out our work.
When we bring your foster or forever hound we will bring everything they need. Your hound will come with a collar with an identity tag, lead, muzzle, coat, raised feeder and food. Foster carers will also be provided with any medication that your hound may require.
When you foster or adopt a greyhound, it’s important to take their background into consideration to avoid any problems that could arise.
We advise that you spend time to get to know your hound and give them time to settle into their new environment. Everything is new to them and they will need to adjust to home life.
Greyhounds are bred and raised in kennels and many have never been in a home before. Things like the tv, vacuum cleaner, washing machine and stairs can be extremely daunting to some hounds, while others will take it all in their stride.
When out walking we advise using caution until your hound has had time to adjust to his/her new life. Many greyhounds have never met other breeds of dogs and this can cause them to be scared or more interested than usual in them – frightened dogs can, and will, bite – so we have to be cautious.
Greyhounds are trained to chase and some may never lose that instinct while others will. We advise that when out walking that your hound always wears the muzzle provided and any introductions to other dogs are controlled, careful and positive.
Please keep your greyhound on its lead for the first 2-3 months. As mentioned earlier they have been trained to chase and they come to us straight from their kennel. They can still be very ‘keen’ in the early days and their safety and the safety of other dogs is so important. A sighthound will see something in the distance long before you do, they are extremely fast and they will be long gone before you get the chance to get their lead back on.
If the time ever comes that you feel confident enough and would like to try your hound off lead you must ensure that it’s in an enclosed area that they cannot escape from. Check to see if there are any other dogs around and your hound must be muzzled to avoid any mishaps. As with all dogs, some greyhounds will never get on with other dogs where others will get along with all.
It is so important that you take the time to get to know your hound and their personality – likes/dislikes before considering letting them off, we really cannot stress just how important this is. Greyhounds are sprinters not marathon runners and they’d be just as happy with a couple of short lead walks a day. If you don’t feel confident to let them off then please don’t. Their safety is far more important than a run.
If you are ever unsure of anything please contact the rescue for advice.
You are doing a fantastic thing opening your home and heart to a greyhound. We can’t thank you enough.
