The following is a guest article written by the lovely girls at Greyhounds As Pets NSW.

The word ‘champion’ is thrown around loosely these days, but in Greyhound racing, the Miata’s of the world only come around once in a lifetime…if you’re lucky.

In the tough game of Greyhound racing, arguably, anyone would be over the moon to have a dog that raced consistently for over 3 years, winning 22 races, some at Group level and amassing nearly $60 000! All of these stats are wonderful, and are testament to a great dog, but the dog in question, is arguably doing his most valuable work in retirement, and no, not in the breeding barn.

I speak of the top race dog “Super Laurie”. Whelped in February 2008, “Laurie” as he is known off the track is a striking red fawn dog with an imposing presence.  “Laurie” recently came into GRNSW’s Greyhounds As Pets program and has dispelled the myth that only ‘unsuccessful’ or ‘non-chasing’ race dogs could make great pets for suburbia. “Laurie” passed his behavioural assessment with flying colours, getting on politely with the small assessing dog, a little white wirey coated fluffy bitsa named Izzy.

“Laurie” has completed his fostering period and has just become a Greenhound, allowing him to be muzzle free in public.

However “Laurie” and his mates “Salt” and “Hermon”, other members of the Greyhounds As Pets program, have become the first dogs to become blood donors, under a joint partnership with the Small Animal Specialist Hospital or SASH in Sydney.

“Laurie”, “Salt” and “Hermon” have become life savers, by offering their blood in a routine and non-invasive procedure taking little more than 5-10mins! By doing this they have helped save the lives of many dogs in need. Greyhounds are generally universal blood donors as their blood is feasible for any other breed! They returned to the foster kennels after the procedure for a few days R and R and then are back to usual for a lazy retiree.

So when the sun goes down on great racing career such as that of “Super Laurie”, or retirement comes earlier than some would like, think about the wonderful work that your Greyhound still has to offer. You never know, one Greyhound might save the life of a fellow hound!

Check out the video and be sure to comment below

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For more information about adopting, foster caring through Greyhounds As Pets or information about Greyhounds as blood donors, contact GRNSW Greyhounds As Pets on 1800 696 377 or gap@grnsw.com.au.

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